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September 7 and 8, 2024
Thirsty ears Festival
ACM’s Thirsty Ears Festival is Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood are closed to feature stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We also have delicious beer and wine, vendor booths, kid-friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
In the event of rain we will move the music into the All Saints Church on the same block with seating for 200 people.
Hours
Saturday, September 7 2:00 – 11:00 PM
Sunday, September 8 1:00 – 9:00 PM
Location
1758 W. Wilson Ave.
Parking is limited to street parking
Event schedule
August 13th
main stage
2pm TBD
3pm TBD
4pm TBD
5pm TBD
6pm TBD
7pm TBD
8pm Palomar
9pm Mini Sound of Silent Film Festival
Kid Zone
2pm TBD
3pm TBD
4pm TBD
5pm TBD
6pm TBD
7pm TBD
8pm Palomar
9pm Mini Sound of Silent Film Festival
August 14th
Main Stage
2pm TBD
3pm TBD
4pm TBD
5pm TBD
6pm TBD
7pm TBD
8pm TBD
9pm TBD
Kid Zone
2pm TBD
3pm TBD
4pm TBD
5pm TBD
September 7th
main stage
2pm Chicago Chamber Music Festival
3pm Amy Gadd
4pm Bach & Beethoven Experience
5pm Rose Wollman & Sarah Plum
6pm Duo Forzando + Missing Piece
7pm Hot Second
8pm Michael Hall
9pm Natasha Bogojevich
9:30pm Mini Sound of Silent Film Festival
Kid Zone
Facepainting and balloon twists all day
On Stage
2pm Jenny Viets
3pm Singalong Sprouts with Miss Sandy
4pm Instrument Petting Zoo
5pm Dinder Brothers Family Circus and Magic Rob
September 8th
Main Stage
1pm Jonathan Hannau
2pm Elaine Ubando/Susan Merdinger
3pm Chicago a cappella
4pm Lakeshore Rush
5pm Fulcrum Point Feat. Stephen Burns and Shi-an Costello
6pm Laura Strickling & Daniel Schlosberg
7pm Wurtz-Berger Duo
8pm Wicked Drawl
Kid Zone
Facepainting and balloon twists all day
On Stage
1pm Instrument Petting Zoo
2pm Dawn-Marie’s Toddler Jam
3pm Singalong Sprouts with Miss Sandy
4pm Lucky Trikes
5pm Dinder Brothers Family Circus and Magic Rob
sponsors
Meet Our sponsors
The Thirsty Ears festival is made possible in part by generous support from these sponsors:
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2023
Thirsty Ears Festival 2023
ACM is proud to present the eighth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
2022
Thirsty Ears Festival 2022
ACM is proud to present the seventh annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
Thirsty Ears Festival 2021
ACM is proud to present the sixth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days. Highlights include a special performance of our Sound of Silent Film Festival Saturday at sundown and, to close out the fest on Sunday, a classical remix from Origin of Animal.
Thirsty Ears Festival & Walking Tour 2020
Thirsty Ears, Chicago’s only classical music street festival is back with an all-new lineup and a new format!
We’re thrilled to present an exciting combination of a musical audio walking tour and an in-person outdoor concert. Discover Ravenswood and Lincoln Square as you’ve never seen or heard them before!
Your ticket includes entry to all live performances at VIN312 except for Sound of Silent Film which is available at the Marquee level. Click the check boxes to tell us which shows you’re going to so we can ensure social distancing.
Ticket holders are also invited to explore ten sites in Ravenswood and Lincoln Square chosen for their historical and cultural significance. At each site, you’ll hear about its history and then hear a short piece composed especially for the site.
Each time you complete a site you unlock rewards from neighborhood businesses.
Thirsty Ears Festival 2019
Thirsty Ears Festival 2018
ACM is proud to present the third annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature fifteen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
$10 suggested donation, all proceeds support the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization.
2017
Thirsty Ears Festival 2017
ACM is proud to present the third annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature fifteen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
$10 suggested donation, all proceeds support the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization.