This post highlights gatherings, festivals and parades
as well as the outside movies shown in selected areas
in old and current Lake View
Most outside gatherings occurred in picnic groves during the warm months. The most notable according to newspaper articles was events at Sharpshooter Park on Western Avenue and the Old Settlers' Picnic in Harms Park also on Western Avenue - Western Avenue was the street that bordered the Township/City of Lake View and the former Township of Jefferson, both annexed in 1889 to Chicago.
And lastly, a miltary/mustering gathering at Wrightwood Woods.
was officially known as
Schuetzen Park
1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map vol A
with zoomed view below
zoomed further
section 1
section 2
Thousands of Chicagoans and folks for the surrounding townships were show at one time
Picnic and kids with Rifles in 1877
Over 15k in Attendance in 1887
The Swedes at a Gathering in 1895
The Poles had a Gathering in 1896
The Old Settler's in 1903
at Harm's Park
photo - Daily New Archives 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
The apparent location of the park based on the information from Forgotten Chicago - title link
Many events and festivals were held in Harms Park, most
notably the Chicago Old Settlers’ Picnic, which celebrated the north-sider's oldest
citizens. The year 1937 marked Chicago’s hundredth year, and the Chicago Charter Jubilee
held various celebrations and events, among them this picnic, which was held
annually until 1946. This Charter Jubilee was also responsible for the
placement of many historical plaques in various places throughout the city.
- Forgotten Chicago

According to several Chicago Tribune articles Harms Park was a popular location for this event since 1874. The first event was held at Harms Park with up to 5000 residents gathered to celebrate a Chicago annual tradition. According to a photo of the Daily News Archives the Old Settlers Picnic was at least once held in Riverview Park in 1905,once part of Schuetzen Park, one year after its own public opening. - see photo above
Picnic of 1944
Picnic of 1945

Vintage
Entertainment Spots:
District of Lake View
Ferris Wheel Park was established in 1895 when Lake View was a newly formed District of Chicago along Clark Street between Wrightwood Avenue just south of Diversey Avenue (Parkway).
Ferris Wheel Park was the creation of a transportation baron from the 19th century who owned streetcar rail company from Chicago to Clark & Wrightwood so that folks from Chicago could reach this amazement park for his own personal financial gain.
The park existed for a brief period of time in the 1890's.
The neighbors hated it!! photo below via Calumet 412

Community of North Central
This park was established in 1913, west of Western Avenue and just across the street from the old border with the District of Lake View.
There was a separate streetcar to the park on Roscoe Street while the main roadways to the park was Belmont Avenue & Addison Street


