Visit the world while in Chicago
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Celebrate your heritage (or somebody else's) at ethnic festivals all over the Chicago area this weekend.
In Chicago, go German or Mexican. Fox Valley is getting its Irish on, Lombard folks will be chowing down on Lebanese cuisine, and Nordic dancing and crafts will be the "thing" in South Elgin.
Here's a rundown to make it easy to plan the weekend (for details and more fun check our calendar this weekend):
In Chicago, celebrate Mexico with parades. The Mexican Independence Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday at Columbus Drive and Balbo and the Pilsen Mexican Independence Day Parade steps off at noon on 18th Street from Newberry Avenue to Wolcott. On Sunday, the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade kicks off at noon at 3100 W. 26th St. in the Little Village neighborhood. The parade ends at the Festival De La Villita, at 2600 Kostner Ave., which will fill you up with food, music and entertainment. The festival is also Friday and Saturday. chicagoevents.com
You can celebrate Central American culture Sunday with the Central American Parade, which steps off at noon at Montrose Avenue from California to Kimball.
The German-American Fest in Chicago also promises good food, drink and fun Friday-Sunday. Visit Lincoln Avenue between Leland and Western avenues to check it out. Schedule can be found at germanday.com. If you haven't had enough of marching bands and floats, squeeze in the Von Steuben Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. It travels on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago between Irving Park Road and Lawrence Avenue.
The trip to West Dundee is worth a look. The Fox Valley Irish Fest will have your feet doing the jig with all the Irish dancing and music. Don't miss the Wee Folk area with crafts, games and storytelling. The fest is Friday-Sunday at St. Catherine of Siena Church, routes 31 and 72. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 12:30-7 p.m. Sunday. Foxvalleyirishfest.com
Not to be left out, in South Elgin on Sunday celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden with traditional entertainment and Scandinavian crafts and food. The Scandinavian Day Festival, $10, free kids under 12 with free parking, is held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Vasa Park on Route 31 in South Elgin.
And in North Chicago, Greenbelt Forest Preserve, 1215 Green Bay Road, gets in on the celebration of Mexican and Central American Independence with live music, authentic food and kids' activities 1-7 p.m. Sunday.
In Lombard, get a little taste of Lebanese traditions and cuisine at the Lebanese Food Festival at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, 950 N. Grace St., Friday-Sunday.
Tamara is the editor of Chicago Parent and mom of three.
See more of Tamara's stories here.
Contact Tamara at tamara@chicagoparent.com
