Ridge Park Art Fair Will Be More 'Robust' This Year: Organizer

CHICAGO - The Ridge Park Art Fair & Festival returns to Ridge Park in Beverly for its second year this Saturday, June 22. The fair will feature 42 artists along the park's path and other fun activities in the parking lot of the Ridge Park Cultural Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

Mary Jo Viero, a neighborhood volunteer who is leading the way in organizing the event presented by the Ridge Park Advisory Council and John H. Vanderpoel Art Association, says the offerings this year will be more "robust" than when the now yearly event made its debut in 2018.

"It's going to be more robust," said Viero, who works for the Beverly Area Planning Association. "There will be more food, options for children and artists."

Artwork featured will include a wide variety of media including paintings, sculptures, textiles, photographs, jewelry, art glass and leatherwork, BAPA wrote in its most recent addition of The Villager.

"All artwork will be original to the artist who will be there," Viero said. "No one will be selling anyone else's work."

Live music and a number of food trucks will be stationed in the parking lot just north of the park. Misiericordia Hearts and Flour, Calabria and Pollo Locuas are among the food trucks having been planned to be there. Musical acts will be inspirational singer Gincy Hartin, a local jazz ensemble and the Over the Side Band, a popular cover band.

Viero said tours of the John H. Vanderpoel Museum Gallery in the fieldhouse will be available during the festival, which last year drew more than 1,000 attendees. Also, neighborhood artist Judie Anderson will have tote bags featuring a water color of Ridge Park. The original water color of Ridge Park will be auctioned off.

There's no entry fee for the festival, but donations are welcome. They will all go to help the Ridge Park Advisory Council make improvements to the fieldhouse.