Free Sundays on State

When: Every Sunday, July 11-September 26, 2021. (No events Aug 1 and 15). Events from 11am-8pm; street closed 7am-11pm

Where: State Street from Lake Street (300N) to Madison Street (0N)

In order to increase foot traffic and to generate some revenue for businesses in the Loop, State Street will be closed to traffic for twelve Sunday’s this summer. This will be a weekly summer street festival that the sponsor, the Chicago Loop Alliance, is calling an interactive block party. This will include art, entertainment, exercise classes, retail and restaurants and bars.

On previous visits I’ve scored a free $5 gift card from Primark and a free yoga tank with a $50 price tag on it. There were also free CBD gummies.

Free Sundays on State – Sept 5 – COTC note: There are many more food options this week.

This is looking like another blow out list of events. It looks like there will be something for everyone to do. More info.

Performance Schedule – Lake-Randolph

11 a.m.-8 p.m. – The Freakeasy
2-5 p.m. – DJ sets by Power 92’s HotRod

Performance Schedule – Randolph to Washington

11 a.m.-8 p.m. – Cumulus Radio DJ live broadcast WLS-AM 890

Performance Schedule – Washington-Madison (on stage)

11 a.m. – Dzika Fitness (bring water, towel and sports attire; no mat needed)
Noon – Millar Brass Ensemble
1 p.m. – Jessica Ever
2:30 p.m. – Orcas are Dolphins
4 p.m. – Together
6 p.m. – Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
7 p.m. – Dance Hokulea

Arts and culture

1Evalution – business and life coaching
Aaron Pierre Brown – open-air artist salon setting for live art demonstrations
The Acting Workshop Chicago – interactive game show called Name That Flick!
Amoz of Art LLC – artworks for sale that highlight love and Black culture
Bead Streetz – handmade crafter/Perler bead artist
Beautiful Guitar Hands – classical and Spanish music, as well as selections from the great American songbook

Brad Meese Photography – fine art photography
Cabinet of Curiosity – pop-up nautical spectacle
Caricatures by Mary Ellen – live caricature artist
Chicago Arts Teen Outreach (CATO) – teens can express themselves and perform, featuring brief interactive performances by teens
Chicago Queer Creations – a safe space for those in the LGBTQ+ community and its allies
CIRCLE Foundation/Innovations High School – gaming station

Cumulus Radio – broadcasting live on State Street with WLS-AM 890
Dance Hokulea – Polynesian dance, featuring costumes and performances from several Pacific islands, including Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa
Dragonfly Gallery & Creative Spaces – pop-up gallery showcasing new and emerging artists, minority and women local artists
eATLAS – free self-guided tours and treasure hunts in the Loop using the eATLAS app
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater – the premier Spanish dance company
Family-ism Face Paint Factory – professional face painting and a photo backdrop for selfies

Fancy Faces by Sharon – face painting and glitter tattoos
The Freakeasy – an art collective inspired by the Burning Man Arts Festival
House music by Chicago area DJs and The Freakeasy Lounge, and their Augmented Reality Sandbox to Couch Place Alley
Free Lunch Academy – live performances of their touring stage play entitled “Be A Buddy Not A Bully,”
FromBupkis – handmade pottery for sale

Global Citizenship Experience Lab School with Chicago Mobile Makers – a series of short educational workshops/discussions
Illinois Science Council – examine real brains from different animals up close, enjoy an exotic insect “petting zoo,” chat with scientists
Jessica Ever – indie-rock and alternative solo musician performing original music
Jimmy Williams Gallery & Studio – pop-up abstract art gallery
JushShop – jewelry and pottery
Kraneil Fine Art – live painting

League of Chicago Theatres – a Hot Tix pop up selling collectible Broadway In Chicago posters, Playbills, and promoting theatrical performances
LeonMechelle Artist Studios – 3D interactive artwork
Lolita’s Bodega – BIPOC small business pop-up featuring 5-10 small businesses and artisans
Metrix, Chicago’s New Hero – book promotion for a child-designed, mother-supported comic book superhero
Millar Brass Ensemble – live light classical, pop and jazz music
Orcas are Dolphins – quintet of musicians who produce progressive electronic jazz

Paint the City – Live art activations and artist vendors Blue Moon Gallery
Planned Parenthood of Illinois – a “body celebration” booth with games, crafts and decorations
Pretty Things Painted – workshops offering different techniques in designing custom, DIY, fashionable wearable art
Project Onward – original artwork, hand-painted jewelry, pins and sculptures, plus 30-minute portraits of people and pets
Ray Neal Media – live broadcast on internet station platforms
Revolution Club – activist group advocating for equality among different people, cultures and languages

Roll Call – Creative Art Fashion & Design entrepreneur program, which teaches youth valuable skills and understanding of the fashion industry
Sarah J Wilson art – pop-up art show of work depicting painted signage and painted stickers/everyday objects from around Chicago
THUG Hippie – drum and dance circle
Together – an 11-piece horn band covers of iconic Latin rock, R&B and pop music from past and present
Tours with Mike – free, 20-minute architecture and history tours of State Street from Lake to Madison, from 2-5 p.m.
TrillNinja Art & Apparel – prints and original canvas art for sale and live art

Twenty Thou – handmade jewelry and accessories
Uniform Teeth – outdoor living room activation, featuring lawn tables, lawn chairs, turf, ice cream and plants
The Water Station – kidney health and wellness center
Workers Center for Racial Justice – public dialogue on how neighborhoods can create real safety and commit resources toward achieving a vision of equity, opportunity, and liberation

