Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest!

Not the greatest summer festival in Chicago, but it wasn’t bad. It was pretty small with the standard vendors (jewelry, trinket type things, back support people, etc.). I came on a day where it actually ended up pouring, but before it rained it was pretty fun. The music was fun and lively and the food was tasty (I got ribs and a gyro). The best part of this festival was the fact that Room 13 opened their doors to the public for a few hours. This small prohibition era themed bar normally is very exclusive and requires paid membership, so it was nice to get a chance to check it out!
I think if you’re into the music they’re playing and/​or you’re in the area, it’s worth the time to go check it out. Hopefully it won’t rain again next year though!

Belmont-​Sheffield Fest has the honor of being the fest with the most diverse attending crowd. This fest draws everything from freaks to former fraternity boys and everything in between, but there certainly is a high freak factor relative to other fests.
Otherwise, this is a typical fest, with the forced narrow gauntlet of hucksters and vendors selling who knows what which then funnels out at Sheffield’s, beer and portable toilets.
The bands are pretty much the standard Rolling Dead and Grateful Airplane, er, 45 Candles and Hairbanger’s Ball for the billionth time. About eight years ago they somehow drew The English Beat, which was remarkable and probably the best band I’ve ever seen at a street fest. Nothing else about this fest has otherwise been remarkable in its entire history.
It’s alright.

This street fest is just OK in my book. There’s a «suggested donation» of $ 5. While I’m not necessarily against the «suggested» donations that are turning into almost a requirement (getting the eye when I decline, or people harassing me), I’ll donate for a decent street fest, and this one just doesn’t cut it. It’s only two blocks or so long, and while it’s better that Midsommarfest (in my opinion), it’s still nothing compared to Do Division fest.
It’s in a decent spot and we went to Sheffield’s to enjoy their beer garden, but I’m not a fan of spending the $ 5 to get in.

The official launch of summer, Belmont-​Sheffield Music Fest is the first major street festival of the season, and is always packed shoulder-​to-​shoulder with hotties!