“This popular summer festival will again engage people of all ages to not only experience a taste of the region through art and food, but also examine and challenge beliefs about personal and cultural identity. HAMSA-Fest will include a children’s tent featuring dance, drumming, storytelling, instrument-making in conjunction with the Chicago Children’s Museum and other artistic instruction, adding to the family-friendly appeal of the event. Middle Eastern wares will be sold, and local North African and Middle Eastern restaurants will present regional cuisine that attendees may purchase. We will transform a part of Lincoln Park into a Middle Eastern bazaar showcasing world-renowned instrumental and vocal music, dance, visual and culinary art and literature from the Middle East and North Africa from our main stage. “
I always have great hopes for this event, but every time I’ve gone for the last three years, attendance has been very poor. I’m not sure if people just don’t like the idea, or if its not well publicized or if the communities it targets simply don’t live close enough to the event. But the outdoor festival had no more than 100 people that weren’t performers, and that was disappointing. Maybe because it tries to be all things and ends up being good at none. Maybe if it were less heavy-handed about the hope for peace and just existed as an example instead… dunno…
Anyways, I’m looking forward to Pharaoh’s Daughter performing and hearing some of the other multi-culti music. It should be good.
