Chicago, IL (September 17, 2013) – The best local makers and collectors of design objects are coming together for an aesthetic feast, Saturday, September 28th through Sunday, September 29th. The creative celebration of home and garden design, known as the Design Harvest festival (design-harvest.com), features the contemporary and sustainable innovations that thrive in West Town’s “Design District” (grandavenuedesigndistrict.com) alongside live music programmed by The Hideout, harvest-time family activities, and some of the top local restaurant vendors.
Unlike ordinary street festivals, Design Harvest on Grand Avenue is both a cultural and a commercial event. “We create a community of talent that inspires everyone involved,” says Angela Finney, designer and vendor coordinator for the fest. Design Harvest is a melding of nuances from the world-famous Paris Flea Market and London Design Festival. Attendance each year has grown significantly, with some media outlets calling it one of the “can’t miss” fests of the year.
The Design Vendors:
Produced by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, Design Harvest covers the wide spectrum of design disciplines found throughout Chicago; as well as spotlights the design businesses on Grand Avenue in West Town (a.k.a., Design District). The one-of-a-kind, family-friendly street fest includes some of the best local furniture and home accessory makers, vintage and antique collectors, and leading local retailers in the home design industry. The two-day program consists of tented vignettes, or “little stores,” each boasting unique themes and products for sale, and juried exhibitions.
Design Harvest 2013 vendors include Chicago notables like Beau Hale, Kylie Egge, Eric Erf Wood Design, Dock 6, and Room Service, as well as Grand Avenue Design District businesses such as:
Artemisia
2246 W. Grand
Bill Bruss Design
1847 W. Grand
BLDG. 51. Gallery & Museum
Buckingham I+D
1820 W. Grand
Christy Webber
Farm & Garden Center
2200 W. Grand
Design Inc.
1847 W. Grand
EuroFurniture
2145 W. Grand
The Find
1819 W. Grand
Nicholas Design
Collaborative, Ltd.
509 N. Wolcott nicholasdc.com
Mia Rao Design
509 N. Wolcott miaraodesign.com
The Painted Lady
1819 W. Grand
State Street Salvage
2248 W. Grand
Urban Remains
1850 W. Grand
The Live Music:
Helping set the tone again is the live musical entertainment area, programmed by Chicago’s legendary live music venue, The Hideout. The lineup is oriented towards blue grass and country. The highlight of the weekend is Square Dancing, a Design Harvest tradition, on Saturday afternoon!
Saturday, Sept. 28th:
1 to 2:30- Majors Junction-www.majorsjunction.com
2:50 to 4:20- Golden Horse Ranch Band-www.goldenhorseranch.com -a square dance in the street – caller and all!
4:40 to 6:10- Jane Baxter Miller- www.janebaxtermiller.com
6:30 to 8:00- Al Scorch’s Country Soul Ensemble www.alscorch.com
8:00 to midnight – After Party @ EuroFurniture, with East of Edens Soul Express DJs- www.eastofedenssoulexpress.com
Sunday, Sept. 29th:
1 to 2:30- Bubbly Creek Bluegrass Band- www.bubblycreekbluegrass.com
2:50 to 4:20- The Lawrence Peters Outfit-www.lawrencepetersoutfit.com
4:40 to 6:10- Gin Palace Jesters- www.ginpalacejesters.com
6:30 to 8:00- Grit and the Double Knit- www.gritandthedoubleknit.com
*Contact publicist Jody Grimaldi at jody@trafficpr.net for images (high res available), interview requests, etc.
The Food Vendors and Kids Activities:
Between design vendor tents, fest-goers can grab a seat on a hay bale and enjoy fantastic local food and drink vendors.
For kids and families, there will again be a ton of fun-filled activities from 11 am to 4 pm both days at Christy Webber Farm & Garden Center, courtesy of Christy Webber Landscapes and the Farm & Garden Center. Activities include:
- ‘Free’ tractor hay rides between Design Harvest and Christy Webber Farm & Garden
- Petting zoo
- Mini hay maze for young kids
- Face painting
- Build your own scarecrow! We will supply the straw, rope, sticks and advice – but YOU MUST bring your old clothes to make your scarecrow out of.
- Pumpkin carving demonstrations by creative pumpkin artists.
- Fall refreshments – apple cider and homemade baked goods.
- Make a homemade bird feeder, and talk to experts on supporting and attracting birds.
- Multiple photos opportunities: fall settings, fun face cut-outs and farm tractors and landscape equipment to sit on. Bring your cameras!
- Visit the free range chickens and check out the huge and unusual selection of pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks and more! Free local delivery for those without cars!
The “Fine Art Annex” and After Party:
After Party @ EuroFurniture 2145 W. Grand
8:00 to midnight- East of Edens Soul Express DJs – eastofedenssoulexpress.com
Sponsored by Chicago Magazine, Eurofurniture will be the place to be Saturday evening for a night of fun, music, dancing and drinks – and an opening reception for the all-new “Fine Art Annex” area of Design Harvest. Fine Artists Rob Benton and Keith Pastrick among others will be featured. Rob-benton.com & keithpastrick.com.
The Fine Print:
Design Harvest takes place Sept 28-29 from 11 am to 8 pm on Grand Avenue from Damen to Wood. Cost of admission is FREE (with a $5 donation request). This is a rain or shine event (vendors will be under large tents). For more information, visit www.design-harvest.com or find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/designharvest, or call (312) 850-9390. More info on the Design District at www.grandavedesigndistrict.com.
Sponsors include: West Town Chamber of Commerce, Third Shift, Coors Light, Crispin Cider, Naked Grape, Chicago Home & Garden, XRT, Christy Webber Farm & Garden Center, Hideout, and Albany Steel & Brass.
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