16 Candles, Buckinghams, Too White Crew, School of Rock set for JEFF FEST

The Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce will hold the 17th annual “Jeff Fest” arts and music festival on the weekend of Aug. 4 to 6 at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave.

Fest-goers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on. While most neighborhood festivals are held on a street, JEFF FEST on the grounds of the area’s premier park, with plenty of grass, and it’s only a block from the Jefferson Park Transit Center, where Metra and Blue Line trains and CTA/PACE buses operate.

The hours of the festival are from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Covergurl will open the festival at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Known for its high-powered party rock sound, the group plays songs from bands such as AC/DC, Cars, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Queen, Kiss, Joan Jett and Metallica. The headliner Too White Crew will perform at 8 p.m. with a six-piece band and the Fly Girl dancers, performing hip hop music from the 1980s and 1990s.

Music Dudes, a recent winner of popular battle of the bands contest, offers a fun, unique show that kicks off the Saturday, Aug. 5, line-up at 2 p.m., and Generation will perform at 3:30 p.m., playing classics from performers like the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie and Sly and the Family Stone.

Also on Saturday, the Buckinghams will perform at 5:45 p.m. and 16 Candles at 7:30 p.m. The Buckinghams’ hits include “Kind of a Drag” and “Hey Baby, They’re Playin’ Our Song,” while 16 Candles, a very popular and entertaining 1980s tribute band, rocks the festival for a second consecutive year.

On Sunday, Aug. 6, School of Rock will open the festival at 2 p.m., followed at 3:15 p.m. by the local band Little Egypt, featuring State Rep. Robert Martwick on guitar and vocals. Also, Stache, which performs hits from the 1980s through today, starts at 4:45 p.m., and 97Nine, a cover band that tours the Midwest, takes the stage at 6:30 p.m.

Performers on the community stage on Saturday and Sunday will be the pop/rock bank House of Gibby (5:45 p.m. SAT and 2:30 p.m. SUN), Academy of Polynesian Arts (3:45 p.m. SAT), rock band Batteries Not Included (7:30 p.m. SAT), Taft High School Orchesis (4 P.m. SUN), Chicago Ballet Center (2:30 p.m. SAT and 5:15 p.m. SUN), and the Clogging Craze (6:30 p.m. SUN).

In addition, guitarist and vocalist Stephen Gulyas will perform during the festival in the crowd. The festival also will include bouncy houses, pony and camel rides, games, face painters, a free stamps for kids display and other children’s activities, including a free coloring project from the Ed Paschke Art Center. Most children’s activities will be on Saturday and/or Sunday only, and some fees may apply.

Volunteers from the following organizations will be working the beer tents: the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, Jefferson Park Forward, the Gladstone Park Neighborhood Association, the Northwest Chicago Historical Society, Congregational Church of Jefferson Park, Eden United Church of Christ, Pope Francis Global Academy, Knights of Columbus Tonti Council, Rock The Badges, state Senator John Mulroe’s office and the chamber.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Admission is free for seniors age 65 and older on Friday and $2 on Saturday and Sunday.

Proceeds benefit the chamber, which sponsors a high school scholarship program and community activities, including the Sunday Markets on the second and fourth Sundays of the month in the park.

And if your name is “Jeff,” please bring your photo ID and you’ll get in for free!!

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