Evanston 2021 Summer Events Schedule Approved By Aldermen

EVANSTON, IL — A schedule of special events in Evanston this summer was approved by the Evanston City Council Monday. The list (see below) include traditional favorites like the Starlight Concert Series Movies in the Park and Bike the Ridge, as well as two new events organizers hope to debut this year.

But approval of some of the summer events — like Northwestern University's commencement address, a concert series at Canal Shores and plans for food fests, charity walks and outdoor markets — was conditional on changes to state rules issued in response to coronavirus pandemic.

Lawrence Hemingway, the city's parks director, told aldermen city staff extended the deadline to submit special event permits from the end of January to the end of March in the hope that the J.B. Pritzker administration would have made changes to his Restore Illinois reopening plan.

"Unfortunately this has not happened," Hemingway said, in a memo to the council, "and therefore some of the event applications received for this summer and fall are requesting conditional approval."

Hemingway said his department's special events committee would would with the Evanston Health and Human Services Department to make sure event coordinators are following all all public health requirements before they can receive a special event permit.

All outside organizations who receive permits to host special events in Evanston's parks must reimburse the city for the full cost of city services provided.

The below schedule indicates which events were approved pending changes to COVID-19 guidelines.

Evanston Made Makers Market
First Saturday of the month from May to October, from noon to 5 p.m.
Evanston Made and Downtown Evanston plan a scaled down event on the fifth floor of Maple Garage on May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2.

New Trier Menz Concert
May 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
New Trier High School plans a 75-minute concert featuring dance, song, skits and video on the fifth floor of the garage on April 7, with plans to practice on site the day before.

Evanston Environmental Association Native Plant Sale
May 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Patrons will drive through the Civic Center parking lot at 15 minute intervals to pick up pre-purchased plans at Ingraham Park at the association's event.

Evanston Express Memorial Day Classic
May 28 to May 30, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Evanston Baseball/Softball Association is organizing a 25-team softball tournament at James Park hosted by the Evanston Express travel softball program.

Memorial Day Ceremony
May 31, from 10 a.m. to noon
The Evanston American Legion Post 42 plans to host a Memorial Day ceremony at Fountain Square Park in a similar fashion to last year.

Starlight Concert Series
June 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
City staff plan to host the first of its summerlong concert series in Dawes Park in a similar fashion to past years.

Thursday Night Markets
First Thursday of the month from June to October, 3 to 8 p.m.
Downtown Evanston plans close down Sherman Avenue between Grove and Davis streets for vendors and ambient music at Fountain Square.

Post 42 Patio Concert Series
Every other Friday and Saturday, from June 4 to Sept. 18, plus Sunday, July 4
The local American Legion and the Old Town School of Folk Music plan to produce a concert series every other Friday and Saturday at Canal Shores. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines)

Backyard Botanicals
June 5, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Evanston Garden Council will host a plant sale at Independence Park, in the same fashion as previous years.

Juneteeth Parade
June 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A parade along Dodge Avenue from the the Levy Center to Civic Center, and on Ridge Avenue from Robert Crown Center to the Civic Center is being organized by Kemone Hendricks.

Starlight Concert with Food Trucks
June 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The city-hosted concert is planned for Twiggs Park, as in previous years.

Starlight Concert Series
June 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The city will host a Tuesday concert at Baker Park.

Starlight Concert Series
June 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A city-sponsored Tuesday concert is planned for Kamen East Park.

Fourth of July Celebration
July 4, from 2 to 10 p.m.
The Evanston Fourth of July Association is planning for roving entertainment and/or possible mini-concerts throughout the city. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Starlight Concert Series
July 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A city-sponsored concert is planned for Canal Shores Golf Course.

Starlight Concert Series with Food Trucks
July 8, from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
A concert is planned for Elks Park, it will be moved from Brummel Park.

Central Street Sidewalk Sale
July 15 to July 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Central Street Business Association is sponsoring its annual sidewalk sale on Central Street between Greenwood Street and Hartrey Avenue.

Vintage Garage Chicago
July 18, Aug. 15, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vintage Promotions LLC is planning a scaled-down event on the fifth floor of the Maple Avenue garage on Sundays in July, August and November. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Starlight Concert Series
July 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A concert is planned at Larimer Park in the same fashion as past years.

