🎨🖼️ 79 Years & Still the Best — 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park! 🎶✨

🎨🖼️ 79 Years & Still the Best — 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park! 🎶✨

79th Annual 57th Street Art Fair — Hyde Park! (Part 2 of 2)

🎨 IT'S BACK — Chicago's Oldest & Best Art Fair! The 79th Annual 57th Street Art Fair is one of the finest FREE art fairs in the city and a beloved Hyde Park tradition! Kick off summer at the first major art fair of the season, located in the beautiful Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side — adjacent to the University of Chicago campus and the former home of President Barack Obama. 🏛️

Browse the work of 200 exhibitors — paintings, ceramics, jewelry, glasswork & more — while enjoying live Blues music at the Buddy Guy's Legends Stage! 🎸 Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to the art scene, this is THE place to buy art. All artists are stationed in their booths throughout the weekend to discuss their work. 🖌️

📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026
⏰ 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM
📍 Meet at William H. Ray Elementary School 5631 S. Kimbark Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 (Look for the sign that says "Ray Elementary School" — right in the middle of the fair!)

🍳 Did you sign up for Brunch first? Join us for Part 1 — Breakfast at Roux Diner before the fair! 👉 https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/307080309/

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🗓️ Tentative Itinerary:
🍳 9:45–11:30 AM — Breakfast at Roux Diner (Part 1 — sign up separately!)
👋 11:45–11:55 AM — Meet & greet outside Ray Elementary School
🎨 11:55 AM–2:30 PM — Break into small groups of 4–5 & wander the fair!
🚉 2:30 PM — Regroup at Ray Elementary for those taking the Metra home

⚠️ Check back for updates to the above schedule!

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🏛️ A Little History The 57th Street Art Fair is the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest, founded in 1948 by silversmith artist Mary Louise Womer. Her studio, The Little Gallery, was a local gathering spot for artists who came to talk and drink tea. Wanting to showcase local art to the community, she took to the streets — literally stringing wires from trees and fences along 57th Street for artists to hang their work. Fifty-one artists, many from the Art Institute and Institute of Design, each paid 50 cents to participate. By Sunday night, earnings totaled $500 — and Womer and her husband cleaned up themselves! 🎨✨

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🔗 Fair Info & Maps:
🌐 http://www.57thstreetartfair.org/general-information
🗺️ https://www.57thstreetartfair.org/2017-map--legend (check back for updates)
🚗 https://www.57thstreetartfair.org/parking--directions (check back for updates)

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🚗 Parking & Transit:
⚠️ Parking is very limited during the fair — public transit strongly recommended!
🚇 Metra Electric trains run near the fair
🚌 Several CTA bus routes nearby
📱 SpotHero or ParkingWiz for cheapest & safest parking options 🔗 CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

📞 Lost or late? Call (312) 835-4259 The school building is open during the fair — meet outside by the Ray Elementary sign!

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📌 NO-SHOW POLICY:
❗ 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month freeze from future events
⏰ Update your RSVP by event start time — after that, message the host directly
✅ Check in with the host upon arrival (required for walks, tours & festival events)
🚫 Continual no-shows may result in removal from the group

Art, music, sunshine & good company — see you in Hyde Park! 🎨🌞🎶