The American
Civil War:
TThe State of Illinois was a major source of troops for
the Union Army (particularly for those armies serving in the Western Theater of
the Civil War), and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near
major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in
the war for Ulysses S. Grant's efforts to seize control of the Mississippi and
Tennessee rivers. Statewide, public support for the Union was high despite Copperhead sentiment. However, not everyone in the state supported the war. In
fact, there were even calls for secession in Southern Illinois or Little Egypt
by several residents. In Marion residents voted to secede from the United
States. A few, even, volunteered for the Confederate States Army in Tennessee. - Wikipedia IApril 1864, Governor Brough and the governors of
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin met together and lobbied the federal
government jointly to accept militia forces from each state for active duty. On
April 21, they sent their formal proposal to President Abraham Lincoln. While Governor
Brough had hoped this surplus of men would result in Confederate defeat in one
hundred days or less, the South's downfall did not occur in this time limit.
Nevertheless, the surge in men did provide the federal government with
additional soldiers who helped the Northern military win several important
victories during the summer of 1864, bringing the Confederacy closer to
collapse. - Education.com
The Mustering
at Wrightwood Grove
once part of the Township of Lake View
This segment lists the boys of Lake View Township that volunteerly joined the Amerian Civil War in 1864 for only 100 days.
Lake View Township in 1862
The WL Flower Map
The borders of the township were the lake to the east, Western Avenue to the west, Fullerton Avenue to the south,
and Devon Avenue to the north.
Wrightwood Grove area in 1870
photograph of Camp Fry via modern historian Stephen Osman A Sample Gathering
at Wright Grove in 1869
The regiments/companies
that mustered at Camp Fry
published text
by Stephen Osman, modern historian
The residents of the township were all in the 134th either in Company D and F
Phillip S Wood
Conrad Bristler
apparent brothers
George & Charles Catlin
134th
according to Library of Congress
Mayor William Hale
Thompson
TThe last Republican mayor of Chicago was a World War I pacifist. He was also a pacifist in 1939. In 1917 he allowed the
The city alderman were not happy either
Honoring Soldiers on
Dedication Day
(Veterans Day)
in 1944
Honoring on
Veterans Day 1968
at Greenview & Wolfram
photos by Nick Nikola Sr.
via LakeView Historical-Facebook
2019 view of same cornerThe structural bases of the Flag Poles
on another corner
in 2019
The Modern
Gatherings
and Events
In order to find these and other gatherings google the
Chambers of Commerce
many of these events can be located at
The Events Timeline
as of 2023:
(I am sure I missed one or 2)
February
Soup Walk &
Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival
once called the Halsted Winter Fest
March
Restaurant Week
(Feb-March)
Chicago Shamrock Crawl in
Wrigleyville!
Taste of NorthHalsted
April
Ravenswood 5k
May
Cover the Bases
Mayfest
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
WOOGMS Memorial Day Parade
June
Live Lakeview
Porchfest
SausageFest Chicago
Chicago Pride Fest
Summer on Southport
'Gay' Pride Parade
Southport Art Fest
July
Live on Lincoln
Southport Art Festival
Taste of Lakeview
and once called Rock Around the Block
Dine Out Broadway
(July - through Sept)
Southport Art Festival
Senior Picnic
Dine Out Broadway
(July & Sept)
August
Wrigleyville Summerfest
Porch-Fest
OUT at Wrigley
Northalsted Market Days
September
WOOGMS Labor Day Parade
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
Octoberfest at St. Alphonsus
Kids Bike Ride
Ravenswood Art Walk
October
Race to Wrigley
Ravenswood Art Walk
Ravenswood Costume Crawl
Bank of America Marathon
former known as La Salle Marathon
Graceland West Fest
Trick or Treat on Southport
Halloween Block Party
November
Life Time Turkey Day Chicago
December
Wrigleyville Lantern Parade
12 Bars of Christmas
The Southport Holiday Stroll
The Holly Jolly (Ravenswood) Trolly
Most Fabulous Santa Speedo Run
The Events
in Some Detail:
February
Events:

Warm up to winter! From super cool winter exhibits to a steamy soup walk that's sure to warm your bones, there's something for everyone at Northalsted Winter Fest. Our restaurants, retailers and performers will be dishing out fire and ice to make this a 'Sunday Funday' for the books - since 2014