Dempster-Main Male Sidewalk Sale
July 23 to July 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Main-Dempster Mile is sponsoring its annual sidewalk side over the third weekend in July.

Downtown Summer Sidewalk Sale
July 23 to July 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Downtown Evanston is sponsoring its annual sidewalk sale over the third weekend in July.

Great Lake Plunge
July 25, from 7 to 11 a.m.
A three-race swim challenge is planned for Dempster Street Beach, with organizer Evanston OWL aiming to hold a 1-kilometer swim around a designated course designated with buoys. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Starlight Concert Series
July 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The city-sponsored Tuesday concert series if planned for Mason Park.

Movies in the Park

City officials plan to screen movies in its parks in the same fashion as past years. All shows are scheduled for 8 p.m.

• July 31 in Larimer Park
• Aug. 3 in Penny Park
• Aug. 7 in Lovelace Park
• Aug. 10 in Baker Park
• Aug. 14 in Dawes Park
• Aug. 17 in James Park
• Aug. 21 in Twiggs Park
• Aug. 24 in Leahy Park
• Aug. 28 in Elks Park
• Sept. 18 in Lovelace Park
• Sept. 25 in Baker Park

Out of Space at Canal Shores
Aug. 5, Aug. 6, Aug. 7, Aug. 8, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Evanston Space plans to host a four concert series at Canal Shores Golf Course. Emmylou Harris & Los Lobos are booked for Aug. 5 and Caamp is booked for Aug. 8. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Evanston Art Walk
Aug. 13 to Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Twenty-five artists are expected for art fair sponsored by Amdur Productions.

North Shore Youth Triathlon
Aug. 15, from 7 to 10 a.m.
A triathlon is planned for Centennial Park, relocated for 2021 from Evanston Township High School to the lakefront. The swim is planned for Clark Street Beach, with a bike ride along a loop course on Sheridan Road between Campus Road and Dempster Street and a run on the pathway to Lee Beach and back to Centennial Park.

Taste of Armenia
Aug. 29, from noon to 6:30 p.m.
A food festival sponsored by St. James Armenian Church is planned for Clark Street from Sherman to Benson avenues. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Malankara Catholic Church Procession
Sept. 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Malankara Catholic Church procession is set to include a walk around the church at 1208 Ashland Ave. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

1 Million Steps for OCD Walk
Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sponsored by OCD Midwest, the charity walk is planned for the lakefront path and the Northwestern University campus race route in the same fashion as past years. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Music on Grove
Sept. 19, from 1 to 6 p.m.
In a new event for 2021, the Music Institute’s Evanston campus is planning a 90th anniversary celebration closing Grove Street between Chicago Avenue and the alley behind the institute shop.

Taste of Evanston
Sept. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club plans the annual food festival with small plates from local restaurants and along with wine and beer from local breweries. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

North Shore Century Bike Ride
Sept. 19, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The bike ride from Dawes Park to Kenosha and back, sponsored by the Evanston Bicycle Club, is planned for the same location as past years. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Bike the Ridge
Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The city-sponsored bike ride is planned for Ridge Avenue between Church and Howard streets in the same fashion as previous years.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon
The Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault plans its annual walk to raise awareness about sexual violence by men against women, where participants walk a mile on the lakefront path wearing high heels. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Cubmobile
Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The soapbox derby race sponsored by Boy Scouts of America is planned for Leonard Place between Ridge and Asbury avenues, the same as past years.

Veterans Day
Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon
Hosted by American Legion Post 42, the Veterans Day ceremony is planned for Fountain Square in the same manner as past years.

Flying Turkey 5K Run/Walk
Nov. 25, from 9 to 11 a.m.
The 5-kilometer race heads along Sheridan Road between Clark and Lincoln streets before passing through the Northwestern University campus and lakefront path, the same route as prior years. (Pending new COVID-19 guidelines.)

Menorah Lighting
Dec. 9, from 5 p.m.
The city-sponsored ceremony in the south plaza of Fountain Square will be invite-only with a maximum of 25 people.