Organizers of the second annual Roosevelt Road Summer Spectacular Street Fair are hoping to outdo last year’s success with more music, vendors and on-site beer sales.
The fair is set for noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, between East and Oak Park avenues in Berwyn.
Coordinator Paul Zimmerman, president of both the Roosevelt Road Business Association and Berwyn Development Corp. Board of Directors, said the fair is designed to promote local business and to educate residents about upcoming improvements to the corridor.
“We’re looking to showcase the area once again and get people aware of what’s going on,” Zimmerman said.
With more than 3,000 attendees and about 40 vendors at the 2008 fair, Zimmerman said this year’s event is likely to be even larger. Organizers have added another music stage, for a total of three, and recently won Berwyn City Council approval for a liquor license to sell beer on the fair grounds.
The event will continue to use last year’s green theme, showcasing artists and local vendors specializing in environmentally-friendly products.
“We’re continuing with the green theme to get more people aware of the green businesses we have locally and to be thinking more about what we can do to make this a greener corridor,” Zimmerman said. “It’s also to get people more aware of the situation globally, obviously, but also what we can do locally to make things better.”
Chicago consulting company Duncan and Associates also will be on hand to showcase their designs for the upcoming streetscape improvements on Roosevelt Road.
Zimmerman said city leaders recently received permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to begin the project, which runs along the corridor from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard, next summer.
Plans include a complete rapaving of Roosevelt Road, improved lighting, new curbs, gutters and sidewalks, landscaping upgrades, public benches, garbage bins, and bump-outs — areas that protrude out of the sidewalk to make room for trees.
“(Roosevelt Road) will look completely new,” Zimmerman said. “It’s well-deserved.”
John Aranza, owner of the horror and science fiction movie memorabilia shop Horrorbles, 6729 W. Roosevelt Road, said the fair will provide an opportunity to attract people to the city. To aid the effort, he has already recruited about 150 members of an online horror film fan group to attend the event.
Although he will not have a booth at the fair, one of his employees will be dressed up as Frank the Bunny from “Donnie Darko” to hand out fliers at the event. Everyone who shops at the store that day will receive a 10 percent discount.
“I think it’s great for Roosevelt Road, considering that it’s a state route and they were able to get it (shut down) and everything together like that,” Aranza said. “It’s great exposure for everyone around here.”
If you go
WHAT Roosevelt Road Summer Spectacular Street Fair
WHEN Noon to 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15
WHERE Roosevelt Road from Oak Park to East avenues
COST Suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children
ON THE WEB rooseveltroadstreetfair.org
Music schedule
• Main Stage
Near Clarence Avenue
12:30 p.m. — The Giving Tree band
2:30 p.m. — Henhouse Prowlers
4:30 p.m. — Chicago Catz
6:30 p.m. — The Iguanas (New Orleans-based roots rock)
• Local Stage
At Wesley Avenue
12:30 p.m. — The Patty Elvis Band
2 p.m. — Battle of the bands (competition hosted by new Berwyn recording studio Horse-Drawn Productions)
6:30 p.m. — The Blue Lincolns
• Family Stage
At Oak Park Avenue
1 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio de Padua (Cicero-based folk dance group)
3 p.m. — Ac Rock (a cappella Rock & Roll group)
5 p.m. — Ac Rock
4 p.m. — Circus Boy