Active recreation

Dzika Fitness – Chicago-made, trademarked training program bringing pop music-fueled fitness classes to the street
Paint the City x Arcades on Wheels – a free game and recreation activation
Paint the City x Life Source Foundation – free game activities
Reign Body Fuel – fun photo opportunities and complimentary samples of Reign Body Fuel, a performance drink, along with complimentary workout classes

Food and drink

Adams Street Brewery – beer and root beer sales from the Berghoff’s sister brewery
Caseras – Cicero-based Mexican food truck featuring authentic tortas, tacos, elote and more
CForce Bottling Company by Chuck Norris – premium alkaline water giveaways
Chicago Lunchbox – traditional Asian fare served in nontraditional ways
Cynthia’s Gumbo Express – Louisiana-style food truck serving seafood, chicken, turkey and vegan gumbo
The Fat Shallot – classic sandwiches food truck

Happy Lobster – lobster rolls food truck
Harold’s Chicken – food truck
I Love My Coffee Black – a local gourmet coffee company
Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes – dessert food truck, serving your “Favorite Cake in a Cupcake”
Olga’s Aguas Frescas – two stands serving non-alcoholic fruit- and rice-based drinks with authentic tacos
Pita Heaven – Family-owned, local Greek restaurant

Sausage Fest – food truck serving premium Polish, German, veggie and vegan sausages and Vienna beef Chicago-style hot dogs
Sundays on State beer tent – Goose Island beer and seltzer favorites
thrd.coffee company, LLC – mobile coffee bar
W Chicago City Center – craft cocktails, house-made goodies, local beer and rosé all day
The Walnut Room – alcoholic beverages and customer favorites, like Mrs. Hering’s chicken pot pie available as a walking pot pie

Retail

AT&T – pop-up shop featuring brands
Barb-N-Gear – African jewelry, apparel, hand bags, cell phone cases and commercial jewelry
Big Mouf Cosmetics – beauty products, fashion accessories and more
The Body Shop – sidewalk shop with new beauty product releases and demonstrations and kids coloring activities
Brown Babies Books, LLC – an online children’s bookstore by authors of color

Brown Girl Loves Vintage – a pop-up boutique part of the Vintage Village network with unique jewelry, accessories and fashions
BWYB Life – a new apparel brand (“Black-White-Yellow-Brown”) designed to bridge racial divides, stop racial hate
Calandra’s Handbags & Things –designer handbags, jewelry, scarves, hats and headbands for a broad audience
Chanellie – a self-care DIY day make your own coffee clay masks, use their paint and sip kit, write on their Tanuki writing kits and more
Chicago Culture Gear – a brand that celebrates the city allegiance, neighborhood pride and unique style inherent to being a Chicagoan

Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) – a pop-up shop with proceeds helping preserve 14 of Chicago’s most iconic independent entertainment venues
Chitiva by Prescribd – a CBD pop-up shop with infused products, tinctures, drink additives and more
Clay By Clare – handmade, hypoallergenic, clay earrings and necklaces
Cultivate Shoe Boutique
Divinity Seven Apparel – pop-up boutique with hanging apparel racks, mannequins and tables displaying apparel

Equal Clothing – a minority-owned urban fashion line geared toward empowering a generation to speak out for, fight for and strive for equality
Giveashirt – hand screened designs by local artists and musicians, with 100 percent of profits donated to Streetwise
Herbal Maintenance – natural organic products for the entire body
Highly Unique – Chicago-based streetwear clothing brand that showcases Chicago-inspired designs and graphic tees that express individuality and uniqueness
Indelible Bliss Candle and Soap Co. – candles and other products for sale that carry a message/mantra serving as a daily reminder to the user
It’s Oksana – a pop-up store based in linen fabrics, featuring Ukrainian-based products

Lady Kai-hi Clothing & Accessories – jewelry and women’s clothing

Left on Thread – a pop-up shop featuring clothing, accessories, jewelry and candles/small home accents
Macy’s – pop-up sidewalk shop
nineteen99art – an up-and-coming community-based clothing company with an emphasis on giving creatives of all forms a spotlight and platform
Nordstrom Rack – pop-up sidewalk shop
Old Navy – pop-up sidewalk shop with exclusive discounts
Open Books – Pop-up bookstore selling a diverse selection of high quality used books, with all proceeds funding literacy programs
Open Profile LLC – online boutique that curates a selection of vintage women, men and children’s clothing
Passion Lily Boutique – women’s clothing, accessories and sandals

PinkPoshBeautyWorld – beauty products and accessories with inspired diamonds for decoration and lots of pink
PLSH Lyfe Shop – greeting cards and gifts
PRIMERICA – a financial services company for families
Rahalah – bespoke vintage fashion and one-of-a-kind shoes
ShopSheaButterQueen – women’s and men’s sustainable clothing that includes vintage, modern and streetwear
Sw1’s Exotic Reflections – handcrafted jewelry featuring Swarovski crystals for an exotic look to stand out and be different

Sylvia’s BackRoom – a collaboration of vintage sellers all in one place, bringing you the best in vintage, artsy and oddities. Find one-of-kind treasures from days gone by including racks of clothing and accessories, art, textiles, jewelry, accent furniture, home decor, eyewear and so much more
Taj Cosmetics Waxing and Sauna Suite – a personal waxing and makeup studio with a concentration in Brazilian waxing
Walgreens – offering walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations in front of their State and Madison location