BACKFestival
Every Year in August
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.
In the event of rain we will move the music into the All Saints Church on the same block with seating for 200 people.
2026 Dates and times
2026 Dates and timesSaturday, August 22 2:00 – 11:00 PM
Sunday, August 23 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 Nayelii Duran
3pm Jenny Viets
4pm Aimee Leigh
5pm Dreamtree Shakers
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 Herine Koschak
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 Aimee Leigh
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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