NS_SFG_ZC_052418.

22ndCenturyMedia.com Summer Fun Guide
22nd century media | May 24, 2018 | 5
41 things to do
in Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff
Congratulations, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest and Lake
Bluff — you’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel, also known as
a North Shore summer. The best part? You don’t even have to leave your
hometown to get the best summer has to offer. From beach campouts to
summer festivals, there are more than enough activities to keep you occupied
through the hot days and cool nights. Below, we’ve listed 41 fun
things to do right here in the North Shore all summer long.
highland
park/
highwood
1. Evening Gourmet
Markets
Wednesdays, 4:30-9:30
p.m. June 6-Aug. 29,
Everts Park, 130 Highwood
Ave, Highwood. In
its 10th season and recognized
as a top outdoor
market in the area, this
family- and pet-friendly
event features live music,
dancing under the
stars, freshly prepared
food from local restaurants
and food trucks, and
creative cocktails. Shop
for locally made artisan
breads, sauces, cheeses,
pastas and sweets in addition
to handmade jewelry,
fashion and art.
2. Bitter Jester Music
Festival
Fridays in June at
7 p.m. at Port Clinton
Square and Wednesday,
July 4 at Wolters Field,
residents will find live
music, drinks and food.
There is also a band competition
for July 4 with a
$20,000 prize.
3. Ravinia Farmers
Market
Wednesdays at 7 a.m.-1
p.m. from June 6-Oct. 24
on Dean Avenue between
St. Johns and Roger Williams
avenues. Fresh produce,
flowers and other
artisanal items are available
for purchase.
4. Ravinia District’s
Food Truck Thursdays
Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.
from June 7 through
September at Jens Jensen
Park. Food Truck
Thursdays features food
and drink from local restaurants
and more than a
dozen food trucks. Also,
the live music makes for
a good way to spend time
with friends and family.
5. North Shore Pride
Fest
June 9 from 11 a.m. to
bar close, this all-ages,
day-long event kicks off
Pride Month with a Pride
Family Picnic and Taste
the Rainbow Pub Crawl
to support the LGBTQ
community. Conveniently
located within walking
distance of the Highwood
Metra Train station, the
Pride Family Picnic in
the Park at Everts Park,
130 Highwood Ave. will
be held from 11 a.m.-3
p.m., followed by a Taste
the Rainbow Pub Crawl
throughout Downtown
Highwood restaurants
and bars from 5 p.m. until
the bars close.
6. The Art Center
– Highland Park
Festival of Fine Arts
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
June 23-24, The Art
Center-Highland Park
will showcase the work
of more than 100 juried
artists from around the
world. Additionally, the
art will be for sale, so you
could go home with some
new decorations.
7. Inferno Fest
Back by popular demand
(from 2013!) and
on June 27 from 4:30-
9:30 p.m. in Everts Park,
130 Highwood Ave., in
Highwood, locals will
again dare food enthusiasts
to have lots of hot and
spicy foods to try and/or
partake in the spiciest inferno
food competition.
8. Independence Day
Parade and Evening
Fireworks
The celebration on July
4 will kick off at 10 a.m.
with a parade in Downtown
Highland Park featuring
floats, marching
bands, dignitaries, novelty
groups, community
entries and other special
entertainment. Fireworks
at dusk can be viewed
from Wolters Field.
9. Third Annual North
Shore Taco Fest &
Highwood Days
Fourth of July brings the community out for a day of festivities in Highland Park,
where a downtown parade leads to and evening of fun and fireworks at Wolters Park.
22nd Century Media File Photos
This year marks the
50th anniversary of Highwood’s
oldest festival,
which will be held Thursday-Sunday,
July 19-22,
in the Highwood Metra
lot. The day is complete
with carnival rides, live
music and tons of food
from local vendors.
10. 8th annual
Bloody Mary Fest
Dozens of vendors
from near and far will
again vie for the titles of
Best Bloody Mary and
the People’s Choice at
the annual fest from 10
a.m.-5 p.m. July 29 in
Everts Park, 130 Highwood
Ave. In 2017, this
event attracted a crowd
of 10,000 people from
all over Chicagoland
eager to sample a variety
of different Bloody
Mary cocktail creations
and food inspirations.
Bloody Mary Fest is a Highwood tradition and is set for
July 29 this year.
11. National Night
Out
Join the Highland Park
Police on from 6-8:30
p.m. Aug. 7 on City
Hall’s front lawn, 1707
St. Johns Avenue, to promote
safety, health and
civic mindfulness. This
new event brings the
community and public
safety personnel together.
12. 8th Annual Garlic
Fest
This fun, food-filled
event — slated from
4:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 15
at Everts Park, 130 Highwood
Ave. — showcases