A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired read story
‘Jeff Fest’ planning Italian beef-up in 2026
by BRIAN NADIG
The annual arts and music festival in Jefferson Park is being rebranded as the “Chicago Italian Beef Fest at Jeff Fest.”
“We do this all the time. We look for something new” to bring a fresh perspective to a neighborhood festival and to generate more excitement, said Hank Zemola, president of Chicago Events, whose company has managed Jeff Fest in all but 6 of the years since the festival was launched in 2001.
The festival will be held the weekend of July 31 to Aug. 2 at the Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave. The Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson Memorial Park Advisory Council and Chicago Park District are the festival’s main sponsors. The Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association and Jefferson Park Forward participate on the festival’s planning committee.
Zemola said that he has copyrighted and trademarked several food-related themes for Chicagoland festivals, including “Chicago Rib Fest” and “Windy City Hot Dog Fest,” the latter of which is held in the Six Corners commercial district along the 4000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
The theme of the Six Corners festival was changed to hot dogs a few years ago, and attendance increased as much as “500 percent” one year, Zemola said.
“It helped a lot,” Six Corners Chamber of Commerce founder Joe Angelastri said of the rebranding. “Food themes are universal. They hear hot dogs, (and) all of a sudden they’re interested.”
Angelastri said that the hot dog theme has helped attract more fest-goers from outside Chicago’s Northwest Side.
Zemola said that the process of recruiting Italian beef vendors to Jeff Fest has just begun but that he’s confident there will be a great selection of sellers given that Italian beef is one of the city’s well known specialties.
“Back in the early 1900s, Italian immigrants brought their culinary traditions to Chicago and from their kitchens came a masterpiece now beloved across the city: the ‘Italian Beef Sandwich.’
“Whether you prefer it dipped, dry or loaded with hot and sweet peppers, it all starts with tender, slow-cooked beef piled high on fresh bread,” the Chicago Events Web site says.
Fest-goers will be able to vote for their favorite beef sandwich.
The festival also will feature two stages. Nationally known groups such as the 10,000 Maniacs, Foghat and the Buckinghams along with an array of tribute bands have performed at Jeff Fest, which also offers a second stage for local artists.
For more information, visit www.chicagoevents.com
Editor’s note: Nadig Newspapers publisher Brian Nadig is president of the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce.
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