48th Annual Custer Fair Festival of the Arts

Dates: Father’s Day Weekend: June 20-21, 2020
Location: Chicago Avenue and Main Street, Evanston, Illinois
Hours: 10AM-9PM both days
Attendance: 100,000
Demographics: Primary: A25-54, upscale, educated white collar families
Beneficiary: Evanston Festival Theatre
Admission: Free
Theme: Celebration of visual and performing arts

Overview:

Evanston’s largest, and one of its oldest outdoor events, is celebrating its 48th anniversary in 2019.  This unique, eclectic art festival takes place on the weekend of the Summer Solstice, the longest days of the year- and has become one of the harbingers of summer to Evanstonians.  It’s ranked as one of the region’s top art festivals, but as any visitor or local will tell you – it is so much more than the average art festival.

Known as the Custer Fair by locals, the event is art-centered, featuring more than 300 high quality arts and crafts booths offering a diverse mix of ceramics, paintings, pottery, photographs, jewelry, graphic arts, wearable art, home crafts, antiques, and collectibles. Each of the arts and crafts vendors are selected by a panel of experts. More than 130 commercial booths are added to this mix, and approximately 30 food booths offer a wide variety of international cuisine.

Unique is the operative word when describing the Custer Fair. Over its 48 years, the event has developed many colorful, unique traditions that set it way, way apart from other large events.  For starters- where else can you experience a variety of high -end theater both indoors and outdoors in the middle of a huge street festival, for free, for two straight days?

On opposite sides of the event site three entertainment stages are in full operation. The Festival Stage features continuous live music in a variety of formats- jazz, rock, classic rock, folk and fusion. The Show Stage offers a more intimate experience with a lineup that includes the thrilling music of an authentic Drum Circle, and performances by musical greats such as Corky Siegel, Zak Brach, Chris Greene and more.

All of this unique festival fare makes the Custer Fair a destination not only for Chicagoans, but for families throughout Northern Illinois.

Sponsorship Opportunity

Attendance: 100,000

The Custer Fair Sponsorship Benefits Menu offers sponsors a variety of ways to impact this large audience of North Shore families and university members at this iconic event.