Excitement Builds For Southside Summer Festival At RedHawk Stadium

CHICAGO – Excitement is building for the Southside Summer Festival this Saturday, July 20, presented by Marist High School. Gates opensn at 4 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m. on the football field at Marist RedHawk Stadium, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago.

Southside Summer Festival has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated events of summer. Thousands have attended this South Side event over the last two years. Like the Old St. Pat’s Block Party, where more than 150 couples met at the block party and married, it’s still unknown if any great romances have started at the Marist event.

“We don’t know if any great love affairs have happened that may be in the making,” said Fr. Tom Hurley, '85, vice president of advancement and ministry for Marist. “What we can look forward to is great music, great people and nice food and drink. It will be a great summer night to get out in Chicago.”

This year’s edition promises to be the largest and most successful ever, including landing the internationally acclaimed The BoDeans.

“Our contract manager has contacts with all the bands,” Hurley said, a veteran organizer of the former Old St. Pat Block Club Party . “We threw out names and he said how about the BoDeans.”

Led by Kurt Neumann, the BoDeans continue to shape American music with their timeless tunes and high-octane performances. They have performed alongside music icons and their music has been featured in numerous TV shows and movies.

The music festival also features performances by Soul 2 the Bone and the Push Stars.

Soul 2 The Bone – one of the most sought after tribute bands in Chicagoland – will kick the night off from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with music from the 1960's to 2015 covering five genres of music, including Motown, R & B, Light Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Disco, and Pop music.

Push Stars takes the stage from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, featuring original, alternative pop songs from their six albums. The Boston natives have opened for bands such as Matchbox Twenty, and their songs have been featured in several major motion pictures, including “There’s Something About Mary,” “Me, Myself and Irene,” and “Gun Shy.”

The BoDeans close the night from 8:15 to 10 p.m., performing countless memorable hits that will get people on their feet dancing to such favorites as “You Don’t Get Much”, “Idaho”, and “Closer to Free.”

Open to ages 21 and above, tickets are $35 in advance (early bird rate ends Friday, July 19 at 11:55 a.m.), and $40 at the door. Tickets can be purchased beginning May 1 on marist.net or via “GoFan.” All tickets are non-refundable.

Lou Malnati’s pizza will be available for purchase, along with beer, wine, seltzer, Pepsi products and water.

“It’s a big field,” Hurley said. “We’ll continue to welcome people.We’ll have a good police presence and game plan.”

A big undertaking like a music festival also requires volunteers and there are still spots to fill. This year, a generous donor is paying the reduced admission of $20. Volunteer shifts are still available, with most shifts lasting about two hours. People who signed up and paid the reduced admission can donate it to Marist. Otherwise, your fee will be automatically refunded to your method of payment in the next 14 business days

Volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, and free admission to one of the best nights on the South Side. If interested, please sign up to volunteer at this link: Marist Southside Summer Festival.

No outside food or beverages will be allowed; and chairs are not allowed on the football field, those wishing to sit on the lawn can bring blankets, otherwise seats are available in the stands. All seating is first-come, first-served.

Money raised from Southside Summer Festival helps to support scholarships and financial aid for current and future students of Marist High School.

“It goes back to the mission of Catholic schools. We raise money to offer families that can’t afford the full freight for their children,” Hurley said. “Not just Marist but all the other Catholic schools. Let’s try to support our mission in a fun way.”