The Hollywood-North Park Community Association (HNPCA), together with dozens of community sponsors and donors and the leadership of Davis Imperial Cleaners, presents the third Bryn Mawr Block Party on Sunday, September 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The street festival will bring fun, family-friendly activities to the neighborhood and increase foot traffic to support local businesses.

The Bryn Mawr Block Party features live music and street performances; an expanded North Park Community Market with more than 40 food and craft vendors; kids’ activities such as a bounce house, inflatable slide, inflatable bubble balls, and obstacle courses; balloon twisting, and face painting; participating local restaurants; and more. The Association’s website has more details at www.hnpca.org/blockparty. More than 2,000 people are anticipated to attend throughout the day.

Both the HNPCA and the Bryn Mawr Block Party are run entirely by volunteers. Unlike most Chicago street festivals, this party is not run by an event management company nor subsidized by a Chamber of Commerce. The event is funded by business sponsorships and community donations; while party-goers will be asked to donate at the event if they are able, the emphasis is on ensuring that all neighbors can participate, regardless of their ability to pay.

The music and performance lineup has been crafted to reflect the neighborhood. Two of the musical performances – Soul Daddy and The Robby Celestin Project – include neighborhood residents, and the range of styles represents a wide cross-section of North Park’s cultures. The Northside College Prep Varsity Dance Team will perform, and longtime neighborhood resident DJ B-Mazed will lead a global dance party in the afternoon. Our neighbors at the Andersonville School of Rock will be holding down the second stage on Spaulding Avenue with their talented youth rock bands. Chicha Roots plays psychedelic cumbia, drawing on the Andean musical traditions of Bolivia and Ecuador as well as musical styles from Colombia, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. ESSO Funk returns to the Block Party with their distinctive blend of Latin funk, dance music, and progressive rock. The Jesse White Tumblers are always a lot of fun, and the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago will present a traditional Korean drumming performance that pays homage to the old Korean Fest that took place on Bryn Mawr Avenue until 2013.

Davis Imperial Cleaners is the longest-running family business in the neighborhood, operating since 1956. They are a generous and frequent sponsor of community events.

A social media kit can be accessed here. All media inquiries can be directed to Andrew Johnson, Chair of the HNPCA, at hnpca@hnpca.org or 773-480-5252.