BLUE ISLAND, IL — Blue Island Mai Fest is back for a third fabulous year Saturday, May 11, featuring over 100 artisan vendors showcasing their unique, handmade goods. The fun-filled day of arts, crafts and entertainment runs from noon to 5 p.m. at Olde Western Avenue and Broadway.
Over the past three years, Blue Island Arts Alliance (BIAA) and the Streetz Artz Alliance have expanded Mai Fest from an arts and crafts fair into a true street festival. This year’s fest promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with music, libations, and food from local establishments.
“I’m very thankful to Alan Cromwell, from Blue Island Beer Company, who introduced me to the team of the Blue Island Arts Alliance years ago. In working with the BIAA to make the Mai Fest come to life with artists, they have allowed me to grow as a show curator and organizer,” said John Streetz, one of the fest organizers. “Honestly, I wouldn’t mind moving to Blue Island if I ever decided to move from my hometown of Villa Park, as working with the people of Blue Island and the Blue Island Arts Alliance is amazing. I feel it’s a pro-business town and pro-arts and crafts community.”
The festivities will be all outdoors this year along Olde Western Avenue at the intersection of Broadway. Various businesses from that area will be participating in the event offering food, libations and the amazing ambiance that that area is known for. New businesses in the area are not limited to but include B.U.B. Cafe and Badabing Wings.
The name “Mai Fest” honors the German heritage of Blue Island. In keeping with that theme, a new central gathering place, at Olde Western and Broadway, will be called the “Mai Fest Gruppengarten” or group garden. The new streetscaping surrounding the official Mai Pole will include seating and picnic tables, food vendors such as Beggars Pizza, beverages including beer from the Blue Island Beer Company, a masseuse giving mini-massages, live music performances as well as a DJ, and other activities.
In addition to the artisan vendors and delicious food, tarot card readings will also be available for those interested in exploring the mystical side of life.
Pubs, restaurants, and retail shops will be open along Olde Western, including the Rock Island Public House, the newly opened BUB Café in the historic Jebens hardware store building, and Vada Winter women’s boutique.
Live music will be performed on the stage near the “Mai Fest Gruppengarten” which will be at the intersection of Broadway and Old Western, including Carlos Lopez playing acoustic pop covers; the All Country Runners jazz trio; Chandelier (rock, funk, hip hop); and Old Style Neon (rock). DJ Ruta will be spinning some sick beats throughout the event.
Olde Western Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic from 134th Street north to Canal Street so that one hundred vendors of handcrafted goods, from artwork to jewelry to food products, can set up booths along the street.
Admission is free, however, a donation of $5 is welcome to support the BIAA. Mai Fest will take place rain or shine. Springtime weather is unpredictable so there are contingency plans to move the vendors inside and to other safe areas if it rains, but we’ve had fun before at Mai Fest when it rains.
“It’s crazy to think this is year three of the Blue Island Mai Fest and that this is still the biggest event I help with each year,” said John Streetz. “In 2023, I organized over eighty events through my Streetz Artz Alliance across over twenty different breweries in the Chicago suburbs. It’s been a wild ride of ups and downs.”
Although the deadline to become a vendor ended in March, Mai Fest is still taking applicants up until the day of the show. If you apply after the deadline, know you are automatically on the waitlist. Streetz says don’t fret, because every year they pull from the waitlist for these kinds of events. Any vendors interested in participating please fill out an application. Keep up with Mai Fest happenings on Facebook.
See who’s coming Saturday to Mai Fest 2024:
Adara Selene Creations
Adorned By M
Aqueos Creations
Art in the Garage
Aster Lily Jewelry
Avijo Design
Axial Creations
Be Delicious Sweets
Beaver Rub Spice Company
Becky Blue Designs
Becsta’s Creations
Belonio Doodles
Bold Simplicities
BoothyChicago
Bosco’s All Natural
Castillo & Co. Jewelry
ChiCityCrafts
Christopher Ruhulessin LMT
Coco_fleur Studio
Crafty Corner
Delectable Delights Cupcakes
Dive Bar Soap Company
FeFe’s pickles and peppers
Fine-Tooned Caricatures
Flock and Field Naturals
Flor de Loto
Ghost Owl Studio
Gigawatt Coffee Roasters
Goddess of Jules
Gran Nans Kitchen
Gratefully Dreaming
Great Lakes Stone Works
Happy Minds
InSpirit Adornments
It’s Just Puppy Love
Its A Crafty Life By Trinity
Jakub Advanced Manufacturing Inc.
Jamming4Bullies
Jeannine’s Jems
Josefina Y Sus Delicias
Jotham and Georgia
Just craftin around
Kelley.Bakes
KP’s Candy Factory
LeafEscape
LeonMechelle Artist Studios
Lil Bird Kitchens LLC
Linda Horton Photography
LoCo Pottery
Marisa Dion Art
Masterclass Savory Sweet
Maverick Leather LLC
Medusa’s Metaphysical & Nature Store
Michele’s color Wonderland for special needs adult program
Moments With Mairead
Moonlight BEEN
Nessacities
Not All Thumbs Woodcrafts
Nube Noche
Olivia’s Garden
Opal Dream Jewels
Osito Azul Crafts
PaganBones
ParTea LLC
Paty’s Crafts
Penguino Productions
Prisys Kreations
Quilting Creep
QuinnCakes by George
Raining Paisley
RavenFeathers and BatWings
Raventree Woodworks
Reflections With Kate
Rocco bee Collective
RockinCrystalsLLC
Rosie’s Plant Care
Same And Went
ScarabSanctuary
Scary Lair of Doom
Sid Sauce
Siren Studio
Smelly Melly Soaps and Candles, LLC
Snj terrariums
Something Wild Spa
South Side Pod
Spliff Society
Starr Creations
Stormy’s Happy Place
Storybooks & Gardens LLC
Sugar MOMster Bakery
Sun Sea Sky Designs
Taper Daves Tie Dye
TeMi Beads
Ten Cups Tarot
Tonie’s Treats
Undici Gelato
Unique Creations by Rachel
Ursula Naturals
vada winter
ValeriesTreeArt
Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods
Wendysartglass
Whimsey Witch
Wild Star Berry
YAGD Co.
Young Supernova
