Illinois – Travel Smart With Jodie

Holiday lights and festivals

Light up the night at Lightscape

(Photo courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape)

It may seem almost overwhelming when considering all the festivals in the Chicago area this Thanksgiving holiday weekend so here are just a few to consider.

Magnificent Mile Light Festival

The main feature is The Parade led by Disney’s ® Mickie and Minnie Mouse that starts at 5:30 p.m. but you might want to go earlier for events along North Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile. The Parade starts at the north end at Oak Street and ends south at the Chicago River.

However, the festivities go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the south end of the Mag Mile in Pioneer Court next to the former Chicago Tribune building. They include photos with Santa, cheesecake decorating with Eli’s Cheesecake, free coffee samples and MUNCHKINS® Donut Hole Treats and DJ’s on stage.

Look for a good parade viewing spot early to see the floats, celebrities and bands and watch Mickey and Minnie turn on the million lights as they proceed up the Avenue. Overhead will be Muppet balloons, including a 60-foot-tall Santa Kermit The Frog .

Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape

Stroll on a set path around fields, plots and waterways accompanied by music and refigured by colored lights. As good as it was last year and the year before, the 2024 Lightscape is almost beyond imagination.

Stop along the way for a snack or go into the Education Building half way around to rest and eat because more amazing patches of illumination still lie ahead.

Lightscape is Nov 15 through Jan 5, 2025. The Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022. For tickets and more information visit Lightscape or call (847) 835-6801.

City of Chicago Tree Lighting

Go over to Millennium Park east of Michigan Avenue just south of Washington Street for Chicago’s annual Christmas Tree lighting November 22. The tree will be up through January 8, 2025 but on this Friday, there will be entertainment at 5 p.m. and a ceremony begins at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks. Enter through the south Promenade on Monroe Street or Randolph Street.

Take public transportation because Street closures begin at 10:00 a.m. on November 22 for Washington from Wabash to Michigan, Madison from Wabash to Michigan,Michigan Avenue from Randolph to Monroe and Garland Court from Randolph to Monroe. They end at midnight.

Jodie Jacobs

A cerebral journey of friendship through time and space

Highly Recommend

Letter writing is more akin to internal dialogue and can have a kind of naked intimacy that is difficult to achieve in the flesh.

As many of us have experienced in this age of email and texts, people will often commit to the written word thoughts and ideas they might never have said in person.

In Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s Dear Elizabeth at Theater Wit, poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell’s letters are echoes of a long-distance relationship that sparked a 30-year correspondence and ultimately evolved into a profound friendship.

Born in Massachusetts, Bishop and Lowell were both Pulitzer Prize winners for poetry. As a result of these commonalities, their sizeable collection of intelligent and witty missives are riddled with references to New England as well as personal news and collegial musings related to their work and travels.

As professional wordsmiths who had already achieved some celebrity it is possible that they were crafting their memoranda for posterity, especially since they each apparently saved correspondence that might have been considered ephemeral by others.

However, many people of every rank have thankfully saved letters, thus preserving small snapshots of life that much like photos allow us to live and relive moments in time.

In the case of Dear Elizabeth we are the beneficiaries, able to enjoy this voyeuristic journey of the mind through time and space that Bishop and Lowell began.

Leah Karpel as the initially guarded, sometimes asthmatic Elizabeth, and Christopher Sheard as the gregarious, bipolar Robert, are perfect in their roles breathing life into words that were never intended to be vocalized.

There are no particularly great moments of tension or drama in Dear Elizabeth. Sure, there are emotional references to births, deaths and romances but overall, this theatrical duet for two voices by Sarah Ruhl is more like a relaxing soak in a warm bath.

Cerebral is an appropriate term for this experience as the “conversation” between the two epistolists is like one brain talking to another. Words are carefully chosen and though the language is informal, there is a clarity of thought that might otherwise get muddled through the process of extemporaneous discourse. This becomes evident during the infrequent face-to-face meetings between the two that apparently and somewhat ironically were fraught with awkward moments and miscommunications.

There is a precision to this production that comes off as simply natural but is in fact an indication of the firm hand of director and Remy Bumppo creative producer Christina Casano. It is clear that someone with a strong overall vision set the tempo of the performances, as well as the audio and visual elements. It takes great effort to look effortless.

