The Wells Street Art Festival is usually held on the second full weekend of June in the popular Wells Street corridor of Old Town. An estimated 50,000 people attend annually.
Artist Booths -- We feature juried artists from across the continent. A number of disciplines are represented -- from traditional painting and sculpture, to artisan woodworking and metalsmithing, jewelcraft, the digital arts and more.
Entertainment -- The Wells Street Art Festival has a dedicated performance stage in the rear lot of O'Briens Restaurant (1528 N. Wells). Local music, performance artists and cover/tribute bands are featured here throughout the weekend.
Childrens' Play Area -- Each year, we strive to create a fun, interactive space for your kids where they can do arts & craft, participate in a performance, or just goof off! The children's play area is located at the corner of Wells Street and Evergreen Street.
Food and Drink -- The festival features 20+ food and drink vendors selling a varied assortment of tasty treats. With so many amazing Old Town restaurants participating, you may just want to try something from all of them!
Location -- Just minutes away from downtown's famous Magnificent Mile and the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline. Wells Street is easily accessible via the Red Line (Clark/Division Station) and Brown Line (Sedgwick station) public train systems.
A Charitable Mission
In the past 20 years, Wells Street Art Festival gate donations have been used to contribute $335,000 to 60+ community organizations or causes, including: local schools, arts & culture orgs, hunger initiatives, inner city violence, health education, homeless services, neighborhood aesthetics, and workforce programs.
