This year’s Do Division Street Fest featured over 65 vendors and 40,000 people attended throughout the entirety of the weekend. The three day music festival in the heart of West Town featured two live music stages with music lineups curated by iconic Chicago music venues, The Empty Bottle and Subterranean.
Bridgid Broderick, Partnership Manager at The West Town Chamber of Commerce, mentions how proud the chamber is to present the fest, and just how big it is.
“We have Do Division Fashion Fest, Kids Fest, food vendors, and retail vendors. We have a little bit of something for everyone so it really kicks off festival season in Chicago which everybody loves.”
The fest has been around since 2007, and welcomes a variety of vendors, some of which celebrated their first year at the festival.
One food vendor, John Pragalz, is the owner of “Bad Johnny’s”, a pizza spot with their own custom oven. They have a kitchen residency at The Longroom and serve up pizzas year round on the road at festivals like this.
“We’re with a lot of other great food vendors, so it’s great to be alongside them. And it’s fun to be cooking outdoors. It’s summertime in Chicago, and kicks off the summer in just all the right ways,” says Pragalz on their second year here at the fest.
“We’re just trying to make really good pizza for everyone that comes out, which is a lot of people and a lot of pizza. We got some good feedback from small kids, neighborhood veterans, you know, festival newcomers, everybody,” he said. Adding that the oven is well over 1,000 degrees and the largest they’ve put on a trailer like this.
Not too far from Johnny’s, Katie and Sofia Zervas are showcasing their Candle Babes business. The sisters founded their business six years ago but it’s their very first time at the fest.
“We do 100% soy wax candles, and they have funny, sassy humor like us, and then we also do Chicago Apparel,” said Sofia Zervas.
Their apparel is brightly colored and features Chicago classics like hot dogs, pizza, and the Chicago skyline.
“It’s really great because we get so much exposure within Chicago, and then people who love our brand, they’ll stop by and say, oh, my God, this is so cute, or this is for the girls. And we’re like, okay, we’re here for the girls,” added Zervas.
Chicago resident Megan Elbin was happy to be enjoying the fest in West Town.
“I love Chicago in the summer. I love festival season. This is the first, like, big festival I’ve been to this summer season and I just feel like the city is alive and so am I,” she said.
Her friend Ivette Spesia, visiting from South Bend Indiana, agreed.
“It’s so fun. I love the energy. I love the different types of cuisines, all the different vendors. I feel like this represents what Chicago is like whenever I come because it’s just like there’s always a festival happening somewhere. And it’s always such a sweet time,” said Spesia.
They also both agreed that the weather was just right for the event.
“Oh, my gosh, the weather’s beautiful. I couldn’t, like, picture a more perfect day. Like, just enough cool that there’s a breeze, but also super sunny. Everything feels magical,” said Spesia.
Molly Mobley, Lead talent buyer for The Empty Bottle, made sure the lineup for the East Stage had something for everyone.
“When I think of Do Division, I always kind of think of it as being a bit more breezy, chill vibes. So I always try to do something a little country leaning or something that’s a little like jazz or world music that’s pretty accessible. And then I always try to include, if I can, one younger rock band headliner for the kids so that they come out,” said Mobley.
She noted that they’ve always had positive reactions to the music but this year in particular was great.
“In my opinion, we had more people out on a Friday night than I feel like I’ve seen in a couple of years …and it’s nice when people are here to see and appreciate the lineup,” she added.
Artist Emma Lyons was also at the fest showcasing her brightly colored paintings. Many of which were odes to Chicago in a way, like her L Train painting. She also was wearing blue earrings that doubled as a scannable QR code to her portfolio.
She admitted that being at the event felt very different than anywhere else she had exhibited at.
“Oh my goodness, it’s very vulnerable. It feels so special being able to have my style of art, which is very personal, but still colorful, and it brings a certain level of people in. But at the same time, it can be a little terrifying because I’m saying, here’s what I’ve done. Please love it, please love me, just like anyone else who’s ever showing any of their work or something close to their heart. But this makes it so special because there are so many people, so even if it doesn’t relate to someone or doesn’t resonate with someone, the next person, tenfold,” said Lyons.
Singer M.e.h. performed with her band on Saturday, drawing in a crowd that danced throughout during her set that afternoon. She noted that playing at a fest feels very different from an indoor venue.
“I feel like festivals are so free, you know, like it’s, you were outside, we’re with the elements. like the way that the sound kind of reverberates around like just the outdoors. I think that festivals are always really exciting for me because it’s just, it feels just so open and fun and, you know, it’s a bit, it’s a bit more loose than playing at a venue,” said M.e.h.
This is also M.e.h.’s first time at Do Division.
“I love Chicago. You know, I’m from Maryland, so it’s been really cool. But it just feels really nice to be embraced and be able to show my music at such an amazing festival like this,” she added.
Do Division continues to bring new artists and vendors to their fest every year. This helps the West Town community grow and small businesses thrive. Vendor applications and more information on the fest is available at westtownchamber.org