NORTH PARK — After holding festivities in Humboldt Park last summer, El Gran Festival Colombiano kicks off in its new home at Northeastern Illinois University this weekend.
The celebration of Colombian culture takes place 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. The festival highlighting Colombian food, dance, music and more is in its ninth year.
“The festival celebrates Colombia’s culture and traditions — from its cuisine and carnivals, to cumbia and vallenato music and dance,” organizers said in a statement. It “will also include cultural workshops along with invited artists who will share their talent with the community in an exchange of music, art, and dance.”
This year features a variety of Latin artists performing, including Milly Quezada, Joe Arroyo and Yeison Jimenez. More than 150 performers — musicians, dancers and other artists — will make their way to the festival throughout the weekend, including local talents.
Adult attendees can enjoy a GFC Premium Lager, made specifically for the festival. The drink was created in collaboration with the West Town brewery Casa Humilde Cerveceria and fest organizers Ortega Brothers.
Gran Community Day on Friday offers free admission as the festival honors the fallen heroes of the Chicago police and fire departments. The day will include a performance by La Jara, a band made up of members of the New York City police department.
There will also be a free sports camp for children, in partnership with the Chicago Park District. Players and coaches from various Chicago police sports leagues will run the camp alongside former professional athletes to promote leadership, drills and fun.
Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are still on sale. Parts of the proceeds will go toward the NEIU Foundation for the GFC Scholarship Fund and ICLC Cultural Preservation Fund, host of this year’s festival.
“The main mission [of the ICLC Cultural Preservation Fund] is to keep folkloric culture alive and vibrant in the future,” said GFC organizers in a statement. “They believe the future lies with helping parents teach and expose their children to their culture, roots, music, foods, dance, art, language and family values in the modern day.”
Tickets for El Gran Festival Colombiano are still available on the festival’s website, which includes the full schedule of performances and events.
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