The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of festival season in Chicago. Beginning Saturday, November 1, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts will launch Family Saturday Festivals, day-long, family-focused, fun activities designed to entertain, inspire, and nurture artistic passions. It will include live performances, screenings, workshops, drop-in activities, interactive art workshops, and much more.

Family Saturday Festivals will be held quarterly from 12-5 pm at the Logan Center, 915 E. 60^th Street (@ Drexel).  Festival dates are Saturday, Nov 1, 2014 and Saturdays Jan 24/April 18/Aug 22, 2015. Tickets are $5 per person; $20 families of 5 or more. They may be purchased at ticketsweb.uchicago.edu. Call 773-702-ARTS for more information.

“We’re excited to work with many partners to bring high quality, affordable family programs to the community as we bring people together in meaningful ways and encourage creativity among all ages,” said Bill Michel, executive director of the Reva & David Logan Center for the Arts.

The inaugural festival, entitled Family and Friends, kicks off Saturday, November 1 with a day chock-full of activities. Three delightful short films about best buddies, friendship, and adventure will be screened by the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Youngsters are encouraged to bring their best buddies (and parents) and receive a “2-for-1” coupon for the January 24, 2015 family festival.

Award-winning storyteller and children’s author Carmen Deedy will share humorous and captivating stories.  Arts and crafts workshops, theater workshops and, just in time for the Halloween season, Day of the Dead art workshops with the National Museum of Mexican Art will guide participants in decorating traditional sugar skulls. Check in at the UChicago Arts Box Office to receive a Festival Wrist Band, which grants entry to age appropriate performances and workshops. Workshops will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

In addition, at the end of the festival, teens interested in spoken word are invited to join the Logan Center’s open mic, The New Speak, hosted by the Rebirth Poetry Ensemble, 4:30-6pm.

SCHEDULE

Storyteller Carmen Deedy
12pm & 3:30pm, Ages 4 & up

Dia De Los Muertos Workshop with the National Museum of Mexican Art
1-2pm, Ages 5-10 -- Maximum Capacity: 30

Family Folks and Songs with Mama Zahra
1-2pm, Ages 2-5

Arts and Crafts with Rebirth Poetry Ensemble
1-3pm, All Ages

Chicago International Children's Film Festival: Best Buddies
2pm, Ages 2-8

Theatre Workshop with University of Chicago Theater and Performance Studies
2-3pm, Ages 8-12

Arts and Crafts with Windy City Arts Ditty
3-5pm, All Ages

Open Mic: The New Speak with Rebirth Poetry Ensemble
4:30- 6pm, Teens

Upcoming Family Saturday Festivals

January 24, 2015 – Puppets!  As part of the city-wide Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival, join us for In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater’s pop-up puppet performances and puppet making workshops

April 18, 2015 -Music and Dance: the symphonic soul of violinist Lee England, Jr., a performance by Muntu Dance Theatre, and instrument share workshops

August 22, 2015 – United We Drum: A fun-filled day of music with drummers from various cultures with Muntu Dance Theatre’s “United we Drum,” a world music performance by Funkadesi, and art workshops for all ages.
 

In addition to Family Saturday Festivals, the Logan Center hosts free arts workshops from 2-4:30 pm and teen spoken word open mics from 4:30 – 6 pm on Family Saturdays on Dec 6, 2014 and Feb 7, Mar 21, May 16, June 20 and July 11, 2015.  Family Saturdays are free and open to the public but registration is recommended at ticketsweb.uchicago.edu.