Celebrate Highwood Announces Line-up of 2019 Festivals and Events

HIGHWOOD, IL (NOVEMBER 2019) – Celebrate Highwood is proud to announce their 2019 series of family-friendly festivals and events which includes: Jazzed Up Dining & Classical Cocktails, the weekly Wednesday Evening Gourmet Market, North Shore Pride Fest, Inferno Fest, North Shore Taco Fest & Highwood Days, Bloody Mary Fest, Garlic Fest, Nashwood, Elf Invasion Pub Crawl and The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Celebrate Highwood’s acclaimed Bloody Mary and Great Highwood Pumpkin Festivals, and the third season as an official 501(c)(3) with the mission of raising funds for worthy non-profit organizations through its festivals and events. Although all festivals are FREE to the public, a portion of proceeds benefit various charities.

Celebrate Highwood’s 2019 events:

• 3rd Annual Jazzed Up Dining & Classical Cocktails
• 7th Annual North Shore Pride Fest
• 11th Season of Highwood’s Wednesday Evening Gourmet Market, Everts Park (130 Highwood Ave.)
• Inferno Fest, Everts Park
• 4th Annual North Shore Taco Fest & Highwood Days,
• 3rd Annual North Shore Taco Run 5K
• 10th Annual Bloody Mary Fest, Everts Park
• 9th Annual Garlic Fest, Everts Park
• 3rd Annual Nashwood, Downtown Highwood
• The 10th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Downtown Highwood
• Superhero 5K Pumpkin Run/Walk
• 2nd Annual Elf Invasion Pub Crawl

February 23rd 6:30 p.m.

Benefitting Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Fort Sheridan

This is an event different from anything else we hold. In addition to live jazz, classical and big band musical performances by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory students throughout the evening, guests will enjoy appetizers, dinner and dessert from the North Shore’s finest restaurants, as well as an open bar and a silent auction.

June 1st, noon-bar close

Benefitting SPECTRUM

This family friendly/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 (Everts Park, 130 Highwood Avenue) will be held from noon-3 p.m., followed by a Taste the Rainbow Pub Crawl throughout Downtown Highwood restaurants and bars from 5 p.m.–bar close.

June 5th–August 28th, 4:30-9:30 p.m.

In its 11th season, these markets are recognized as one of the best outdoor markets on the North Shore. This family and pet friendly event features live music, dancing under the stars, freshly prepared delicacies from local restaurants and food trucks, and creative cocktails. Attendees can shop for locally made artisan breads, sauces, cheeses, pastas and sweets in addition to handmade jewelry, fashion and art.

Wednesday, June 26th, 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Daring food enthusiasts have lots of hot and spicy foods to try and even partake in the spiciest inferno food competition. This great event, complete with milk angels, is sure to add heat to your summer night.

Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot

Thursday, July 18th– Sunday, July 21st

North Shore Taco Fest brings together the region’s best taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks to offer a wide range of mouth-watering taco creations, along with full beer and margarita garden. Complete with carnival rides, live music and tons of food from local vendors, this is the most traditional festival that does not disappoint.

Saturday, July 20th, 9 a.m.

Benefitting Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic

Sunday, July 28th, 10a.m.-5p.m.

Dozens of vendors from near and far vie for the titles of ‘Best Bloody Mary,’ and the ‘People’s Choice’! In 2018, 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.

Wednesday, August 14th, 4:30-9:30 p.m.

This fun, food-filled event showcases the ever-popular taste of Garlic. Attendees come to sample a variety of sweet and savory garlic creations from out-of- the-ordinary garlic ice cream, candy, cupcakes and cocktails, to the more usual pastas, sauces, breads, and butters. Held during the Highwood Evening Gourmet Market, the fest features a Taste of Garlic Competition for the best Savory and Sweet creations, as well as the ever popular Garlic Royalty Competition.

Friday, August 30th–Sunday, September 1st

The buzz is ablaze as the City of Highwood transforms its Downtown business district into Honkey Tonk Row. Country, blues, classic and southern rock sounds will radiate from over 20 bars and restaurants beginning Friday happy hour and running all day and evening Saturday and Sunday. Some 100 musical performances will be showcased in both indoor and outdoor venues.

Friday, October 11th–Sunday, October 13th

Celebrating its tenth year, The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is the biggest outdoor celebration on the North Shore featuring nightly jack-o-lantern lightings as Highwood vies for the world record for the most carved pumpkins in one place. This celebration features pumpkin-filled walls throughout the festival grounds, ceremonial wall lightings, all you can carve pumpkins, trick or treating, costume contests, pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, kids crafts, four stages jam packed with live music, food and beverage vendors and much more! The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival has partnered with Make-A-Wish Illinois with the goal of raising enough funds to grant wishes to children with critical illnesses in Illinois.

October 12th at 9 a.m.

To honor Highwood’s hometown hero ‘Superman Sam’ Samuel Asher Sommer, a Make-A-Wish recipient, event organizers are encouraging all participants to come dressed in their favorite super hero costume in solidarity to help raise money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Illinois children.

December 7th, 7 p.m.-bar close

After a successful first year, once again Celebrate Highwood is calling all elves to come out and get “Elfed Up’ at the 2nd Annual "Elf Invasion Pub Crawl." The public is invited to channel their inner elf, dress the part and join the pack of elves as they visit the City of Highwood's most popular establishments to enjoy live music, food & drink specials and raffle prizes.

“Our family friendly festivals and events bring communities together to celebrate what’s great about the North Shore,” says Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood and Highwood Alderman.

The inaugural North Shore Taco Fest event in July 2016 was the first initiative that provided the seed money necessary to establish working capital for the formation of a 501(c)(3). The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, which has always given back to the community, has evolved into an internationally recognized event raising thousands of dollars for charities to date, and successfully raised $140K for Make-A-Wish Illinois since 2016.

For more information on all of Celebrate Highwood festivals and events please visit www.CelebrateHighwood.org or LIKE us on Facebook www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood. To volunteer and/or make a donation visit https://www.celebratehighwood.org/donate-support/

or call 847-432-6000.

ABOUT CELEBRATE HIGHWOOD:

Celebrate Highwood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity established in August 2016. Managed and operated by volunteers, our mission is to bring community together to raise funds for local and national charities. Through producing events that cater to the citizens, businesses and visitors of Highwood, our goal is give back, build strong community spirit, and establish Highwood as THE prime entertainment destination for dining, festivals and events on the North Shore. For more information on all of Highwood’s festivals, please visit www.CelebrateHighwood.org, www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood, or call 847-432-6000.