Evanston 2019 Summer Event And Festival Guide

With school letting out and summer kicking into gear on the North Shore, we've compiled a summer-long list of upcoming events in Evanston. There's fun activities for kids and adults across town all summer long. Find schedules, events and registration deadlines below for festivals, fairs and markets set for summer 2019, or add your own to the Patch calendar.

Evanston

Starlight Concert Series
Nine free outdoor concerts are scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday through July 30. Family activities will precede each concert. Food trucks are planned at several of the dates, and concerts will take place at the Levy Center in case of bad weather.

Thursday Night Live Concert Series
The Fountain Square concert series returns for a 10th year, with shows from 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday until Aug. 22. For the first time, block parties on the last Thursday of each month will see Orrington Avenue closed off to vehicles south of Davis Street. Several local restaurants will offer dining specials on concert nights.

Downtown Farmers' Market
The 44th season of the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at University Place and Oak Avenue behind the Hilton Garden Inn. Original artwork is is available, with the Homegrown Artists showcase for local artists to be featured for 16 weeks starting in June.

Custer Fair
Hundreds of local and regional artists, music, food and more will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 15-16 and Main Street and Chicago Avenue to Custer Avenue and Washington Street. The main stage schedule will feature Chicago area jazz legends, a second stage presents family friendly music, theater and performers. A third musical stage on Main Street has been added for 2019. There will also be a kids carnival at Eiden Park on Washington Avenue.

Out of Space
For the second year, Evanston SPACE is holding two weekends of outdoor concerts at different locations in Evanston. From June 20 to June 23, Temperance Beer Company is hosting four shows. From Aug. 8 to Aug. 11, concerts will be held at Canal Shores Golf Course as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Some shows are already sold out.

Fountain Square Artisan Summer Fest
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 22 and June 23, downtown Evanston will host the North Shore's oldest fine arts event, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a mix of juried work from nearly 100 artists. There will be interactive art projects for kids, entertainment from strolling street musicians along with food and drink vendors.

Evanston 4th of July Parade, Fireworks
The city's 97th annual Independence Day parade is anticipated to include as many of 140 entrants. It will begin at 2 p.m. on July 4 and head from Central Park Avenue East to Ashland Avenue. Family-friendly events begin at 9 a.m. at eight playground sites around the city followed by a 12:45 p.m. fun run along Central Street. After the parade, a lakefront concert from the Palatine Concert Band begins at 7:30 p.m. with a fireworks display set for 9:30 p.m., with accompanying music available on 90.5 FM. Lawn chairs can be placed on Central Street starting at 6 a.m. on July 1.

Lunch at the Lake
Northwestern University hosts free noontime concerts on the east lawn of the Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, on Wednesdays from July 10 to July 31. There will be free fruit and lunch menus available for purchase for $12.

Taste of Evanston
The fifth annual Taste of Evanston event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on July 14 on the east lawn of the Charles Gates Dawes House. The event is sponsored by the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club with most proceeds going to support Connections for the Homeless and Reba Place Development Corporation. Registration and tickets are required.

Starlight Movies in the Park
Seven free movies will be shown in Evanston parks before dusk on Tuesdays and Saturdays in August. Showings will be preceded by family activities. In case of bad weather, the screenings will be cancelled.

Northwestern Community Picnic
Northwestern University is hosting its fourth annual free community at 4 p.m. at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St. as part of the Starlight Movies at the park series.

Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival
The sixth annual free downtown Evanston festival runs 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 18 around Church Street and Sherman Avenue. The festival will showcase artwork for sale from over 100 artists in a variety of media. All three days will feature live music, food and drink.

CommUNITY Picnic
The free picnic will include free food, fun activities, giveaways and family-friendly entertainment from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 in Ingraham Park, at Leonard Place and Ashbury Avenue — look for the test behind the Civic Center.

Streets Alive and the Evanston Green Living Festival
From 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 Evanston will celebrate active living, public spaces and community as Main Street from Florence Avenue to Chicago Avenue becomes a mile-long public park to promote public health, arts and environmental awareness. The event will be held regardless of weather. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Read more: Summer Events, Festivals in Skokie, Lincolnwood

Got another North Shore summer event to add? Add it to the Patch calendar.