Category: GWCA Fest

Thank You for Making the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest a Success!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 21, 2025

We are still buzzing from the energy of this year’s Graceland West Neighborhood Fest! The weather held out and it was so wonderful to see so many of you gathered together, celebrating our incredible community.

The success of this event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our amazing volunteers and our sponsors. We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped, with special recognition to Brad, Sarah, Liza, and Kristi for their leadership and tireless efforts. Your hard work behind the scenes truly made this year’s fest a memorable experience for all.

A Look Back at a Wonderful Day

The fest was a fantastic reminder of the spirit that makes Graceland West so special. We hope you enjoyed everything from the caricatures to the comedic juggler, the live music, and of course, the incredible pizza. It was a day filled with laughter, community, and great fun.

Get Involved: Your Neighborhood Needs You!

The fest is just one of many events that bring our neighborhood to life. It’s never too early to start thinking about how you can help with our upcoming events and initiatives. We’re already planning our annual Halloween Party next month, and we need volunteers to help with everything from handing out candy to setting up games.

Looking ahead, we also need volunteers for:

Pollinator Pathways: Help us keep our green spaces beautiful and healthy.
Serving on the GWCA Council: Shape the future of our neighborhood by joining the council.
The Annual Garden Walk: Share your green thumb and help coordinate this popular event.
46th Annual Neighborhood Fest: It may seem far away, but planning for next summer’s fest is already underway!

Your time and energy are what make these events happen. If you want to get involved, please reach out! Just send an email to info@gracelandwest.org to learn more about our opportunities.

Thank you again for your support and for making Graceland West such a great place to live. We can’t wait to see you at our next event!

Tags gwcafest

Events & Announcements GWCA Fest

The Sun is Shining! Let the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest Begin!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 13, 2025

Picture from 2024 Graceland West neighborhood fest.

The rain has cleared, and the sun is out, making today absolutely perfect for our annual Neighborhood Fest!

Come on out and join us from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Greenview Ave. It’s the perfect time to meet up with neighbors, enjoy some great food and entertainment, and support our community.

Caricatures by Kenny Durkin: Get your own custom caricature drawn between 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
Access Contemporary Music Performance: Enjoy a special piano performance at 4:30 PM.
Euchre Tournament: We have one spot open for the tournament. The fun kicks off at 3:30 PM. Reach out to Paul at pmonzella@gmail.com to join.
Andy Head Comedic Juggler: Prepare to be amazed by his incredible show at 5:30 PM.
Five Squared Pizza: Grab a slice of one of Chicago’s best pizzas, available from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

We’ve got something for everyone—from the bounce house and carnival games for the kids to a silent auction and craft cocktails for the adults. We can’t wait to see you there!

Tags gwcafest

Events & Announcements GWCA Fest

Get Ready for the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest This Saturday!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 10, 2025

Saturday September 13
3-8 PM

4100 North Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner

Get ready to connect with your neighbors and celebrate our community this Saturday at the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest! This is our largest fundraiser of the year, and it’s a great opportunity to have a blast while supporting our special corner of Chicago. Everyone is invited, so bring your family, friends, and anyone who wants to join in the fun.

We’ve got a fantastic lineup of activities this year, including some exciting new additions we can’t wait to share with you.

Can’t-Miss Main Attractions

This year’s fest features an incredible new group of performers and artists to keep you entertained all afternoon and into the evening.

Andy Head Comedic Juggler • 5:30-6:15 PM: Prepare to be amazed! Andy Head brings a trunk full of tricks and a ton of laughs to his show. With hilarious audience participation and incredible circus stunts, this performance is perfect for all ages. As one fan said, it’s “the perfect blend of juggling, comedy, and audience participation.”

Caricatures by Kenny Durkin • 3:30-5:30 PM: Take home a fun and personalized souvenir from the fest! Kenny Durkin is a professional cartoonist with over 20 years of experience, including work with Disney, AMC, and The Jim Henson Company. You may have seen his work on TV or in his online comic strips—now’s your chance to have him draw you!

Access Contemporary Music • 4:30-5:00 PM: Join us for a special piano performance by Seth Boustead, the Executive Director of Access Contemporary Music (ACM). Seth is an award-winning composer and visionary who will be kicking off the completion and grand opening of The CheckOut, ACM’s new venue at 4116 N. Clark. Stop by their booth to learn more about their mission and the new space.

Food, Drinks, and More!

We’ve got something for everyone to eat and drink.

Five Squared Pizza • 4:00-8:00 PM: The legendary Five Squared Pizza is back! Known for their “non-standard Detroit style pizza using organic ingredients & scratch-made everything,” they were called one of the “Best 25 pizzas in Chicago” by the Chicago Tribune. Don’t miss this tasty local favorite.
Off Color Brewing Beer, Wine & Craft Cocktails: Our friends at Off Color Brewing will be on hand with a selection of delicious beer, wine, and cocktails.
$1 Bake Sale: Bring a handheld, wrapped treat to share and grab one for just a dollar. We’ll also have cotton candy, popcorn, and other snacks available.

