Elgin’s Going Dutch Festival returns Nov. 6-8, showcasing female and nonbinary artists

Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin presents the 2026 Going Dutch Festival, Nov. 6-8. Now in its 16th year, Going Dutch celebrates female and nonbinary voices in the arts, bringing together artists working across dance, theater, music, visual art, and interdisciplinary performance.

The November festival features local, regional, and traveling artists sharing bold, intimate, and experimental work. Through performances, exhibitions, and opportunities for artistic exchange, Going Dutch creates space for underrepresented voices, creative risk-taking, and meaningful connections between artists and audiences.

“Going Dutch is about creating space for artists to take risks, share their perspectives, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways,” said Erin Rehberg, founder of Going Dutch and co-founder and executive director of Side Street Studio Arts. “We love bringing these artists and their work to Elgin and making sure our community has access to performances they might not otherwise experience.”

The festival opens from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, with a visual art exhibition opening and a durational performance of “ARIA ARIA ARIA” by Ramona Rotten. Visitors are invited to move through the gallery, experience the work, and engage with the artists throughout the evening. The visual art exhibition will remain on display through Nov. 28.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, there will be two performance programs. At 5:30 p.m., Going Dutch presents Renee Clippinger’s “An Ocean of Monsters” and Carrie Brueck Morris’s “Do You Want to Start at the Beginning or the End?”

At 7 p.m., the Mixed Bill showcases an exciting collection of works, including “Quilted P{a}Lace” by dropshift dance, “A Series of Uncanny Adolescent Tales” by Avery Wilde, “Ah yes, the three genders” by Spectrum X Ensemble, “coalesce” by Ginger Jensen, and “i do …” by Adanya Gilmore.

The celebration continues at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, with additional performances, including separate works from Clippinger and Brueck Morris, as well as Izzy Wolf and returning artists Ambo Dance Theatre of Kentucky, offering audiences another opportunity to experience the range of artistic voices represented in this year's festival.

Performances will take place in an intimate, in-the-round setting, allowing audiences to experience the artists’ work up close. With minimal separation between performers and viewers, the festival emphasizes the direct connection between artist and audience.

In keeping with Side Street Studio Arts’ commitment to affordable arts programming, Going Dutch 2026 offers pay-what-you-can admission, with a suggested donation of $12. One ticket provides access to all festival events throughout the weekend.

“We believe audiences should have the opportunity to experience adventurous, thought-provoking art no matter what,” Rehberg said. “That commitment is central to what we do at Side Street and to the spirit of Going Dutch.”

All festival events will take place at Side Street Studio Arts, 15½ Ziegler Court in downtown Elgin. Note, the venue is not wheelchair accessible. Tickets and additional information are available at sidestreetstudioarts.org/goingdutch.

Going Dutch is produced by Side Street Studio Arts with support from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission. Founded in 2013 by Rehberg and Tanner Melvin, it advances engagement in the arts by providing inclusive access to exhibition, performance, education, and advocacy resources, because art is important.