NorthHalsted Business Alliance is holding a Winter Fest for the first time later this month, with hopes that fire dancers, an ice sculptor and free hot soup will attract people out into the cold. In the 7-Eleven parking lot at 3407 N. Halsted St., an artist will be sculpting chunks of ice into works of art with a chainsaw during the day. At Taverna 750's patio, 750 W. Cornelia Ave., dancers will be performing with fire. And outside Kit Kat Lounge, 3700 N Halsted St., the club's drag queen divas will be dressed up as ice kings and queens for photos. - DNAinfo 2014 - and currently called ...
March
Events:
in Wrigleyville
On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. That means you.
Grab your closest friends and empty all the green gear out of your closest.
It’s time for you to celebrate the right way as we take over the Wrigleyville
neighborhood with this one of a kind event. Picture it: You’re laughing and
singing and you start to feel that giddy St. Patrick’s Day morning buzz. All of
a sudden, you realize that you can Irish dance! Then you realize that ALL of
your friends can Irish dance too, and they can do it with beers in hand! Make
this dream a reality. We’ll see you there. All of the venues are within walking
distance so you can spend more time partying with friends.
since 1998
This three-day celebration that began in 1995 kicks off the City of Chicago’s festival season. This event located at 3100 North Ashland near Lincoln Avenue brings in three days of celebration featuring Chicago’s BEST Bands, Festival Cuisine, pretzels, beer, and a broad spectrum of super cool entertainment starting off Friday with VIP Party for the general public.
May since 1984
Established in 2001, this event is a weekend event that showcases local music talent. The event is located between Belmont and Addison and along Sheffield. The Fest (video) offers continuous live music, tastings from area restaurants, and goods and wares from local merchants with the famous ballpark as a backdrop.
May since 2002
unknown date photo - Chicagoland-Facebook
This annual event kicks the cars off of beautiful Lake Shore Drive so you can peacefully ride their bike along it. You get to admire Chicago from one of its best vantage points and view LakeView East that includes Belmont Harbor along the outer drive. All eight lanes are open for riders along a 15 mile stretch. If you make the entire loop (north and south), it's a 30 mile ride. Marker 7 & 8 (mile) are located in Lake View.
May since 2009
June
Events:
The Senior Picnic
since 2004
since 2018 The event hub is St. Alphonsus Church
at 1429 W Wellington Avenue
June since 2010
*moved to Old Town as of 2015*
- Redeye pics
Celebrate all things having to do with encased meats at Sausagefest. This fest is in the shadow of Wrigley Field in the community of Wrigleyville. This annual summer street festival features plenty of live music, arts & crafts and, of course, stellar sausage offerings from local butcher shops and eateries such as Bobak's Sausage Company, Paulina Meat Market, Chicago's Dog House, Murphy's Bleachers, Notolli & Son Italian Sausage Shop and Greek Delights.
June since 2003
*once held on the same weekend as Pride*
2022 map
2022 photos below
Wrigley Aerials/Twitter
Just steps away from the friendly confines of Wrigley
Field, the two-day festival will showcase some of the city’s best and most
diverse artists. Southport Art Fest will highlight a wide range art mediums
including oil, acrylic, watercolor, jewelry, sculpture, photography, wood,
glass, paper, metal, and mixed media at center stage all weekend long. - Choose Chicago
*apparently discontinued*
Once
eleven local restaurants will set up booths along Aldine at Halsted for a
walk-around tasting event including live music and entertainment in the form of
the Waiter's Race Cup. Online sales are now closed. Tickets at the door cost
$35, but you get access to some of the neighborhood's best restaurants and
chefs including Yoshi's Cafe, HB Home Bistro, Hearty, D.S. Tequila Company,
Chicago Diner, Las Mananitas, Whole Foods and more.
July
Events:
Live on Lincoln
the original logo for this event below


since 1988
one of the first outdoor fests in Lake View
2017 photos - Southport Corridor News & Events
once called
Summer on Southport
south of the Belmont Harborsince 2010
and apparently lasted about a hour
photos - Flickr
Dine Out
Broadway
August
Events:
Wrigleyville Summerfest
since 2002
*suspended??*
August since 1982
This lower photo as of 2012
A crowd of more than 100,000 from across the country will converge on Market Days on Halsted Street in August to celebrate an annual event. It's the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest and lives up to its reputation as one of the country's finest festivals!
View my friend's, Greg Baird's
August since 1959 in Chicago
While this event occurs over North Avenue Beach the residents of Lake View experience it during their practice runs
on Thursdays & Fridays before the show
Michael S Lyons via Pictures of Chicago-Facebook 2017
2016 photo - DNAinfo
turning around with a view of Belmont Harbor 2002 photos
by Bruce Uruh from the Belmont Harbor area
September
Events:
since 2013
Ravenswood
Art Walk
Yes, it's in September!
since 1988
their Facebook page in 2016Lake View's version of Oktoberfest located at one of the oldest Catholic churches in the neighborhood. St. Alphonsus Parish was founded by German immigrants in 1882 and continues to recognize its German roots by celebrating an authentic Oktoberfest every September. Keeping with tradition, festival-goers can expect to experience homemade bratwurst, the “oom-pah” of German bands, the music of top area headliner bands, activities for kids (“Kinderfest”), and of course lots of great beer! The festival is held outdoors in a beer garden fashion under a ‘big-top’ tent. Thousands from Chicago of all ages attend and raise their stein to toast this German event. As of 2013 the new location was at Southport between Lincoln Avenue and George Street instead of tradition Oakdale. Find it on Facebook! their Facebook page