Saturday, May 11, 2013

Uptown Carnival Is A Go

Uptown Update ran a post in January about some very ambitious plans for a Chicago Uptown Lakefront Carnival and Entertainment Festival, to run for 18 days in June and July.  Many readers expressed doubts that an event of that magnitude would be able to take place, especially during a very busy time for Uptown, with the Pride Parade taking place at the same time.

We heard back this week from the organizers of the Carnival, Uptowners who've been cutting through municipal red tape right and left, dealing with various city departments, and the Carnival will take place, on a smaller scale and in August.  It sounds like a lot of fun, and the organizers have a ten-year contract, so look for it to get bigger and better as time goes on.

The new dates are Thursday, August 1st through Sunday, August 4th.  It will happen at the lakefront, between Wilson and Lawrence, from Lake Shore Drive to the lake.  There will be free admission, as well as entertainment, carnival rides, food and music. There will be a DJ/dance area, an entertainment stage, and two beer gardens.

The non-profit overseeing the Carnival is "Saluting Our Heroes."  The website says:  "Portions of proceeds will go to the Chicago Police and Fire foundations, the Goldstar Families Memorial, as well as local churches, schools and various non-profits."

They are looking for vendors for food, art, and entertainment.  They are also seeking non-profits to sell event wristbands to make money for the organizations.

You can read more details about the Carnival itself and how to be part of it, here.

10 comments:

  1. Looked at their site - not impressed - isn't Heros misspelled - should it not be Heroes ??
    Not a good sign if you ask me!

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  2. Everybody loves a carnival.

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  3. 1.) As Uptowns SuperHero for a number of years, I am a bit insulted that they cannot even spell the plural of Hero correctly. If they cannot get this correct, a major advertising point for them, what else will be screwed up. Also, exactly What portion is being donated? That can be a $100 donation and they can say a portion...

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  4. Wonder if Weiss Hospital has been made aware. Their emergency room has to add staff to manage overflow during big shows at Uptown's venues. The carnival will also be on the edge of the hospital's quiet zone.

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  5. USH--can't find anything nice to say about the carnival?

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  6. Bear, really? LOL Yes, I think it is a great asset if run correctly. I expect it to be a lot of fun and look forward to attending. I hope you can find your way there without a special path under the El to the Target or walking through your police neglected neighborhood where your family is the only one in Uptown that counts... ;)

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  7. A huge potion should be going to the CPD/CFD because this event is really going to need them. This will turn out to be nothing but huge gang and mob actions idiots free hangout. They should have charged an entrance fee because that usually helps keeping a good portion of trouble makers away.

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  8. That's just so fantastic! I can't wait to go! I'm just up the block.

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  9. This charity sounds like a fly by night charity. The website was registered by Michael Snell, one of the organizers on May 15 last week. There are no records on file with the Illinois Attorney Generals office.

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