Neighborhood News
The popular Midnight Circus, a program supported by the Chicago Park District, is returning to McKinley Park for a weekend lineup of four shows. On both Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, and Sunday, Sept. 11, ciircus artists will perform at noon and at 3 p.m.
Tickets cost $5, and kids 2 years and younger are free. Advance tickets are available online: Click here for online ticket purchases and more information. Note that all 2015 Midnight Circus shows in McKinley Park sold out prior to the performances.
In addition to bringing entertainment and community-building to Chicago's parks, Midnight Circus also functions as a fund-raising vehicle for local parks. To date, the program has raised over $850,000 to pay for improvements at Chicago's parks.
As confirmed by the 12th Ward office, the McKinley Park community meeting planned for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, has been postponed. The primary topic of discussion was to have been the transit-oriented development at Archer Avenue and Leavitt Street as proposed by developer Dan Mark at a July 2016 community meeting. However, the presentation is not yet ready, so the meeting has been postponed.
Once a new date has been set for the community meeting, the 12th Ward office will announce it, and it will also be featured in this website's events calender.
Children who play in natural settings benefit from physical activity, are less likely to be overweight and enjoy expanded creativity through diverse play. A coalition of McKinley Park neighborhood and municipal groups are coming together to overhaul the underused green space south of the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library to create a nature play garden.
Members of the public are invited to a community meeting on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, to hear plans and offer ideas for the garden, located at 3518-28 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago. The meeting takes place 9:30 a.m. to noon in the basement of Bethany Baptist Church at 3532 S. Hoyne Ave.
Read more: Nature Play Garden Planned for Library Green Space
The music group Son Monarcas will accompany the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company at Sunday's performance.
The McKinley Park Farmers Market continues its series of music and activites this Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, with a premier performance via 77 Beats, a program of the Old Town School of Folk Music. In addition to a drum circle, morning yoga and crafts for children, the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago will perform, accompanied by music group Son Monarcas.
The dance group is based in the McKinley Park neighborhood and has been active since 1982, cementing it as Chicago's most recognized Mexican dance company. Their performance with Son Monarcas' live Mexican music, presented alongside the vendors and delicacies of the farmers market, follows the 77 Beats program of marrying music with food through all 77 of Chicago's neighborhoods.
Read more: Farmers Market Music Series Continues This Sunday with 77 Beats
The annual Blessed Sacrament Parish carnival takes place this Thursday, Aug. 18, through Sunday, Aug. 21, on the 3500 block of South Hermitage Avenue and in parish properties on the block. The lineup includes amusement rides, games, food and drink, raffles, and live and DJ music entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoon through evening.
Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 18 and 19; 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20; and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21. Special ride packages cover Thursday and Sunday, and a four-day, all-ride Mega Pass is also available.
Read more: McKinley Park's Biggest Party Is This Weekend at Blessed Sacrament Parish