The effective scenic design by Catalina Niño features a number of projections that enhanced the reference to specific places but had an indistinct dreamlike quality that one might experience when trying to imagine a place you have not seen for yourself or place from memory.

The bare set was interestingly neutral, reminiscent of a sandy beach, literally providing a perfect canvas for the projections. From a technical point-of-view there were a number of costume elements, props and pieces that were cleverly built into or stashed away within the set making them easily accessible without undue clutter or fuss.

This is a smart biographical drama providing us a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of two interesting, actual people, who through their own words demonstrate to us the value of friendship and human connectedness.

Dear Elizabeth by Remy Bumppo Productions is at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago through November 17, 2024. Runtime is about 100 minutes with one 10 minute intermission. For information visit RemyBumppo.org.

Reviewer Reno Lovison

For more reviews and theatre info visit Theatre In Chicago – Your Source For Plays In Chicago – Chicago Plays

Halloween comes early to Highwood and Chicago Botanic Garden

(Photo courtesy of Highwood Chamber of Commerce)

More than 14 years ago, Highwood, a slightly over a square mile northeastern suburb of Chicago, decided to challenge Keene, NH’s record of most jack-o-lanterns displayed (30,581). BTW, a jack-o-lantern is a carved pumpkin.

I haven’t heard of any time since then that Highwood hit the record, but the town, actually a city, is continuing to fight for that achievement with its 14th annual “Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest,” Oct. 4-6.

Despite all the skeletons around town that will be seen in October, the fest is a very family friendly event that includes “all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations” and three days of live music from three stages. Plus, there will be children’s and pet costume contests and pumpkin pie eating contests, food and artisan vendors, a carnival and hayrides.

What to expect: Highwood will be turned into Pumpkin Town USA beginning Seto 28 and will cover the grounds at Highwood City Hall (17 Highwood Avenue), Everts Park (111 North Avenue), Painters Park (420-424 Sheridan Road) and the Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot where the carnival will be on site.

Also, expect street closures on Green Bay Road from North Avenue to Highwood Avenue, and on Highwood Avenue from Green Bay Road to Waukegan Avenue where vendors and the Great Pumpkin Walls will be.

Music stages will be at North Avenue and Green Bay, the Bandshell in Everts Park and the School of Rock Stage in Painters Park. Pumpkin Town USA will be at the center of Everts Park.

In addition, expect many camera stops as visitors shoot skeleton scenes from Superhero movies and skeletons just posing.

“The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest put Highwood on the map and it’s the perfect kick-off to Fall after our summer series of events,” says Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood. “This year, we are proving to the world why Illinois is The Great Pumpkin (pie) State by attempting to break the Guinness World Records for the longest line of (pumpkin) pies,” says Falberg.

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns

(Photo courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden)

Called the “Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns” the Chicago Botanic Garden will hold this popular (sold out last year) event on Oct 16-20 and Oct. 23-27, 2024 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

What to expect: Scary or funny or just plain creative, pumpkins will be gazing back as visitors gaze at their faces carved as album covers, eerie cartoons and Día de los Muertos tributes.

Also look for pumpkin-carving demos, entertainers in costume, glow-in-the-dark tattoos for kids and light food and drinks available to purchase.

Jodie Jacobs

Jeff Equity nominations

The Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Awards honor outstanding theatre shows and their artists annually since 1968. This week, they have announced their nominees for the 56th Equity Awards. The Award ceremony will be Sept. 30, 2024, at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

The nominees total 193 in 34 categories in shows that ran July 1, 2023 to June 30, 1924. As an example of the nominees note that Goodman Theatre received 20 nominations from nine productions of which two were co-produced with other companies. Next most was Mercury Theater Chicago with 18 nominations and Marriott Theatre with 17 nominations.

Here are some of the categories and their nominees. For the full list visit Joseph Jefferson Awards.

