All You Need to Make the Best Out of
The Belmont Sheffield Music Festival
So you plan on spending Memorial Day weekend at one of the best street festivals in Chicago?! The Belmont Sheffield Music Festival runs from 11 am to 10 pm on both Saturday May 27th, and Sunday May 28th. Here is all you need to know to make the best out of this fest!
Frequently Asked Questions
The festival is happening rain or shine!
An optional $10 donation will be asked upon entry. Your contribution directly supports the festival’s vibrant musical performances and plays a significant role in community beautification efforts. A portion of the proceeds goes towards neighborhood improvement projects, such as enhancing public spaces, creating green areas, and promoting art installations. Your donation helps transform our community into an even more visually appealing and inviting place for residents and visitors to enjoy. By attending the festival and contributing, you actively participate in the ongoing beautification of our neighborhood, making a lasting positive impact on its aesthetic appeal and overall atmosphere. Let’s come together, celebrate music, and create a more beautiful community for everyone.
The BSMF is dog friendly! Bring your pup on a leash so they don’t miss out on the fun.
Before Coming
The festival is conveniently located DIRECTLY off the Belmont L stop! Just a few steps away, right at the corner of Belmont and Sheffield. We recommend taking some sort of public transportation, considering some streets are closed off and we are anticipating traffic and difficulty finding parking. The Belmont L stop has red, brown, and purple lines, so it’s extremely accessible from most Chicago neighborhoods!
Lunch and Brunch
We are going to have numerous food vendors on sight, but if you choose to grab a bite before coming, there are great restaurants walking distance to the fest! Depart the train, and step right into Chicago Bagel Authority for some stuffed bagel sandwiches that will leave you full and satisfied for the duration of the fest. You can even order your food for pick up while on the train, and then just grab and go! If you feel like sitting down, and maybe getting your pregame on, Cheesie’s Pub and Grub is right by the L and has a full service bar! Try an infamous grilled cheese and walk steps on over to the fest. Do you have a larger group and love a good time? Big City Tap opens at 11 am, with fantastic drink deals, pool tables, and a full service bar! Darts anybody? On Saturdays, the Big City daily deal is Cheese Quesadillas for just $7 and Modelo and Corona tall boys for $6! Sundays deals are Fajita Dinner $10, $8 Bloody Mary’s, and $8 Chicago handshakes. Bangaroo Aussie Pies is located right in the center of the fest! Their flaky meat-filled pastries can be enjoyed while walking or around the fest. Bolivar and Lincoln is a Venezuelan destination that’s right inside the fest as well! They have tons of vegetarian options as well as gluten free. Sit down in their cozy café, or grab your food to go!
Something Sweet
Jennivees Bakery is located in the center of the fest, at the corner of Sheffield and School St! They offer dozens of cupcakes, and slices of cake that are large enough to be shared. Make sure to save room for Jennivee’s during your time at the fest, or grab a cupcake to go to eat when you’re relaxing at home.
And For Dinner
Figo Wine Bar invigorates the best qualities of an Italian wine bar. Escape the hustle and bustle of the fest and cozy into this Italian getaway, right in the middle of the fest on Sheffield. Share a bottle of wine before going back out and dancing the rest of the night away! If you haven’t been to Lost Reef Lounge, now would be the perfect time to check it out. This aquatic lounge serves fresh seafood and high end cocktails. Catch their happy hour Saturday and Sunday and get select beer and wine for just $7! Check out their full happy hour menu here.
Food Vendors On Site
Cafe Tola, Mini Donut Factory, Lee’s Concessions, Kona Ice, Genoa Italian Concession, Super Pollo, Blackhawk BBQ & Seafood, Shakeshack
Vendors
Part of what makes the Belmont Sheffield Music Festival so unique and wonderful are all the vendors that will be there! Attendees will have the opportunity to bounce from booth to booth, shopping jewelry, clothing, art, photography, home goods, and more! You can even get a henna tattoo there! See all the vendors below, organized by category.
Merchants
Forever Sunglasses
Bill Rush Photography & Design
Maria’s Sweaters
Baby Alpaca
Crafters
Henna Creations
Polmula
Made By Mae
Nonprofits & Sponsors
Determined To Rise Animal Foundation
Papa John
1800 Tequila / Proper 12 / Three Olives
Aura Edibles
NRG
The Line Up
If you’re going to plan your day around the phenomenal acts that are preforming, here is the full line up with set times!
Main Stage Saturday
Noon – School of Rock
1:30 P.M. – Run Forrest Run
3:45 P.M. – Big Shoulders Brass Band
5:45 P.M. – Boy Band Review
8:00 P.M. – Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press
Main Stage Sunday
Noon – The 77 Solution
2:00 P.M. – Stache
4:00 P.M. – Gizzae
6:00 P.M. – Freddy Jones Band
8:00 P.M. – Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute
Belmont Stage Saturday
Noon – Sam Fazio Quartet
1:30pm – Amanda Coppotelli
3:00pm – Moe Jo’s Juke Box
4:30pm – Nelson Street Revival
6:00pm – Band Calderisi
8:00pm – Berlin’s Lucy Stoole Presents Her Drag Show
Belmont Stage Sunday
Noon – Jake Reno
2:00pm – 3 Martini Jeannie
4:00pm – Full Volume Band
6:00pm – Whiskey Road
After the Fest
Because the festival is in the center of Lakeview East, there is nightlife going on in every direction! The fest ends at 10pm, but with most having off work on Monday, you can even party late on Sunday! Here’s just some fun going on after the fest.
Northalsted
Hydrate nightclub: Feeling energized from the fest? Starting at 9 pm on Saturdays, Hydrate Hosts Draglicious Drag Revue! Join hosts Mimi Marks, Mz. Ruff N’ Stuff, Dida Ritz, and Veronica Pop.
D.S Tequila: On Saturday nights, D.S Tequila hosts House Music Saturdays starting at 10 pm! Rotating DJ residents will come and spin the night away, all you have to do is dance!
Lakeview
Matilda + Baby Atlas: Just a block away from the fest, Baby Atlas is the basement nightclub of Matilda! Open until 3 am on Saturdays, and till midnight on Sundays.
The Laugh Factory: On Saturday nights, Tiny Thickemz hosts a midnight show called The Nasty Show! Various comedians come up and perform their most x-rated content. Click here for tickets!
Replay Lincoln Park: Replay is known for their over the top pop-ups. If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you have to come check out their Taylor pop-up! Replay is open till 3 am on Saturday and 2 am on Sunday.
Berlin Nightclub: Berlin hosts their infamous Saturday Night Drag Show on Saturdays! Tenderoni and Lucy Stoole are your hosts for the evening, and there will be a stellar cast of entertainers and DJS. The show runs from 10 pm till 2 am, and is happening right outside the festival gates on Belmont!
Kirkwood Bar and Grill: Kirkwood is hosting a pre-memorial day party starting at 9 pm! Walk on over after the fest, and enjoy $6 Bud Lite and Miller Lite, and $8 Vegas Bombs. There will be a live DJ!
Wrigleyville
Smartbar: Get down at Smartbar. Chicago’s favorite basement has a great lineup for Saturday night: Hot Chip (DJ Set), Duke Shin, Tanja Buhler, and Jamie Hayes. The show starts at 10pm, and goes all the way until 4 am!
The Metro: The Metro is hosting Furball IML Chicago on Saturday night! Doors open at 11:30 pm, and will be featuring DJ sets by Bobby Duron and Paulo. Get your tickets here.
