Fountain Square Art Festival-June 28 & 29--Fun Packed Weekend of Art, Music and Food

 The 35th annual Fountain Square Art Festival held on Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29,  will have lots of art and an all-star line up music and food.

With over 200 artists represented and sunshine expected, strollers and serious buyers will have time and space to explore paintings, sculptures, metalwork, jewelry, glasswork, wood work, photography and mixed media.

The music lineup kicks off at noon on Saturday, June 28:

• Noon – 3 p.m. Fred Simon, Jazz piano
• 3 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.  Boogie jazz/blues pianist Craig Brenner

Sunday, June 29   Noon to 5:30 p.m.

• Noon-3 p.m.     etc. music school

• 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.  BMR4  Jazz

Simon, on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, located in Evanston, has a robust recording career and has composed for live performance, film, dance and television. 

Brenner was called, “a fine and funky pianist” by Living Blues Magazine.  He has recorded often as Craig and the Crawdads, and is a favorite in the college town of Bloomington, Indiana, where he studied.

On Sunday, attendees and diners will have an opportunity to hear the members of the etc. music school, a unique musical organization founded by Mike O’Mara, an Evanstonian  and teacher who offers a holistic approach to music and theatre which involves students and respects their interests. Wrapping up the Sunday showcase is the group BMR4, often heard at Evanston’s Pete Miller’s Steakhouse, a home for distinctive jazz artists.   The group also has many recordings.

“We are very pleased to feature these musical groups,” said Elaine Kemna-Irish, executive director of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, the sponsoring organization for the Fountain Square Festival.  She added, “It’s a great lineup for an entertaining weekend.”

The NEW FamilyFest Activity Area, will feature several activities for children and adults.  Evanston Art Center will oversee kid friendly activities.  Adirondack chairs for lounging  and a secret interactive art project with a surprise ending from Evanston’s Bottle and Bottega and Good’s of Evanston will keep fairgoers guessing. In addition, “Selfies” featuring Evanston’s creative sculpture, The Encounter, will make for some never-before-imagined photos. The City of Evanston’s Mobile Water Station  will be available for eco-friendly water bottle fill-ups and on Sunday representatives from Life Sources will be on hand.

For times, a complete list of food vendors and last minute additions and changes, go to

www.evchamber.com and follow on Twitter, #FtnSqArtFest