2024 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES

Production – Play (Large)
“Birthday Candles” – Northlight Theatre
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” – Goodman Theatre
“The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
“Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
“Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare TheaterProduction – Play (Midsize)
“Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
“Silent Sky” – Citadel Theatre
“Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre

Production – Musical (Large)
“Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
“Guys and Dolls” – Drury Lane Productions
“The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
“Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre

Production – Musical (Midsize)
“Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“Rock of Ages” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
“Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago

Production – Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater

Ensemble – Play
“English” – Goodman Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
“POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive”
– Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
“Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
“Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble TheaterNew Work
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Samuel D. Hunter – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Nambi E. Kelley – “Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution” – Court Theatre
Brett Neveu – “Revolution” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre

Director – Play (Large)
Susan V. Booth – “The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Joe Mantello – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Tyrone Phillips – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Phylicia Rashad – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Director – Play (Midsize)
Mikael Burke – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Louis Contey – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Chuck Smith – “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” – American Blues Theater
Paul Oakley Stovall – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
Beth Wolf – “Silent Sky” – Citadel TheatreDirector – Musical (Large)
Jim Corti – “Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre
Jessica Fisch – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Katie Spelman – “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Michael Weber – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre

Director – Musical (Midsize)
Matthew Silar – “She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
L. Walter Stearns – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago

Director – Revue
Daryl D. Brooks – “The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
E. Faye Butler – “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Deidre Goodwin – “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” – Marriott Theatre

Yummy food tastings and toe tapping music at ‘Taste Of’

Taste of Chicago Grant Park_Photo by Walter S. Mitchell III, City of Chicago.JPG

(Walter S. Mitchell, III, photo /DCASE/ City of Chicago)

If planning to make Chicago or friends who live there, a Fall vacation, try to fit the visit for when Taste of Chicago returns to the city’s Grant Park, Sept. 6-8, 2024.

What to expect:

Well, there’s always Eli’s Cheesecake to get for dessert, but there will also be more than 40 food booths and a dozen food trucks with tastings from a variety of cuisines ranging from Cuban, East Indian and African to Thai, pizza and the famed hamburgers of Billy Goat Tavern.

Tol relax, look for the beer hall or cocktail lounge.

Plus, you can down the food to musical headliners and popular rock and emerging artists.

Where to congregate:

Take pictures and meet friends in the park at Buckingham Fountain (Jackson & Columbus).

No Charge or tickets: Taste of Chicago is free. and vendors take cash and credit cards.

“The Taste of Chicago showcases the incredible culinary diversity of our city’s 77 neighborhoods,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “It offers a special bite of why we are the greatest culinary city in the world,” he said.

For more information, visit Taste of Chicago and Choose Chicago (city pr)

Jodie Jacobs

Two Chicago must do

The 'Bean' in Millennium Park. (J Jacobs photo) — The ‘Bean’ in Millennium Park. (J Jacobs photo)

Whether living in or near Chicago or visiting for vacation or a convention there are two really good items to put on the to-do list.

One: Millennium Park, a wonderful place to explore, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year with family events and performances July 18-21, 2024.

If there this Thursday-Sunday, celebrate with ¡Súbelo! and Fruko y Sus Tesos on Thursday, listen to the music of John Williams including Star Wars played by the Grant Park Orchestra Friday, or Grammy winner Common on Saturday and or R&B performers Sunday. Plus, there are family activities all day Saturday and Sunday. Check 20th anniversary above to see times.

But if those dates aren’t convenient, just go because there is the “Bean” (Cloud Gate) to see and the Fountain to splash in or photo.

Anish Kapoor’’s massive Cloud Gate sculpture, familiarly called “The Bean” is now as synonymous with Chicago as Picasso’s sculpture by City Hall. A 12-foot-high central arch is the “gate” to the underside but also the streetscape.

Calling the two, 50-foot facing towers the Crown Fountain | Millennium Park Foundation doesn’t begin to describe what it is and does.

Designed by Jaume Plensa and built by Krueck + Sexton Architects, Crown Fountain is about water, video, light, and glass elements

Changing images of Chicagoans are projected in a way similar to fountain gargoyles from which water flows out of their mouths. Really. The pooled water is often a splash and play area for children.

Then there is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion | Millennium Park Foundation. Designed by Frank Gehry, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is where crowds watch a variety of performers from bluegrass to classical music as they sit on reserved seats or on the grass.

