A selection of don’t-miss art, music and theater events.
By LAURA MAZZUCA TOOPS From the June 2006 Issue
Pedals, Paddles & Poodles Hit the trails by land, sea or paws.
Saddle Up Nearby stables offer real horsepower.
Locals Only These spas feature ingredients only found here.
Bump, Set, Spike! Beach volleyball’s net result is a fierce workout
in a beautiful setting.
Lake Magazine covers the hottest information on the Lake Michigan area.
| |
When spring and summer roll around, it’s only natural for Midwesterners who have been cooped up all winter to want to be outside. It’s not that we don’t love our indoor museums, theaters and musical venues — it’s just that in the summer, culture, like food cooked outdoors, tastes better al fresco.
No matter what your artistic tastes, there’s bound to be something to tempt your palate in the Lake Michigan region this summer. From ethnic festivals to fine art exhibits, Shakespeare to children’s art, the classical tones of Ravinia to the head-banging ambiance of Lollapalooza — it’s all right here under the sun or the stars.
The menu of Lake Michigan arts and entertainment options offers something for every palate, from up-close looks at artists leading outdoor demonstrations to boisterous music festivals guaranteed to leave your ears ringing.
Many of the festivals and events we’ve selected either did not have their full lineup set by press-time or have such an extensive lineup that we can’t give you every detail. Wherever possible, we’ve included a website, phone number or other source of full information.
So now, as the curtain rises on summer, join us for a preview of some of the season’s most entertaining attractions. Whichever events or venues you choose, you’re sure to be inspired by the artistry you find there.
Music
Whether it’s along Chicago’s fabled lakefront or in the smaller towns of Harbor Country, you won’t have to travel far to hear a terrific variety of music.
Munster, Ind., plays host once again to its annual Blues, Jazz & Fine Arts Festival on July 8 and 9, with acts including the Bombay Alley Blues Band, Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra, the Kinsey Report, Dave Bennett and Ronnie Baker Brooks. The event takes place on the grounds of the Munster Town Hall (1005 Ridge Rd., 219-836-PARK, www.munster.org/parks).
Another popular Munster music event is the town’s annual Sounds at Sunset series, held in nearby Heritage Park (1154 Ridge Rd., 219-836-PARK, www.munster.org/parks), a historical park with a gazebo, forested area and the Kaske House, a period-restored home that’s on the National Historical Register.
In Three Oaks, Mich., the summer action centers on quaint Dewey Cannon Park. Starting in June, Music in the Park features live music every Saturday at 7 p.m. This year’s lineup includes the South Shore Concert Band and live poetry with Richard Fammeree. The Great American Music Festival takes place on July 1 in Watkins Park in Three Oaks (269-756-9221, www.harborcountry.org/events).
From June through August 17, Dowagiac, Mich., presents its Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Performers include the Round Oak Cornet Band, Fonn Mor Irish Band, Lake Effect Jazz Big Band, Renaissance String Quartet, and the Palace Theater Variety Show (269-782-8212, www.lakeshorechamber.org).
At the venerable Ravinia festival in Highland Park, Ill. — the oldest outdoor music festival in the country — music lovers have been indulging in everything from the most classic of classical performers to popular music favorites for more than 100 years. Everyone who is anyone has played at Ravinia, from Leonard Bernstein to Duke Ellington to Frank Zappa. And, as anyone who has been there knows, Ravinia is as renowned for its elegant outdoor ambience as the music that’s played there. Picnickers bring fine china, crystal, silver and candelabras along with their viands to soak in the culture, while uniformed Ravinia employees flash “Quiet, Please” signs to uphold the peace (www.ravinia.com, 847-266-5100).
If Ravinia is too genteel for your palate, Chicago’s Grant Park this year is once again hosting Lollapalooza (Aug. 4-6), the famous (some might say infamous) three-day music festival featuring some of alternative rock’s most prominent bands. This year’s lineup includes the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie and Queens of the Stone Age. Like Ravinia, Lollapalooza is equal parts musical festival and event, featuring food, technology, art, tattoos, fashion, and even a kids’ stage (www.lollapalooza.com).
For almost 40 years, one of the Midwest’s major summer events has been Milwaukee’s Summerfest (June 29-July 9). Situated in Henry Meier Festival Park, on 75 acres along Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront, Summerfest features 11 stages with acts performing day and night, plus food, shopping and children’s activities. Almost a million visitors pass through every year, making Summerfest one of the biggest outdoor summer music festivals in the world (www.summerfest.com).
Theater & Film
All the outdoors is a stage in summer, and several acting companies take the show outside to double your pleasure.
