CHICAGO (April 27, 2023) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to welcome summer with Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer street festivals. Now in its 57th year, the annual festival will be held June 9-11 along Andersonville's Clark Street corridor.
For three nights and two days, this vibrant and diverse community will bring together over 80,000 people to celebrate a proud Swedish summer tradition with eclectic music, great vendors, food and free kids' activities.
Midsommarfest kicks off Friday, June 9 at 5-10 p.m. on Clark St. from Foster Ave. to Gregory St. and continues Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 at noon-10 p.m.
The fun kicks off Friday evening with opening ceremonies and entertainment on five stages: the North Stage (sponsored by Tokeativity) at Clark & Catalpa, the Center Stage at Berwyn (sponsored by Rattleback Records and Lady Gregory's), the Swedish Stage at Clark & Farragut (new location, sponsored by the Swedish American Museum and Great Lakes Clinical Trials), the Balmoral Pride Stage (sponsored by Replay Andersonville & Elixir and Evoke Tattoos) and the Summerdale Stage (sponsored by The AVE Group). Friday headliners include JC Brooks, Ariana DJ, Nora O'Connor and Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press.
The fun continues Saturday with headliners including, MIIRRORS, Bev Rage & The Drinks, Chicago Soul Spectacular and Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute. The festival wraps up Sunday with top acts including Cecy Santana, Sam Thousand & the Soul Vortex, Cosmic Jaywalkers and Sixteen Candles. See the weekend's full entertainment line-up below!
Family-friendly highlights throughout the weekend include: Disney Drag Show, Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats, Drag Queen Story Time with Merriam Lefkovitz, Miss Foozie's Pet Parade and The Jesse White Tumblers,
As always, Midsommarfest will celebrate Andersonville's Swedish culture and history. The Swedish Stage at Clark & Farragut will feature traditional Swedish activities throughout the weekend, including a dance around the Maypole. The Swedish American Museum will serve delicious Swedish cuisine and offer free admission during the festival.
The annual kids area at Summerdale (Alamo Shoes parking lot) is sponsored Alamo Shoes, facilitated by Back Lot Bash with support from Cruelty Free You + Me.
Admission to the Midsommarfest is a $10 suggested donation. Proceeds from admission and beer sales benefit the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, along with several local non-profit organizations including Babes With Blades Theatre Company, Bowmanville Community Organization, Care For Real, Equality Illinois, Friends of Andersonville, Friends of Chappel, Friends of Peirce, Helix Education, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles, Windy City Performing Arts, local block clubs and more. Historically, Andersonville has donated back more than $180,000 to these participating organizations. Festivalgoers can also pick up a complimentary new copy of the 2022-23 Andersonville Neighborhood Guide at the Andersonville Chamber Booth located at Berwyn and Clark.
The Full Midsommarfest Entertainment Line-Up:
Friday, June 9
NORTH STAGE (Clark & Catalpa)
6:00 pm DJC
8:00 pm Rod and the Bench Press
CENTER STAGE (at Berwyn)
5:00 pm Things That Fly — new!
6:30 pm The Clean Plate Club — new!
8:00 pm Nora O'Connor — new!
SWEDISH STAGE (Clark & Farragut)
6:00 pm ABBA Karaoke
8:00 pm JC Brooks
BALMORAL PRIDE STAGE (at Balmoral west of Clark)
5:00 pm Drag Queen Story Time with Merriam Lefkovitz
5:30 pm Gabe Guthrie & The Galactic Ghouls — new!
7:00 pm August Hotel — new!
8:00 pm DJ and Drag Performance
SUMMERDALE STAGE (Clark & Summerdale)
5:00 pm Chicago Therapy Collective hosted talent
7:00 pm Chicago Therapy Collective hosted talent
9:00 pm Ariana DJ — new!
Saturday, June 10
NORTH STAGE (Clark & Catalpa)
1:00 pm GUS Giordano Dance School
2:00 pm Second City Outlaws
2:30 pm Mama Dig's Brass Band
4:00 pm Chicago Spirit Brigade
4:30 pm The Handcuffs
6:00 pm Mama Sam and Jam — new!
7:00 pm Professor Pinkerton's Irrelevant Orchestra — new!
