Taste of Polonia, Fringe Fest invade Jefferson Park on Labor Day weekend
by BRIAN NADIG
Three festivals, a county fair and a Downtown Edgebrook block party are among the many entertainment options over the next two weeks on the Far Northwest Side.
The 39th annual “Taste of Polonia” will take place Friday, Aug. 31, to Monday, Sept. 3, at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. Free parking with a shuttle bus is available at the Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
Known for its outdoor music stages and food vendors, the festival also offers a series of indoor activities in its 1,900-seat theater, grand lobby and annex.
On Friday and Monday, there will be showings of the WTTW-Chicago series “Urban Nature,” which explores wildlife in big cities like Chicago, and several art exhibits in the annex will highlight Chicago’s Polish history and culture.
There also will be a casino on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the lobby. More information is available at topchicago.org.
The ninth annual “Chicago Fringe Festival” will be held from Thursday, Aug. 30, to Monday, Sept. 3, at various locations in the Jefferson Park shopping district. It will feature about 100 performances and 24 performing groups.
The shows, which were selected by a lottery and are uncensored, include comedies, dramas, dance and musicals. Some of the shows are intended for children.
Tickets to the shows will be available during the festival at Fringe Central at Weston’s Coffee and Tap, 4872 N. Milwaukee Ave. More information is available at chicagofringe.org.
A “Save Our Shops Block Party: Edgebrook Takes Back the Streets” event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, on Devon Avenue between Central Avenue and Kinzua Avenue. The event is in support of businesses which have been impacted by construction on Devon, and it is being sponsored by Everyday Edgebrook, the Edgebrook Community Association and the Edgebrook-Sauganash Chamber of Commerce.
The party will feature music, local food, children’s activities and street vendors, along with special deals from area businesses.
The Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce’s third annual “Throwback Music Festival” will be held Friday through Sunday, Sept. 7 through 9, on Milwaukee Avenue between Elston Avenue and Peterson Avenue.
“Throwback” performances will include tributes to AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John Billy Joes, Guns N’ Roses and Bruce Springsteen. The festival also will feature a pet parade costume contest at 11 a.m. Saturday, a 9/11 memorial tribute at 11 a.m. Sunday and a “Miss Throwback” pinup girl contest at 3 p.m. Sunday.
There also will be children’s activities and a classic car show on Sunday. More information is available at throwbackmusicfest.com.
The Six Corners Association will hold a “County Fair Chicago” event on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9, in the parking lot behind Binny’s Beverage Depot, 4901 W. Irving Park Road.
The fair will include live music, blue-ribbon competitions, a Saturday night barn dance, a pie-eating contest and hog calling. More information is available at countyfairchicago.com.
There also will be a “Sunday Market,” featuring produce and baked goods, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave.
