Market Days celebrates Mardi Gras

Market Days celebrates Mardi Gras
By Amy Wooten
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
July 30, 2009
http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3747


This summer may have been unseasonably cool, but the upcoming Market Days street festival will surely heat things up.

Market Days, hosted by Northalsted Area Merchants Association, is one of Boystown’s biggest summertime events. The popular festival is set for Aug. 1-2, and is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. each day along Halsted Street from Belmont to Addison.

According to Market Days chairperson Jeff Durbin, the annual festival is trying out two new things in hopes of making the bash more spectacular than ever.

First of all, this year’s Market Days has a theme—“Mardi Gras”—for the first time ever. Booths will look less like they were just thrown haphazardly together along Halsted Street.

“We’re trying to get a little cohesiveness on the street,” Durbin said.

Secondly, Market Days organizers are introducing a new VIP Stage located at Addison and Halsted. While Market Days attendees can still see tons of fabulous bands for the $7 gate donation, people now have the option of buying $30 or $50 tickets that gives them access to the VIP Stage. Ticket holders will have VIP access to several headlining acts (like Syesha Mercado, Lucas Prata, Kristine W and En Vogue on Saturday, and CeCe Peniston, Kathy Sledge, Berlin and Jody Watley on Sunday). They will also have access to private bathrooms, drink tickets and a liquor tent. For $30, get Back of the House VIP Access and one free drink ticket. For $50, get Front of the House VIP Access and two free drink tickets.

While organizers are excited to unveil this new addition, the announcement is causing some confusion and anger in the community. Some believe the VIP Stage will take entertainment away from those who only pay the $7 gate donation. Durbin stressed that the people without VIP access will still have a great time. Non-VIP ticket holders will still be able to see (although there are some obstructions) and hear the VIP Stage acts, and will still have access to several high-quality acts on other stages throughout the weekend. Others have complained about the cost of the VIP tickets. Durbin said 100 percent of ticket sales to the VIP Stage events pay for the entertainment NAMA would otherwise not have been able to afford. That, and “paying roughly $7.50 or so for each of these acts is a really great deal,” Durbin said.

“We’re not taking anything away,” Durbin added. “We’re giving the festival something it’s never had. This is just adding something extra to the festival.”

Non-VIP Stage ticket holders still have access to over 40 acts on the Belmont and Roscoe Stages, as well as the Jazz Oasis. On Saturday, see tons of performers like Dot Dot Dot, Rock Candy, Levi Kreis and 16 Candles. On Sunday, don’t miss Cat Fight, Linda Clifford and the Village People, among many others. Over the weekend, the Jazz Oasis offers everything from jazz and blues acts to a fashion show and cabaret performance. And when you aren’t enjoying music and performance, there are over 400 food and arts and crafts vendors to check out.

Like every year, each $7 gate donation not only helps fund the festival, but also helps maintain Boystown’s streets, paying for extras like daily street sweeping, extra summer security and more.

See the complete lineup or purchase tickets at chicagoevents.com.