Andersonville Celebrates Midsommarfest 50th Anniversary With 3 Days Of Family-Friendly Entertainment

CHICAGO - May 4, 2015 - PRLog -- One of Chicago’s oldest and most beloved summer festivals marks a momentous milestone with the 50^th anniversary of Andersonville Midsommarfest this June 12-14.  For three days, this vibrant and diverse community will bring together over 50,000 people to celebrate this great north side neighborhood with eclectic music, great vendors, delicious food, and free kids activities.

The fun begins at 5:00 pm on June 12, when – for the first time on a Friday – the entire festival venue will open on Clark Street from Foster to Catalpa.  Three stages will kick off the festivities, with 16 Candles on the North Stage, and Party Like It’s 1965 on the Center Stage.

The music continues on Saturday and Sunday with a lineup of entertainment on five stages, from local up-and-comers to Chicago favorites to some of the city’s most fun cover bands.  A special family stage will also offer free entertainment sure to keep the little ones dancing throughout both days.  Bands playing at this year’s festival include 16 Candles, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, ABBA Salute, Cat Fight, 7^th Heaven, Get Up With The Get Downs, The Joans, Pieptone!, The Handcuffs, The Opposition Party, Laura Doherty, and dozens more.

2015 also commemorates the 50^th anniversary of the rededication of the neighborhood as Andersonville, and this year’s festival is an opportunity to celebrate that landmark.  From the traditional Swedish businesses that have been in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, such as Simon’s Tavern, Svea, and the Swedish Bakery, to some of the newest businesses who have opened their doors in 2015, from Candyality, Norcross & Scott, and Notre, Midsommarfest will offer a chance for business owners and residents past and present to come together and celebrate.

With Andersonville’s strong Swedish ties, attendees will get the chance to indulge in traditional Swedish activities including a dance around the Maypole on Saturday.  They can also visit the Swedish American Museum, which will be offering free admission all weekend long.  Two dozen food vendors offer international fare along with festival favorites, and over 80 local artists and vendors will be offering their unique wares.

Hours: Friday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. with Maypole dance at 11:45 a.m. (Swedish Stage/Clark & Foster); Sunday 11.a.m. – 10 p.m.  Admission to the event is a $10 suggested donation, with proceeds benefiting the work of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. A portion of the beer sales from the weekend benefit several great non-profit organizations, including Friends of Andersonville, Friends of Peirce Elementary, and Friends of Swift Elementary.

Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that provides marketing, advocacy and technical assistance to the hundreds of independently owned Andersonville businesses that make the neighborhood such a unique place to live, work and visit.  For more information, visit www.andersonville.org.

Midsommarfest is produced by Star Events, a Chicago-based company committed to producing world-class community celebrations.  More information on Star Events and their lineup of great festivals can be found at www.starevents.com.