Throwback Music Festival
Dates: Friday-Sunday, September 8-10, 2019
Location: Gladstone Park
Hours: 12N-11PM daily
Attendance: 30,000
Demographics: A21-54
Components:
• Top name musical headliners.
• Continuous live music.
• Oysters and beer.
• Arts and crafts vendors.
Overview:
In early September, Chicago’s Northwest side becomes a mecca for lovers of nostalgia, when the Gladstone Park community hosts the Throwback Music Fest- a tribute to music from three past decades.
This throwback tribute to rock, pop and R&B music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s celebrates each decade, and, of course, many musical genres. The event location is the actual park- several acres of green space in the heart of the community.
Each day of this event will be distinctly different- true to it’s particular decade. On one day, tribute bands playing disco, and classics by bands such as Kansas, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Queen, and other musical markers of the 70’s are featured. Another day is dedicated to the happy sounds of the 80’s with cover bands playing hits by artists such as Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Springsteen. The third day flashes back to the nineties- with bands covering hits by Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Hootie and the Blowfish, and so on.
These distinctly different music format days make a winning formula for festival attendance. Each day is radically different from the next, which lures many of the same attendees back each day for a different music experience, while attracting people from all over Chicagoland who are passionate about a particular musical era.
Although the main focus of Throwback Music Fest is, of course, music- the event has many other attractions. Quality festival food and quality beer are hallmarks – with as much emphasis on variety as quality. There are at least 50 merchandise booths offering everything under the sun, and a kids’s area with plenty of things for young children to do while their parents are busy flashing back.
The dictionary definition of nostalgia as a ‘wistful affection for a period or place with happy associations’ explains the Throwback Music Festival’s popularity. This event delivers three days of pleasant associations and memories – transporting Chicagoans back to a carefree, happy time. Everyone leaves Throwback Music Festival with a smile on their face.
Events & Venues
Please click on the month for the events list.
or
Download a .pdf of the entire Event Calendar
January Events
There are no events listed for this month.
February Events
March Events
April Events
The Black Women's Expo
Salt Lake City Marathon & Lifestyle Expo
American Cancer Society- Walk and Roll
Randolph Street Market
May Events
American Brain Tumor Walk
The Lucky 13
Southwest Half Marathon
Lincoln Park Wine Festival
San Diego Taco Fest
Randolph Street Market
Do Division
Taste of Mexico
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
Taco & Tequila Festival
June Events
Do Division
Taste of Mexico
Hyde Park Summer Fest
Pilsen Food Truck Social
Wells Street Art Festival
Diva Fest
Winnetka Music Festival
Custer Fair Festival of the Arts
Chicago Pridefest
Fountain Square Artisan Fest
The Highland Park Festival of Fine Arts
World Pride Music Festivals
Pride in the Park
July Events
Windy City Rib Fest
Old School Reunion
Lake Forest 4th of July
West Fest
Chicago’s Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Chinatown Summer Fair
Sheffield Music Festival
Festival Columbiano
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Starlight Festival (@ Yerkes Observatory)
Randolph Street Market
Lake County Fair
Jeff Fest
Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets
August Events
Lake County Fair
Jeff Fest
Chicago Brewing District's Dancing in the Streets
Festival Polonaise
Bud Billiken Parade & Picnic
Northalsted Market Days
South Shore Summer Festival
Taste of Greektown
Logan Square Social
Naper Pride Fest
African Festival of the Arts
September Events
African Festival of the Arts
Naperville Last Fling
Friends of Labor Festival
Fiestas Patrias (Festival La Villita)
Throwback Music Festival
Bourbon & Barbecue Festival
26th Street Mexican Parade
The Black Women's Expo
Taste of St Louis
El Grito del Delores
Chicago Taco Fest
Chicago's Oktoberfest
Randolph Street Market
Walk to End Alzheimer's
October Events
November Events
Randolph Street Market
December Events
Year Round Opportunities
Contact:
Norine Smyth
312.799.0354
nsmyth@sponsorchicago.com
Sponsorship Opportunity
Sponsorship of the Throwback Music Festival Festival aligns your company/brand with one of Chicago’s most unique music festivals Target 30,000 upscale, educated young urban professionals and families via naming rights, on-site activation, sampling, sales, couponing, bounce-back, media inclusion, signage, on-site announcements, and more.

