In 2021, with the pandemic still lingering Chicago Loop Alliance announced an exciting new project to “bring people safely back to the Loop”.
The project was an ambitious weekly summer street festival that saw closed off State Street from Lake to Madison on Sundays throughout the summer. Called ‘Sundays on State’, the event aimed to revive the Loop’s economy with a wide range of attractions and activities that would give pedestrians “a chance to experience arts and culture, active recreation, retail, restaurants, and bars against the backdrop of State Street’s iconic architecture.”
Dubbed as a trial in 2021 with hints that it could become a regular summer occurrence depending on how it went, Sundays on State returned with an expanded footprint last year due to its hugely successful inaugural year.
This year the summer block party announced its return for two select dates in July and August.
THIS JUST IN– Sundays on State returns for TWO Sundays this summer! Chicago’s most iconic street, State Street, will close to traffic with an expanded footprint! Read more:https://t.co/Mf00qJ23qZ
— The Chicago Loop (@ChiLoopAlliance) March 23, 2023
According to research carried out by the Chicago Loop Alliance, Sundays on State met and exceeded the event’s three primary goals of accelerating the economic recovery, uniting the community and creating joy as well as bringing a range of different ages from over 20 different states.
One of the best parts was that over 69% of the activations were underrepresented business owners and the event had a direct economic impact in the Loop of over $12 million.
Though the official Sundays on State event page has revealed that it will be returning in its expanded format, the organizers have decided to limit the event to just two dates. This year it will take place on State Street from Lake to Adams on both Sunday, July 16, and Sunday, August 13.
“Now in its third year, Sundays on State remains an ambitious and extremely successful initiative, with over 113,000 attendees at the first event in 2022,” said Chicago Loop Alliance President and CEO Michael Edwards. “Chicagoans from every neighborhood and visitors alike gather together to experience the best of our city on its most iconic street, State Street.”
The last two years of Sundays on State have featured an array of activations such as interactive painting, live theater, yoga, dance, circus performances, jazz and bluegrass musicians, DJs, outdoor dining, and sidewalk vendors. So this year you can expect more of the same
Along with pop-up shops, restaurants, and bars, there will once again be various outdoor concerts, theatrical performances, different arts and culture experiences, “Instagrammable” backdrops, and fitness classes.
To participate, sponsor, volunteer, or attend the free events visit here.
More information can be found on the official Sundays on State event page.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]