The Pavilion which is 120-feet above ground with a billowing open top of brushed stainless-steel ribbons that frame the stage connected to an overhead trellis of crisscrossing steel pipes, can be seen before even getting to Millennium Park if walking east towards Michigan Avenue down Randolph and Washington Streets.

Jay Pritzker Pavillion (J Jacobs photo)

In addition:

Also in Millennium Park, look for the Lurie Garden on the eastern side of the Pavilion and the Boeing Galleries – Millennium Park Foundation (of art) at the north and south ends of the park. It’s also hard to miss the Millennium Monument at Wrigley Square | Millennium Park Foundation in the peristyle that was at the park location from 1917 to 1953.

Plus there are two walkways crossing over roads to try. They are Gehry’s stainless steel pedestrian bridge that goes from Millenium Park over Columbus Drive to Maggie Daley Park and Renzo Piano’s (designer of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute) Nichols Bridgeway that he designed to go over Monroe from Millenium Park to the upstairs of the Chicago Art Institute.

Two: (but not second in sights and enjoyment) is the Architecture Boat Tour of the Chicago River.

Most well-known:CAC boat tour

Get tickets at the Chicago Architecture Center, 111 e Wacker Drive, around the corner from Michigan Avenue across from the Chicago River.

Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady | Boat Tours | Chicago Architecture Center

trained docent volunteers have led the CAC River Cruise, sharing fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. Hear how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. In just 90 minutes, you’ll get the best overview of Chicago’s architecture and its history. $54.

(Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise)

Also good is the Chicago River Architecture Tour by Boat 2024 (viator.com) that has good speakers talking about Chicago’s architectural history. It is also 90 minutes and costs about $44.

Jodie Jacobs

Spring events you should know

There’s still time to plan a visit to see Tulip Time in Holland Michigan. ( J Jacobs photos)

The eclipse is here and gone and it was great – maybe beyond most expectations. But there are more interesting and fun events coming this spring.

First, there are Earth Day walks in your area forest preserves and at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Morton Arboretum

Earth Day/s April 21-22

The Lake County Forest Preserves Hasting Lake site, 21155 W. Gelden Rd., Lake Villa, has an Earth Day walk April 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. (Shelter A)

This is a chance to visit and explore an area is the western part of the county you may not have visited before. Its for all ages and no registration is needed but adult supervision is required. (No pets but service dogs ok)

Event includes free, guided hikes and crafts. For more information visit Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG

Chicago Botanic Garden

Also, April 21 at 2.p.m. is a 45 minute guided walk at McDonald Woods in Glencoe, IL (or do your own walk here at any time). There is a choice of a short (1/3 mile or longer loop of a 2/3 mile. (walks canceled if heavy rain) Parking and Garden admission charged for nonmembers. For more information visit Earth Day Walk in McDonald Woods | Chicago Botanic Garden

Tulip Time May 4-12

Then, in early May, tulips will be coloring the downtown landscape, parks and Windmill Island in Holland MI during Tulip Time, the towns, big, annual flower festival. Plus, there are traditional dances to watch and other activities during the fest. Tulip Time is worth the trip so book a B’n’B or hotel and get to know the town, its heritage and visit its wooden shoe factories on the outskirts of downtown. For more information visit Tulip Time.

Lake Geneva Winterfest means Snow Sculpting

Winterfest 2023 1st Place Winner North Dakota

2023 1st Place Championship team from North Dakota. “The Nemean Lion” The team also won “People’s Choice Award (Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva CVB)

Next week, drive over to Lake Geneva, WI for Winterfest Lake Geneva

Fabulous snow sculptures created by championship state teams from Alaska to Wisconsin are entered in the annual National Snow Sculpting Championship as part of Winterfest.

It starts with snow delivered to 15 team sites on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park.

Many visitors drive over on Feb. 2 or 3 to watch the sculpting and see the winners on Saturday when work stops and judges rate the sculptures. Visitors can also pick their favorites as People’s Choice. They fill in the time by seeing ice sculptures downtown, shopping and enjoying live entertainment

Some visitors just come in for the day but If looking for a place to stay consider the Grand Geneval Resort and Spa known for its Wisconsin Croissant, also called “Ouisconsin.”