All-Day Activities and Entertainment

The fun doesn’t stop there! Get ready for a day packed with activities:

Live Music: DJ Dan Larson will be spinning tunes all day.
Games & Fun: We’ll have a bounce house, carnival games, basketball hoop, and cornhole.
Creative Stations: Kids can get creative at the sensory play station and collaborative art mural, and everyone can participate in the piñata, egg toss, and musical chairs. You can also create your own custom tie-dye t-shirts from 3:30-5:30 PM.
Friendly Competition: Test your wits at the Youth (5-5:30 PM) and Adult (6:30-7:00 PM) Trivia Contests with Stewpendous Trivia.
Euchre Tournament: Ready to play? Join the Euchre Tournament Fundraiser from 3:30-5:30 PM. It’s a $30 buy-in per player with cash prizes. Contact Paul at pmonzella@gmail.com to sign up.
Silent Auction & Raffle: Bid on amazing items in our silent auction and try your luck with the 50/50 raffle.
S’mores & Glowsticks • 7:00-8:00 PM: End the night with a special treat and some glowing fun!

Don’t forget to stop by the booths from Friends of Lake View High School, Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, Quantum Leep Academy, and Access Contemporary Music. And while you’re there, you can purchase your GWCA membership and grab some new GWCA tumblers, cozies, and magnets!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Tags gwcafest

GWCA Fest

A Big Thank You to Our Neighborhood Fest Sponsors and Volunteers!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date October 1, 2024

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s 44th annual Neighborhood Festival such a tremendous success! As a fundraiser at its core, the Fest would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our amazing sponsors and the dedication of our volunteers. Thanks to your contributions, all net proceeds from this year’s event will help support the GWCA’s numerous upcoming initiatives in the areas of preservation, environment, community service, and social programming. Below is a list of the incredible sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible – we couldn’t have done it without you!

DONORS

The George Pullman – $1000 or more
Marlene Granacki – RE/MAX

The Ruth Page – $500 or more
34-TEN Architecture and Josh Hutchison
Chris McGowan Family
Lee Francis and Michelle Gittler
Sarah Maxwell Group, Residential Real Estate with @properties

The Ernie Banks – $250 or more
Mary Beth and Bob Flannery
Melanie and Brad Pierce

The George Pullman – $100 or more
Kristi Passarelli and Matt Buckland

Silent Auction Donors
Shruti and Brandon Cruz
Climb Zone
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness
The Long Room
Port & Part Bistro & Bar
Sarah Maxwell Group

IN-KIND DONORS:

Off Color Brewing
Sit Social Daycare, Grooming and Barkery

VOLUNTEERS:

Jonah Agnew
Terry Baublis
Jen Beattie
Matt Buckland
Chris Chesne
Julie Chesne
Will Chesne
Donna Forsberg
Alexis Frazier
Michael Gaertner
Laura Hatch
Janice Horwich
Josh Hutchison
Matthew Jennison
TJ Maas
Andrew Maxwell
Ann Maxwell
Lily Maxwell
Tim McGonegle
Kate Guilfoyle
Colin McLeod
Rob Munds
Nehring Family
Brian Peterman
Fiona Peterman
Melanie Pierce
Sarah Pierce
Chad Rathmann
Nick Rizza
Barb Sullivan
Linda Welsh
Michael Welsh
Kim Yeatts
Josh Yeatts

FEST PLANNERS

Brad Pierce
Sarah Maxwell
Liza Gaertner
Kristi Passarelli

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Art City
Five Square Pizza
Friends of Lake View High School
Stewpendous Productions
Quantum Leep Academy
Sit Social

Tags gwcafest

GWCA Fest

Games, Pizza, and Fun for All Ages!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 13, 2024

The Graceland West Neighborhood Festival is back tomorrow with a full day of activities for all ages! Among the highlights are a competitive Euchre Tournament Fundraiser, where players can vie for cash prizes, delicious Detroit-style pizza from local favorite Five Square Pizza, and lively trivia contests hosted by DJ Stew of Stewpendous Productions. These are just a few of the many events planned, so come out and enjoy a day filled with games, food, music, and fun in our beautiful community!

Euchre Tournament Fundraiser 3:30-5:00 pm
Players needed – please sign up to participate – contact Kate Guilfouyle (keguilfoyle@gmail.com). Three rounds of round robin, $30 buy-in per player with cash prizes.

