Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival returns to Waukegan June 2
The Waukegan Park District's 19th Annual Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2. The festival will take place at Bowen Park, on the corner of Sheridan Road and Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan. This grass-roots festival for all ages is presented by the Waukegan Park District with sponsorship support by the Waukegan Arts Council, Waukegan Historical Society and Mark Harms of Edward Jones.
The Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival celebrates the beginning of summer and showcases local and regional artists and venues, champions the arts and remembers one of Waukegan's favorite sons: author and visionary Ray Bradbury. The festival features multiple music and entertainment stages and family activities including creative art projects that are all free.
This year at the festival, more than 35 artists and crafters can be found on "Artist Lane" displaying their fine art, conducting demonstrations, providing instruction and selling their work. A tradition at the festival is the Community Art Project. This year, attendees can help create a large festival masterpiece titled "Our Lake Michigan!"
Activities at the Children's Art Tent include decorating tiles to later be incorporated into the Bowen greenhouse. High School art students will showcase their talents at a section of the festival called "Young Artist Lane."
The festival's outdoor Pavilion Music Stage will feature a variety of bands and performers throughout the day, headlined at 4:15 p.m. by Almost Joe. The Pavilion Music Stage runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The indoor Acoustic Stage in the Jack Benny Center for the Arts Theatre will feature a variety of talented acoustic music performers throughout the day, headlined from 4-5 p.m. by "Jazzman" Jeff's Lake County Acoustic Music Jam. The Acoustic Stage runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gazebo Variety Stage will feature Waukegan High School students and alumni reading Ray Bradbury's "The Whole Town's Sleeping" at 2:45 p.m. Join the Community Drum Circle, a festival favorite, at 1 p.m. Participants may borrow a drum, percussion or rhythm instrument, or they can bring their own to play. The Gazebo Variety Stage runs from noon to 4:30 p.m., headlined from 3:30-4:30 p.m. by the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quartet.
Programs and events sponsored by the Waukegan Park District are provided in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state of Illinois agency. For more information, call the Waukegan Park District's Jack Benny Center for the Arts, at (847) 360- 4740. The Jack Benny Center for the Arts is at 39 Jack Benny Drive, Bowen Park.