August 10, 2009 :: Community, Event, LPCC

First Annual Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival

The first annual Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival, held on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 was attended by thousands of residents from across Lincoln Park, neighboring communities and Chicagoland. The key beneficiary of the event was the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC).

Set in the heart of Lincoln Park on Racine between Fullerton and Webster, the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival served as a key fundraiser for the LPCC. With additional funding available from events and festivals, the LPCC can develop and implement future programs and initiatives to support the business community, and surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood.

“As the LPCC adapts existing programs, and develops new strategies to support our local economy, funds from the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival will be reinvested in the community,” said Kim Schilf, LPCC President and CEO. “It is our driving principle to contribute to the vitality of the entire Lincoln Park community.”

For entertainment, the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival featured renowned bands such as 10,000 Maniacs, Graham Parker, Over the Rhine and local favorite 16 Candles. Lincoln Park’s cultural icons, including the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago History Museum as well as Chicago favorites The Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Contemporary Art helped round out the event’s entertainment. A children’s area was also offered to families free of charge.

In addition to music and other entertainment, some of Lincoln Park’s reknowned restaurants offered festival-goers a taste of what the neighborhood has to offer while cold beverages helped combat nearly record temperatures in Chicago. The LPCC worked together with Chicago Special Events Management to secure artists and other vendors that sold and showcased their wares to the assembled crowds.

“I would like to personally thank our volunteers – more than 175 strong – for their assistance and commitment during a very hot weekend,” Schilf continued. “Without your efforts we would not have been able to pull together a successful event. Thank you again for helping us welcome residents to our neighborhood.”