Five Square Pizza 4:00-8:00 pm Five Square Pizza, is a husband and wife duo who left the corporate world in 2019 to follow their dreams of owning a pizzeria. Detroit style pizza using organic ingredients and scratch made everything. “The best 25 pizzas in Chicago” by Chicago Tribune and “13 best pizza places in Chicago” by Condé Nast Traveler.

DJ Stew of Stewpendous Productions
We’re excited to have Stew of Stewpendous Productions join us as our host throughout the Fest. He’ll be leading 2 of his famous trivia contents for us too – a Kids Trivia Contest from 4:30-5:00 pm and adult trivia contest from 6:30-7:00 pm.

Tags gwcafest

GWCA Fest

Help Us Make Tomorrow’s Festival a Success – Volunteers Needed!

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 13, 2024

We’re just one day away from our annual Graceland West Neighborhood Fest, and we still need a few more volunteers to help bring everything together! Whether you can spare an hour or more, your support will make a big difference. If you’re able to lend a hand, please reach out to sarah.maxwell@gmail.com to volunteer. Thank you for helping make this year’s fest special!

Tags gwcafest

Events & Announcements GWCA Fest

Graceland West Neighborhood Fest – Saturday 9/14

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 8, 2024

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
3:00 – 8:00 pm
Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner

Join us for Graceland West’s largest fundraiser of the year! Come out and meet-up with your neighbors while supporting our special neighborhood. All are invited including those outside GWCA.

Day-Of Volunteers Needed

Fest Contributions
Silent auction donations (gift certificate, goods, or services)

Fest Sponsor Donations
The George Pullman ($100)
The Ernie Banks ($250)
The Ruth Page ($500)
The Conrad Sulzer ($750)
The Daniel Burnham ($1000)

DJ Stew of Stewpendous Productions

Euchre Tournament
3:30-5:00 3 rounds of round robin, $30 buy-in per player with cash prizes. Contact Kate Guilfouyle (keguilfoyle@gmail.com) to sign-up

Magic Show By Randy
3:30-4:00

Silent Auction & 50/50 Raffle

Create Custom Tie Dye T-Shirts & Spin Art
4:00-7:00

Painting Booth with Art City
4:00-7:00
Painting for adults and youth. Get creative with this local art class & gallery venue.

Five Square Pizza & Snacks
4:00-8:00
Detroit style pizza using organic ingredients& scratch made everything.
‘The best 25 pizzas in Chicago’ -Chicago Tribune; ’13 best pizzas in Chicago’-Conde Nast Traveler

Trivia Contests with Stewpendous Trivia
Youth (4:30-5) & Adult (6:30-7)

Face Painting
5:00-7:00

Off Color Brewing Beer, plus Wine & Craft Cocktails

Cotton Candy & Sno Cones

Friends of Lake View High School, Sit Social & Lakeshore Sport & Fitness Booths

Tags gwcafest

GWCA Fest

See you SUNDAY at the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 7, 2023

Sunday September 10, 2023 | 3-7 PM

4100 North Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner

For all the details see:

https://gracelandwest.org/calendar/annual-graceland-west-neighborhood-fest/

You can still volunteer here,

Make a contribution or ask any questions about the event by contacting Sarah, sarah.maxwell@gmail.com,

and follow us on facebook or instagram for last-minute updates.

Tags gwcafest

Events & Announcements GWCA Fest

Special Thank You to Graceland West Neighborhood Fest Sponsors and Volunteers

Post author By gracelandwest
Post date September 25, 2022

Thanks for a fantastic Graceland West Neighborhood Fest on September 11, 2022. We were delayed past our 3 pm start by a super cell that brought heavy rain and a squall that flooded several blocks of Greenview. Fest Committee and volunteers set up in a downpour and then held on to tent legs to keep them from going airborne. Randy started the Fest with the magic we all craved, Lisa B kept our hearts warm with song. Once weather lifted enough, neighbors began to fill the 4100 block of Greenview until it was packed with attendees from families with infants to a neighbor in his mid 90’s who walked through the rain to renew his membership. Neighbors kept baked goods coming and Peg’s Bake Table sold out. Kids sported painted faces, one dad held umbrellas in each hand to keep kids dry. Many volunteers went home and changed to dry clothes more than once. Mid-Fest, just when we were all hungry, Big Star Taco arrived with three kinds of tacos and a margarita, and then the juggler brought fire to warm us up.

Kudos to the Fest Committee, which included Barb Sullivan, Sarah Maxwell, Brad Pierce and more. They planned the perfect Fest and executed brilliantly, given the challenges mother nature sent their way. Thank you to the 25+ GWCA Members and Block Reps who helped with spreading the word about the event and a very special than you to LVHS students who braved the weather all day.

Because we were unable to properly thank our sponsors during the event, they are recognized below.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

homemade craft cocktail sponsor