This Saturday, May 11, 26 businesses in the city of Avondale Estates will open their doors from 3 to 7 p.m. for a city-wide event celebrating wine, art, and music. The Avondale Estates Wine & Art Walk is a ticketed event that encourages wine lovers to tour different businesses, taste wines, and enjoy a feast for the eyes and ears while on their journey.
Explore Avondale enlisted the Avondale Arts Alliance to come up with art and music pairings that will complement the wine tastings at all of these different locations.
We were tasked with a challenge: How do we encourage those on the walk to make it to every single stop on the tour? How do we bring an entire city to life with art and music?
It has been a fun puzzle to solve, and as of today we have a robust lineup of creatives that are going to transform the business district of Avondale Estates. Learn more about our artists and find a link to buy tickets here.
Our lineup:
- 8 artists participating in the Drink and Draw at Avondale Arts Center
- 17 vendors at the Artist Market at Town Green
- Bluegrass jam session at Town Green
- 10 mini exhibitions
- 12 musical acts
- 7 artists making live art
- DJ jams
- 2 artist demos
- 1 interactive art experience
- Sudnat artist market at Wild Heaven Brewery
Common questions:
Can you buy tickets at the check-in table at Town Green? Yes, but there’s a small discount if you buy online before the event. Link here. Ticket holders receive a custom wine glass and a wristband to indicate they are on the tour.
Do you have to buy a ticket to experience the art? No, you can go to these businesses without being on the walk, but the wine tastings are limited to ticket holders. The artist market and bluegrass jam session at Town Green are both free to attend.
How do you get around? There are no road closures, but we will have a free shuttle bus making its rounds throughout the district to help participants make it to each stop on the tour. We recommend that participants opt for public transportation or rideshares when possible. Public parking lots can be accessed behind the Avondale Arts Center and City Hall.
What about food and beverages? Some of the locations will offer small bites, and there are plenty of great restaurants in Avondale Estates to check out. Some of the participating vendors selling food include Wild Heaven Brewery, Lost Druid Brewery, Skip’s Chicago Dogs, The Little Hippo, Santo, The Stratford, Avondale Pizza Cafe, Commune, and Kafenio. Look for small free bites at Avondale Arts Center, Finders Keepers Furnishings, and Little Tree Art Studio.
What’s happening afterward? We are hosting a little after-party at the Avondale Arts Center, 84 N. Avondale Rd., from 7-8 p.m. with light bites and refreshments. We have invited all of the participating artists to join us and check out the finished works from the Drink & Draw event. Two additional after-parties will be held at Village Music and Anansi Cocktail Lounge.
Want even more art and music in Avondale Estates? Never fear! The following weekend, Sat., May 18, Methane Studios brings a return of WigWag Fest. This all-day event will bring a plethora of music performances and art vendors selling their wares. With great free performances, a robust artist market, another opportunity to view the installation by Dorothy O’Connor at Globe Arts Center, and even a fancy VIP experience at Commune which just opened in Olive + Pine, there’s a lot to enjoy at WigWag, so mark it on your calendar today.
