BRONZEVILLE — Bronzeville will come together this weekend for the first of three nights over the summer to celebrate Black-owned businesses in the South Side neighborhood.
Bronzeville Summer Nights kicks of 5-8 p.m. Friday. The event, now in its 11th year, will also take place on Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.
Summer Nights will be spread throughout the Bronzeville area. The four main hubs for this year’s event are 204 E. 47th St., the 1000 block of East 43rd Street, the 700 block of East 47th Street and the corner of 35th Street and King Drive.
Over 50 local and Black-owned businesses are scheduled to participate in Bronzeville Summer Nights.
You can enjoy something sweet at Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream, 46 E. 47th St., the finest vintages at the Bronzeville Winery, 4420 S. Cottage Grove Ave., or a pampering service from Next Man Up Spa, 946 E. 43rd St., among other participating businesses. A surprise new business will also debut Friday at Summer Nights, according to organizers.
Two separate trolleys will help visitors get from one spot to the next as they venture throughout the area.
The event is produced by Quad Communities Development Corporation.
“Bronzeville Summer Nights’ goal is celebrating community and commerce. For us, that means celebrating everything that is Bronzeville,” said Rhonda McFarland, executive director of Quad Communities Development Corporation. “We’re celebrating the opportunity to eat, shop, play and explore in Bronzeville.”
Chicago media personalities Clara Hubbard, Jeronimo Speaks and Dana Divine will help host the event. Multiple DJs will curate the music at different Bronzeville spots, including DJ Chyna at 4259 S. King Dr. and DJ Syd & Babyboll at 1005 E. 43rd St.
Guests can enter a giveaway for a $100 community gift card to shop locally in Bronzeville.
“We’re not a festival, we’re not a market, we’re just an open activation. We are very strategic in having this as an open event where streets are not closed, because we want you to engage on any other night,” said McFarland. “We’ve had 10 years with no negative incidents. People are just comfortable and are enjoying our community.”
To learn more about the local businesses and DJs that will be in attendance on Friday, visit the Bronzeville Summer Nights website. You can also visit Bronzeville’s local business website to see the full list of businesses in the area.
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