8:00 pm Chicago Soul Spectacular
CENTER STAGE (at Berwyn)
1:00 pm Lakeside Pride Latin Band
2:30 pm Windy City Cheer
3:00 pm 3 Martini Jeannie
4:00 pm Windy City Performing Arts
5:00 pm Neptune's Core
6:30 pm Justice Hill & Nightime Love
8:30 pm MIIRRORS
SWEDISH STAGE (Clark & Farragut)
12:00 pm Festival Kick-Off (Maypole Dance)
1:00 pm Swedish Jamboree
2:00 pm Hodie Snitch
4:00 pm Love In October
6 pm Planet Claire
8 pm Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute
BALMORAL PRIDE STAGE (at Balmoral west of Clark)
12:00 pm Making Art Your Opportunity — new!
3:30 pm Piano Karaoke
6:00 pm Bev Rage & The Drinks
SUMMERDALE STAGE (Clark & Summerdale)
12:00 pm American Eagle Productions
1:00 pm School of Rock Andersonville
3:00 pm Kung Lao and the Scorpions
4:00 pm Drag Queen Story Time with Merriam Lefkovitz
4:30 pm Rosalba Valdez
6:00 pm Phillip Michael Scales
7:30 pm Ivana Tequila Ruiz, Jerika Thique, Giselle Brooks and Chifaguette — new!
8:30 pm Special Guest (to be announced!)
Sunday, June 11
NORTH STAGE (Clark & Catalpa)
9:00 am Yoga with Be Yoga Andersonville
1:00 pm Chicago Gay Men's Chorus
2:00 pm Second City Outlaws
2:30 pm Dance Loud
3:30 pm Chicago Spirit Brigade
4:00 pm She's Crafty
6:00 pm Too Much Molly
7:30 pm DJ Dan Luna
8:00 pm Sixteen Candles
CENTER STAGE (at Berwyn)
1:00 pm Al Rose
2:30 pm Windy City Cheer
3:00 pm Tears Dry on Their Own
5:00 pm Indré — new!
7:00 pm Tukkiman — new!
8:30 pm Sam Thousand & the Soul Vortex
SWEDISH STAGE (Clark & Farragut)
12:00 pm Miss Foozie's Pet Parade
1:00 pm The Jesse White Tumblers
1:30 pm Nikki O'Neill
3:00 pm Crocodile Rockstar
5:00 pm Moose The DJ
7:00 pm Lynne Jordan & The Shivers
9:00 pm Cosmic Jaywalkers
BALMORAL PRIDE STAGE (at Balmoral west of Clark)
12:00 pm Disney Drag Show
2:00 pm Sam Fazio
3:00 pm Hawt Chicken — new!
6:00 pm Drag Show
8 pm DJ and Drag Performance
SUMMERDALE STAGE (Clark & Summerdale)
12:00 pm Little Miss Ann Band
1:00 pm School of Rock Andersonville
3:00 pm Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats
4:00 pm Drag Queen Story Time with Merriam Lefkovitz
4:30 pm E. Woods — new!
6:00 pm Jerason Dean — new!
8:00 pm Cecy Santana — new!
Performances are subject to change.
The 2023 vendor line-up will be announced shortly.
ACC also encourages visitors to shop local during the days of the festival, offering 50% a beverage to patrons who spend $30 or more at local brick and mortar stores and service businesses (restaurants and festival vendors, not included). To redeem, bring a receipt (paper or digital) dated June 9 — 11 to the Chamber tent located at Clark & Berwyn.
ACC will partner with Ritual this year to provide zero-proof cocktails beverage options. WasteNot Compost returns to provide recyclable containers and composting at the festival, continuing ACC's strong record in sustainability practices.
Midsommarfest is produced by Star Events, a Chicago-based company committed to producing world-class community celebrations. This year's music is curated by Quiet Pterodactyl and Rattleback Records.
Special thanks to Midsommarfest Sponsors Alamo Shoes, The AVE Group, Back Lot Bash, Bryn Mawr Jewelry Co, Chicago Red Stars, Constellation Brands, Cruelty Free You + Me, David Rosenberg Public Relations, Gift of Hope, Great Lakes Clinical Trials, GoodVets, Green Mountain Energy, Lady Gregory's, Liquid Death, North Side Federal Savings, Rattleback Records, Replay Andersonville & Elixir, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, Ritual Beverage, Swedish American Museum, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Tokeativity and Viaplay.
For the most up-to-date information on Midsommarfest, visit andersonville.org/events/midsommarfest .
