West Fest is an annual street festival in Chicago’s West Town Community on Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street. The event began in 2004 with 40 vendors and one live music stage, and each year West Fest has grown in size and popularity. In 2015 there were three stages, over 100 vendors, and 40,000 attendees!
What makes West Fest so unique? West Fest stands out from the rest because it is locally planned and managed by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, thus the emphasis is on local offerings and local talent. West Fest features neighborhood retailers and restaurants, fine artists, crafters, and more. The event reflects the eclectic and hip West Town community, and is also known for cutting edge live music.
The West Fest live music stage is booked by Empty Bottle Presents and features cutting edge original live music. Featured headliners in the past have included world renowned rock bands The Meat Puppets, Office, The Ponys, Redwalls, Califone, King Kahn, The Black Lips, Tortoise, The Oblivians, Mates of State, Murder City Devils, Dead Moon and many more.
