Winnetka Music Festival Returns With Expanded Lineup

WINNETKA, IL — The second edition of a free downtown music festival in Winnetka promises more acts, more stages and more family activities on Father's Day weekend. Dozens of musical acts will be performing throughout the Elm Street district Friday evening and all day Saturday as the Winnetka Music Festival returns after its successful debut last summer.

Organizers said the performances at the festival would represent a broad variety of musical genres, including country, electronic, jazz, rock, opera and more. The festival was founded by Val Haller, CEO of Valslist Music, who picked a diverse lineup of emerging local, national and international artists. While the inaugural year was a big success but "this year will be even bigger and better," she said.

"What better way to celebrate dad than a free music fest, rock n roll, and craft beer," Haller asked.

The free event is also produced by the village, park district, chamber of commerce and the Winnetka Community House. Last June, the inaugural event attracted more than 10,000 attendees, according to organizers.

This time, there will be 18 different food trucks and tents on hand from local restaurants, including craft beer and wine vendors, at four different food courts. ("Who would have thought the first year would be such a hit that we would run out of food, but we did and we learned," organizers said.) Many local businesses will also be participating in a Winnetka Music Festival sale, offering discounts, specials and more.

The music kicks off Friday at 5:45 p.m. with Minneapolis-based folk trio The Last Revel performing at Lincoln Avenue and Elm Street. They'll be followed by Low Cut Connie, a piano rock band from New Jersey. Performances will shift stages to the Lincoln Avenue commuter parking lot for the next two acts: Southern rockers A Thousand Horses, who recently toured with Kid Rock, and the first night's closer, Chicago electronic dance music duo Win + Woo.

On Saturday, performances at the family stage in Dwyer Park begin at 9 a.m. and get underway around noon at the other stages. In addition to the three main outdoor stages, Saturday will feature indoor performances in an intimate setting inside the chapel in the Winnetka Community House.

The festival headliner is ZZ Ward, an Oregon native who mixes blues and hip-hop. She's performed on a variety of national television broadcasts, toured with Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr. and Fitz & and Tantrums and is currently touring in support of her second full-length album. Her performance is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m. Saturday.

While there's no charge to attend, there is also a VIP lounge including free food and drink in an indoor and outdoor viewing area. Tickets are $150 for the lounge, located on the south side of the Winnetka Community House. No outside beverages are allowed and parking will be scarce, according to festival organizers.

Check out the complete schedule and sample music from all featured artists.

Map of festival grounds:

Highlights from last year's inaugural Winnetka Music Festival from Coffee Cup Productions: