‘Dandelion Wine’ festival features music and the arts

The 14th annual Ray Bradbury “Dandelion Wine” Fine Arts Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1, in Bowen Park in Waukegan.

The grass-roots festival is presented by the Waukegan Park District Cultural Arts Division, with sponsorship support by AAA Tent Masters, Cribb Fine Foods, and ART ETC.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Ray Bradbury!”

Bradbury was all about the arts and, in celebration, the Ray Bradbury “Dandelion Wine” Fine Arts Festival celebrates the arts through art demonstrations and displays, musicians, storytellers, dancers, poets, theater workshops and readings about Ray Bradbury and from his book “Dandelion Wine.”

Plus, this year’s festival will have a special all-ages community art project, as well as a painting, book and historical display in tribute to Bradbury.

The late Ray Bradbury is one of Waukegan’s favorite sons, and his critically acclaimed book “Dandelion Wine,” written in the 1950s, remains a best-selling literary masterpiece that provides an image-filled glimpse at the magic found in the ravines of Green Town (Waukegan). Waukegan was Bradbury’s hometown when he was growing up.

This is the first year of the festival after the passing of Bradbury on June 6, 2012. The festival was always proud to have Ray as its honorary chairman and looks forward to carrying on the festival tradition in his memory.

The festival is free and has an array of music and fine arts for Waukegan and regional community residents to enjoy. In addition to the festival’s multiple outdoor and indoor staging areas of music, fine arts and crafts, demonstrations, and the community art project, Bowen Park features an award-winning playground and a skate park.

Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day. Indoor facilities will be available in the event of inclement weather. Additionally, the Waukegan History Museum, located at the south entrance to Bowen Park, will feature free historical exhibits.

The festival’s outdoor Pavilion Music Stage will feature a variety of bands and performers throughout the day, headlined at 3 p.m. by the rock roots band The Downhome Sophisticates.

At 2 p.m., Rhythm and the Round will facilitate a community drum circle at the Pavilion Music Stage for festival attendees to actively participate. Participants may bring their own drum, percussion, and rhythm instruments, or a limited number of instruments can be furnished.

The indoor Schornick Theatre Stage, located in the Jack Benny Center for the Arts building in Bowen Park, will feature a Comedy Improv Workshop at 1 p.m. and a variety of acoustic music performers throughout the festival day, including Beatles Jazz guitarist/musician “Jazzman” Jeff Justman, who will be performing Beatle jazz, ’60s music, and originals at noon.

“Jazzman” Jeff, who serves on the planning committee for the annual “Dandelion Wine” festivals, will also be master of ceremonies at the indoor Schornick Theatre’s all day festival events.

An outdoor Children’s Stage, sponsored by AAA Tent Masters and Cribb Fine Foods, will feature a variety of musical performances for children.

Plus, there will be an Artist and Artisan Demonstration Tent sponsored by ART ETC. with fine artists and artisans showcasing their talents and providing information about the artistic processes they use.

Waukegan’s Bowen Park is on Sheridan Road, just north of Greenwood. The festival is held adjacent to the Waukegan Park District’s Jack Benny Center for the Arts, the Jane Addams Center, Lilac Cottage, and the Morrison Picnic Pavilion. Free parking is available at Bowen Park.

For details about this year’s Ray Bradbury “Dandelion Wine” Fine Arts Festival, visit www.waukeganparks.org or www.jackbennycenter.org, or call the Waukegan Park District at (847) 360-4740.