Mon. August 9, 2010
Chicago, IL -
Crowded streets, delicious food and endless shopping marked the 29th Annual Northalsted Market Days street fair as tens of thousands from all around the country flocked to Chicago's Boystown neighborhood to experience the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest.
Beautiful summer weather greeted attendees throughout the weekend, though rain showers on Sunday morning hampered early attendance. Event organizers have not yet released official attendance numbers.
The Northalsted Merchants Association (NAMA) presents the annual event, which spanned six city blocks on Halsted from Belmont to Addison and included 17 different entrances.
Throughout the two-day period there were over 40 performances on four different stages. Headlining this year's Market Days were rock legend Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Latin crooner Jon Secada, American Idol finalists Blake Lewis as well a Gina Glocksen, LGBT favorites Cathy Richardson and Adam Barta.
In addition to the national headliners, the festival included a good combination of local talent including Dot Dot Dot, Sixteen Candles and White Tie Affair.
The street festival briefly turned to politics when Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn took to the Addison Street stage. Quinn received the endorsement of Equality Illinois Political Action Committee, a gay rights advocacy group.
"This is the Land of Lincoln where you treat everyone equal without discrimination," Quinn told the crowd of nearly 200 gathered at the Addison Street festival stage in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
Gay rights advocates call the Nov. 2 election for Illinois Governor one of the most important votes because Quinn's Republican opponent, state Sen. Bill Brady, favors an amendment to the Illinois constitution banning equal marriage rights for LGBT citizens.
'Stop Bill Brady' T-shirts and stickers encouraging people to visit whoisbillbrady.com were visible throughout the two-day street festival.
Market Days also included 400 food and unique arts & craft vendors.
Related: View thousands of photos from Market Days
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