North Halsted Market Days
Encyclopedia
North Halsted Market Days is an annual two-day festival
in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the Midwest's largest street festival with annual attendance exceeding 300,000 people over the two day event, takes place in the Boystown section of Lakeview along North Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Addison Avenue and is a half-mile long. The festival consists of 3 music
stages, 2 local band stages and a dance floor. The festival showcases food
and merchandise tents. There are also Halsted business establishment tents, as well as those of radio stations, public service organizations & companies (SAAB in 2008). Many give away small souvenir items.
The overall flavor of the event is decidedly gay, but is open to all. The street remains closed from Saturday at 7am to Monday at 1am. Most of the businesses along Halsted Street are open during the day and stay open late each night when the festival ends for the day. Most notably the 20+ bars and restaurants see a significant increase in patronage.
2006 was the 25th Anniversary for North Halsted Market Days, and helping celebrate were such notables as Billie Myers
, Brazilian Girls, Powder, East Village Opera Company and Michael McDermott. In the past Market Days has seen performances by Margaret Cho
, Jill Sobule, Leslie Jordan, Berlin, and many more.
2008 performers include 80's pop group Exposé and Broadway singer Jennifer Holliday
.
In 2011, actor, Darren Criss
performed at the festival. Afterwards, the Darren Criss Street Team performed a flashmob dance to a medley of his music.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the Midwest's largest street festival with annual attendance exceeding 300,000 people over the two day event, takes place in the Boystown section of Lakeview along North Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Addison Avenue and is a half-mile long. The festival consists of 3 music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
stages, 2 local band stages and a dance floor. The festival showcases food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
and merchandise tents. There are also Halsted business establishment tents, as well as those of radio stations, public service organizations & companies (SAAB in 2008). Many give away small souvenir items.
The overall flavor of the event is decidedly gay, but is open to all. The street remains closed from Saturday at 7am to Monday at 1am. Most of the businesses along Halsted Street are open during the day and stay open late each night when the festival ends for the day. Most notably the 20+ bars and restaurants see a significant increase in patronage.
2006 was the 25th Anniversary for North Halsted Market Days, and helping celebrate were such notables as Billie Myers
Billie Myers
Billie Myers is an English rock singer-songwriter. She is probably best known for her 1998 transatlantic hit, "Kiss the Rain".-Biography:...
, Brazilian Girls, Powder, East Village Opera Company and Michael McDermott. In the past Market Days has seen performances by Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho is an American comedian, fashion designer, actress, author, and recording artist. Cho is best known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social and political problems, especially those pertaining to race and sexuality. She has also directed and appeared in music...
, Jill Sobule, Leslie Jordan, Berlin, and many more.
2008 performers include 80's pop group Exposé and Broadway singer Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
.
In 2011, actor, Darren Criss
Darren Criss
Darren Everett Criss is an American actor, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and a founding member and co-owner of the theater company StarKid Productions. He currently portrays Blaine Anderson, an openly gay high school student, on the FOX television series Glee...
performed at the festival. Afterwards, the Darren Criss Street Team performed a flashmob dance to a medley of his music.