May 05, 2006

2006 GREATER CHICAGO JEWISH FESTIVAL

A real festival...the 2006 GREATER CHICAGO JEWISH FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sunday, June 11
WHERE: the Forest Preserve at Oakton (8000 N) and Lehigh (6300 W) in Morton Grove
TIME: 11:00am 6:00 pm
PARKING: free parking next to the Festival grounds
WEBSITE: www.jewishfestival.org
PHONE: 847.933.3000
RAIN LOCATION: Niles West High School, 5701 Oakton, Skokie

The 2006 Greater Chicago Jewish Festival, the heart and soul of Jewish Chicago, will be held on Sunday, June 11, at the Forest Preserve at Oakton (8000 N) and Lehigh (6300 W) in Morton Grove, from 11am-6pm. The multi-talented singer, songwriter Lisa Loeb will headline as part of continuous music and dance throughout the day.

Unique in its celebration of Jewish culture in America, the festival seeks to combine all aspects of the Chicagoland Jewish community. Four stages of music and dance create a vibrant background for over 40,000 attendees, who also can wander through the extensive art bazaar featuring artists from the U.S. and Israel.

Several acts are new to the festival this year. In addition to Lisa Loeb, the Jewish rock band, Blue Fringe, will perform, and the Urban Tunells Klezmerband is coming all the way from Norway for their first American appearance. Past Festival favorites such as Debbie Friedman, Stuart Rosenberg, Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Joe Black are returning to entertain their fans.

Representing the backbone of the Jewish community will be over 80 booths of co-sponsoring Jewish organizations reflecting the community's interests and diversity. Nearby visitors can browse in the Book Shuk, where visiting authors will sign their latest works.

With their parents in tow, children will revel at the Hands-On tent and the kids stage.

Everyone will enjoy the strictly kosher food court, which features several cooking demonstrations in addition to falafel, pizza, ice cream and more.

The Festival has something for everyone--teens, adults, children and seniors; families, singles and groups of friends; cultural, religious or secular Jews; those interested in any part of Jewish life. "The Festival provides an opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate Jewish culture rather than the crises which punctuate our lives," commented Michael Lorge, the Festival's founder and executive director.

The all-day Festival, the largest Jewish cultural event in Chicago, is produced by the Jewish POCET, an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to creating quality events for the Chicago Jewish community. Free parking next to the Festival grounds.

For more information or to volunteer for the Festival please call 847-933-3000 or visit at www.jewishfestival.org Posted by jmwc at May 5, 2006 03:51 PM