Come enjoy the strum.
Back for its second year, the City of Lights Ukulele Fest hits town from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at Water Street Mall in Aurora.
“Who doesn’t love an outdoor festival with live music — especially something different?” said Mark Strausberger, festival co-chair. “There are very few ukulele festivals in the Midwest and a lot of ukulele players. With so many festivals going on in area during the summer none of them focus on just the ukulele.”
Until this one debuted last summer.
“Our goal is to expand to be the largest ukulele festival in the Midwest, drawing performers and attendees from all over the world and also to showcase the great thing that the city of Aurora is doing for the music industry,” said Todd Von Ohlen, festival co-chair.
Part of the festival’s appeal is its diversity of music.
“You will hear anything from traditional Hawaiian music to pop music, from the Beatles to current artists,” Strausberger said. “Also a lot of original music by the performers, even some jazz songs.”
The pint-size instrument certainly has its charms.
“The ukulele is a very versatile instrument,” Strausberger said. “You can learn three chords and play a thousand songs. You also can learn to play more complicated music just as you can with a guitar or other string instruments.”
It’s also relatively inexpensive and easy to transport.
“Over the past 10 to 20 years, the ukulele has developed into one of the most beloved instruments,” Strausberger said. “There has been a resurgence and newfound love for the ukulele.”
Designed for players and fans of all ages and abilities, the festival features live performances, workshops, vendors, open mics and uke strums (strum-alongs).
“With all the performers and workshops, beginners to seasoned players will have many opportunities to expand their playing abilities,” Strausberger said. “They will also meet many like-minded players from all over the country.”
Naturally, there will be plenty of live music.
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“The main stage is full of world-known musicians from Hawaii, Washington state, Michigan and locally; our ‘B’ stage, or Mundy stage, is full of regional musicians,” Strausberger said. “This year our second stage will be in the newly developed Mundy Park, which is right off of the Water St. Mall area. This has allowed us to condense the fest area while expanding the stage areas.”
The main stage is one block south of the Mundy stage on Water St. in a large parking lot. Cooling tents and food vendors will be near the main stage this year. Other vendors will be in the outdoor mall area, though there also will be an indoor area for custom ukulele builders.
Organizers have created a new event for the eve of the festival.
“This year we have added ‘Uke Night in Aurora,’ with local restaurants and coffee houses offering an open-mic setting for Ukulele players,” Strausberger said. “We call this a ‘Uke Crawl.’ There will be hosts in each venue to coordinate the events.”
Uke Night in Aurora is 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 24.
Of course, the festival’s mission is not only promoting the instrument’s “musical possibilities,” but its history as well.
“The ukulele was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by Portuguese immigrants,” Strausberger said. “Hawaiians made it their own, so most people will associate it with Hawaii. It has a very calming sound whether played alone or in a group setting. People just smile and enjoy the sound whenever they hear it.”
Admission to the festival is a suggested donation of $15 for individuals and $30 for families. Children under 12 are free. Attendees meeting or exceeding the suggested ticket price will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a ukulele and other door prizes.
“We highly encourage people to pay the full admission price as we would like to expand our festival over the years,” Strausberger said. “We are a 501c3 nonprofit.”
Be sure to bring a chair or blanket. No alcohol will be served at the festival. Parking is available in the parking garages around downtown, and the Metra train station is only a few blocks away.
City of Lights Ukulele Fest
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 25
Where: Water Street Mall, 13 Water St., Aurora
Tickets: $15-$30; children under 12 are free
Information: www.cityoflightsukulelefestival.com
Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.