Evanston's Lakefront To Become Global Village For World Arts & Music Festival

EVANSTON, IL — The World Arts and Music Festival will be held July 15-16 at Dawes Park in Evanston, located at Sheridan Road and Church Street. The festival was known as the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival for 31 years, and offers the opportunity for members of the Evanston community to "travel the world without leaving town," according to an announcement of the event.

Although the event has been re-imagined this year, some of the same elements will return. For instance, the popular Parade of Nations opening ceremony — featuring a procession of flags from more than 200 countries — will kick off the festival at noon on Saturday, July 15. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts for the Evanston Patch)

The free, two-day event will turn Evanston’s lakefront into a "Global Village" to celebrate diversity worldwide. Visitors will experience art and craft-making from multiple cultures at the "continental hubs" located across Dawes Park, learn more about fair trade business in the Certified Fair Trade area, and sample a variety of culinary delights from food vendors and local food producers.

» Full schedule of Evanston World Arts and Music Festival

The festival showcases work from over 80 diverse artist vendors, five interactive family activity stations, international cuisine, and world music and dance performances throughout the weekend.

Many of the best ethnic entertainers from the metropolitan Chicago area and beyond will perform.

Music Lineup

Musicians performing on Saturday at the Music Stage include:

• Shalizar Ensemble
• Duzan Ensemble
• Newpoli
• Salma El Assal

Sunday's Music Stage performances include:

• The MIYUMI Project with Tsukasa Taiko, featuring Dee Alexander
• Los Perros Cubanos
• NESSA
• Dos Santos: Anti Beat Orquestra

The Field Performance Stage will feature:

• Dabkeh (Arab folk dance) workshop
• Interactive West African dance,
• Bomba dancing from Puerto Rico,
• Steel percussion from Trinidad and Tobago
• Brazilian choro music
• Klezmer music from the Eastern European Jewish community
• Latin fusion band.

Multicultural craft tents will be stationed within the festival's continental hubs and will feature family-friendly activities, including basket weaving, puppet making, Arabic calligraphy and origami. The hubs will also showcase artisnal food producers offering their specially curated food products.

Visitors can purchase culinary delights from around the world in the food court located southwest of the Arrington Lakefront Lagoon. Ethnic cuisine from 10 vendors will include Polish sausage and potato pancakes; tamales, tacos and burritos; lamb and chicken gyros and Greek salad; veggie Samosa and Tandoori chicken; Takoyaki, Gyoza and pork belly slider; BBQ pulled chicken sliders and chicken Caesar wraps; Alaskan salmon burger and blackened fish sandwich; and Banh Mi, summer rolls and almond cookies. Chilled refreshments include lemon Italian ice, chocolate-covered frozen bananas, Mexican sodas, and Viet iced coffee.

Dawes Park is located just a few blocks east of the Davis Street Metra and CTA stations. It is located between Davis and Church Streets on the lakefront.

Free weekend parking is available north of Centennial and Dawes Parks at the Northwestern University parking lot and the adjacent Segal Visitors Center parking garage at 1841 Sheridan Rd. You can stroll south to the festival on the lakefront walking path or take the free City of Evanston festival shuttle bus, which travels between the parking lot and the festival grounds.

To view the complete list of performers, artists, food vendors, sponsors and art activities, please visit the World Arts Festival website or call/text 847-448-4311.

» via the City of Evanston

Top photo: Images from a past Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival | via City of Evanston