For more information visit Winterfest Lake Geneva.

Jodie Jacobs

Four events to look forward to in February

Past winner of Winterfest (Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva Chamber)

Many folks are ready to say goodbye to January’s below freezing temps and heavy snow shoveling. So here are some events to put on the calendar to help.

Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva Winterfest Jen 31-Feb 4

Amazing snow sculptures will be created along Geneva Lake during Lake Geneva, Wi’s US National Snow Sculpting Championship. It is part of the town’s 29th Annual Winterfest that includes several activities.

Although it begins Jan. 31, visitors won’t see the completed sculptures until that first Saturday in February. It takes a while to have the snow delivered to each sculpting team’s worksite and it takes time for them to carve out their masterpieces.

There will be 15 state championship teams competing from all over the US. Look for them sculpting at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park Judges will rate the work at about 1 p.m. Saturday. In past years, visitors also had a chance to vote for their favorites.

Strolling the downtown to shop, see ice sculptures, watch snow sculpting and enjoy live entertainment fills out the days until the winners are announced. Sculptures are still up on Sunday, weather permitting.

For more information visit Winterfest Lake Geneva.

Woodstock IL town square filmed in Groundhog Day (JJacobs photo)

Groundhog Day is back in Woodstock, IL (but also in Punxsutawney, PA)

Events surrounding the famed 1993 film start Feb. 1 but are celebrated with a redo of the weather predicting creature in Woodstock, IL on Feb 2. Suppposedly, film director Harold Ramis chose Woodstock for filming because the story-line location in Pennsylvania was far from his North Shore home in Illinois.

To see where weather forecaster Bill Murray and his station co-worker, Andie MacDowell fell in love, go to Woodstock, not Pennsylvania, a tourist destination northwest of Chicago with a picturesque square featured in the movie.

If in town early in the morning Feb. 2, you hear groundhog Woodstock Willie say when spring will come. But stay to tour the film’s sites and see the movie.

For clips visit Groundhog Day utube. For more Woodstock info visit Groundhog Day/Woodstock. For the Punxsutawney, PA site see Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. For folklore and background on Groundhog Day go to Farmers’Almanac Groundhog Day.

(Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism site)

Asian (Chinese) Lunar New Year 2024 Feb.10-25

Learn about the zodiac signs including yours, where the holiday is celebrated and where you can celebrate at Lunar New Year 2024/Animal, Dates and celebrations.

Although called Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, the festival is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam and Korea.

Here, in the Chicago area, there are dragon parades and other events in a couple of neighborhoods such as Argyle Feb. 17 and Chinatown Feb. 18, plus lots of red decorations (for good luck) in Asian restaurants. This year is the Year of the Dragon.

nfl-shield

Football’s Superbowl Sunday Feb 11, 2024

The event will be at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the game doesn’t matter unless you are a fan of one of the teams. But the commercials are usually worth watching. Check top 10 for 2023 on UTube to see what was good last year. Peanuts (the edible kind) and M and Ms were still around.

For Super Bowl LVIII info visit 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Sunday – When, Where & More – NFL.com

International Puppet Theater Festival returns this week

“The Immortal Jellyfish Girl” Photo courtesy of Wakka Wakka Productions

There’s more to the already great Chicago Theater experiences than you might think.

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, begun in 2015 and now celebrating its 6th year, starts January 18 and continues through January 28, 2024.

Headquartered at the Puppet Hub in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, 433 S. Michigan Ave., Festival events and shows are held at venues across the city. It also includes free neighborhood tours co-sponsored by the festival, Chicago Park District, Navy Pier and neighborhood organizations.

Considered the largest puppetry event in North America, the Fest draws artists from across the globe and features more than 100 activities ranging from performances and symposium to workshops and a Pop-Up Store.

Where to stay.

Chicago has lots of options but there is an official hotel for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. It is the Warwick Allerton Hotel, 701 N. Michigan Ave. which has a discounted rate during festival dates. Use the promo code, Puppetfest24. Visit Warwick Allerton or call (312) 440-1500 to reserve. This is where all of the artists stay and many visitors in town for the Chicago Intl Puppet Theater Festival.

For Festival tickets, activities and more information visit Chicago Puppet Fest.