A long-time lakefront tradition, the Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, Ind., is a beloved summer habit for many locals and vacationers in the area. Besides innovative outdoor theater productions (one of last season’s productions was the outrageous Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Dunes also offers a summer camp and
acting classes for both children and adults. (288 Shady Oak Dr., Michigan City, 219-879-7509, www.dunessummertheatre.com).
The Sound of Silents film festival, going into its sixth popular year, treats you to classic film from the legendary silent era. The event primarily takes place at the restored Vickers Theatre, although there is at least one outdoor screening in Dewey Cannon Park. The festival is slated for August 11-15 (6 N. Elm St., Three Oaks, Mich., 269-756-3544, www.vickerstheatre.com).
Strictly speaking, the Chicago Park District’s Theatre on the Lake isn’t an outdoor venue — but it’s the next best thing. Plays are presented in a lovely red brick vintage building that sits right at the edge of Lake Michigan. Open to the breezes, it is the summer home of some of Chicago’s premier theater companies. The Theatre presents nine plays in nine weeks (2401 W. Lake Shore Dr., 312-742-7994).
If you’re a fan of the Bard and other classic theater, Chicago’s suburbs offer several outdoor venues in which to hear his immortal words. In Oak Park, the Oak Park Festival Theatre presents its annual “Classics in the Park” under the stars at Austin Gardens Park. This year’s program includes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, June 22-August 14, and William Inge’s classic Picnic, July 11–August 19 (708-445-4440, www.oakparkfestival.com).
In suburban Oak Brook, Ill., there’s the First Folio Shakespeare Festival, held every summer at the beautiful Mayslake Peabody Estate, the former baronial home of a local millionaire. This year’s production, The Tempest, runs June 24-July 30 (Wednesday through Sunday), with previews June 21-23 (630-986-8067, www.firstfolio.org).
Art
There’s no shortage of artistic outdoor events along Lake Michigan throughout the summer.
The 25th annual Lakefront Art Festival transforms Michigan City’s charming Washington Park into an outdoor gallery. This event attracts thousands of visitors from surrounding states to enjoy the ambience of Washington Park’s shady trees and grassy acres. Work must be one-of-a-kind and includes collage, basketry, ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, paintings and photography (August 19-20, Washington Park, just east of the bandstand, www.lubeznikcenter.org).
On July 9, the Benton Harbor Children’s Art Fair will display more than 250 artworks created by children in the Benton Harbor Arts District. Other activities include dancing, music, live performances and hands-on art activities, all designed to be interactive for youth of all ages (Water & Territorial streets, Benton Harbor, Mich., 269-927-4911, www.goswm.com).
Back for its 15th season, Harborfest 2006 in South Haven, Mich., includes music, food, a craft fair, “Blues on the Black River,” and the popular dragonboat races. Harborfest 2006 will be held July 16-18 (Riverfront Park, 539 Phoenix St., South Haven, 269-637-5252, www.shharborfest.com).
The Leeper Park Art Fair in South Bend, which has been around for 38 years, is a juried fair that features 120 booths of fine arts and crafts (June 17-18, Michigan Street and St. Joseph River, South Bend, 574-272-8598, www.leeperparkartfair.org).
Meet Me on the Island, also in South Bend, is a combination of art, music and festival fun held on select Friday summer evenings (Island Park, Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph St., South Bend, 574-235-9102, www.centurycenter.org).
Chicago’s huge annual Gold Coast River North Art Fair, August 4-6, is considered the granddaddy of art festivals, and is going into its 48th year. More than 400 juried artists and 600,000 visitors check out this free annual event (676 N. La Salle St., www.amdurproductions.com/gold-coast.html).
And remember these great art events:
The 45th Chesterton Art Fair (August 5 & 6, Hawthorne Park, Waverly Road, Porter, Ind., 219-926-4711), A wide range of artists display their work in pottery, photography, mixed media, glass, fiber and digital art.
Krasl Art Fair (July 8 & 9, Lake Bluff Park, St. Joseph, Mich., 269-983-0271, www.krasl.org/fair.html). Named as one of the top 100 fine arts festivals in that nation, Krasl showcases more than 200 artists and attracts more than 70,000 visitors each year.
Ship and Shore Arts and Music Festival (Aug. 11-13, Whittaker St., New Buffalo, Mich., www.newbuffalo.org). The event includes food vendors, live music, family activities, fine art, a beer garden, volleyball tournament and a lighted boat parade at dusk on Saturday followed by fireworks.
|
subscribe today!
