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August 23 and 24, 2025
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 a huge range of classical music from all eras on the main stage.
We also have delicious beer and wine, vendor booths, kid-friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
We need volunteers both days! Volunteers work two-hour shifts at an entrance or the beer tent. Sign up here!
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
HoursSaturday, August 23 2:00 – 11:00 PM
Sunday, August 24 1:00 – 9:00 PM
Location
Location1758 W. Wilson Ave.
Parking is limited to street parking
Event schedule
August 23rd
main stage
2pm Classical Music Chicago
2:55pm Confluence Quartet
3:45 pm Bach + Beethoven Experience
4:45 pm Nova Linnea Musica Young Artist: Rabia Brooke
5:35 pm Chicago Sinfonietta
6:25 pm Alex Reyes – piano
7:15 pm Michael Hall and Marianne Parker
8:10 pm Black Oak Ensemble
9pm Kyle Gregory Price
9:30pm Mini Sound of Silent Film Festival
Kid Zone
2pm Instrument Petting Zoo with Katherine Andrick
3pm Jenny Viets
4pm Dawn-Marie Hamilton
5pm TBD
face painting from 3:00 – 5:00
August 24th
Main Stage
1pm Seth Boustead/David Keller/Traci Huff
1:50pm Trio Tallieferre
2:45pm Amy Gadd and Friends
3:40 pm Hot Second
4:35pm Missing Piece
5:30pm Michael J. Miles & Jill Kaeding – American Bach
6:25pm Joel Styzens and Sophie Webber
7:20pm Wild Indigo Trio
8:05pm Lakeshore Rush
Kid Zone
1:45 pm Laura Doherty
3pm Singalong Sprouts with Miss Sandy
4pm Jenny Viets
5pm Dawn-Marie Hamilton
face painting from 3:00 – 5:00
sponsors
Meet Our sponsors
The Thirsty Ears festival is made possible in part by generous support from these sponsors:
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2024
Thirsty Ears Festival 2024
ACM is proud to present the ninth 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.
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.