11TH ANNUAL 79TH STREET FESTIVAL KICKS OFF

11TH ANNUAL 79TH STREET FESTIVAL KICKS OFF

By Safiyyah P. Muhammad

The Greater Auburn-Gresham Area will host its 11th Annual 79th Street Festival, September 10th, between Racine & Loomis on 79th Street. Festivities begin at 10 am until 8 pm. Cheryl Johnson, spokesperson for the event, said the yearly festival provides a fun and safe environment for families, children and adults. Although, the festival is entertaining and enjoyable, there is a more serious component to the festival.

“The uniqueness of the festival is that it highlights products and services within our business district that aid local residents. It provides local residents with real resources that make a difference in their lives. The festival will host free dental service for anyone who needs dental work.

During the festival, students seeking to go to college can fill out an application on site. We help homeowners get loans and we provide foreclosure services. Also, the 79th Street Festival event feeds more than 500 senior citizens,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, local residents will be entertained with the soulful sounds of rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz and classical music. With nearly 15,000 attendees coming out annually to enjoy local food, retailers, organizations, and performers. Farley “King of House Music,” a local hip hop dee-jay and former resident of the Greater Auburn-Gresham area will make his annual return to heat up the crowd. Festival line-up for entertainment will include several unnamed celebrities.

Since its inception, the Festival is supported by the Greater Auburn- Gresham Development Corporation and Special Service Area #32, which is comprised of the Auburn Gresham business district, extending from the Dan Ryan Expressway to 79th & Marshfield.

Online content at the Greater Auburn-Gresham website, reminds participants to support south side businesses. The content reads: “Remember that the Annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival is an opportunity for us to not only showcase our community and have a great time, it’s also an opportunity to shop responsibly and locally on the Southside of Chicago and to support the hard working, small businessmen and women who participate each year.”

Throughout the year, the Auburn- Gresham organization delivers several social services to that provide assistance to local residents in the areas of health, education, and senior citizens support, Johnson said.

Johnson added the event brings together all types of partnerships for the betterment of the Auburn-Gresham community, so the community can be the best it can be, she said.

For more information, contact Event Coordinator, C. Johnson & Associates at (773) 723-3557 or email Cheryl@ sjohnsonandassociates.com.

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