Crisp autumn winds and golden leaves set the stage in Evanston as crowds took part in a Fountain Square block party Saturday.
“Our philosophy is ‘carpe diem,’ seize every warm day we have left until winter, and no better place to be than out and about shopping in downtown Evanston,” said Laura Brown, business development and marketing manager of Downtown Evanston.
Saturday was abundant with local activity, adding to the potential for foot traffic at the festival, Brown said.
Northwestern University celebrated their Homecoming weekend and Open House Chicago presented a few architectural sites in Evanston, in addition to the Downtown Evanston Fall Festival.
The seasonal fest was presented by Downtown Evanston, closing off streets to vehicular traffic around Fountain Square and along Orrington Avenue south of Davis Street.
Block party highlights included DJ Johnny Price, an artist and maker’s market, arts and crafts for kids, craft beer, and musical entertainment from the Swing Set Drum Kit by local visual artist Dave Ford.
“We’ve done many outdoor events this summer, our Thursday night farmers market and others. Coming out of COVID, people are just more comfortable shopping outside,” Brown said.
The maker’s market featured 25 artists from in and around the Evanston area, showcasing their yarn, woodwork, paintings, prints and jewelry creations.
Evanston artist Victoria Reeves sold her multicolored empowerment dolls at Saturday’s market.
“These handmade dolls are part of my creative path coaching, they are about capturing the childlike spontaneity that many adults have lost,” Reeves said.
“This festival gives artists the opportunity to take their work offline, and bring it back into real life, to interact and share in person again,” Reeves said.
Bernadette Bersche of Evanston attended the festival.
“I always like to come out to support Evanston artists, and to buy a piece of handmade jewelry,” Bersche said.
Mark Cleveland is an artist from Evanston who took part in the market. He said during the pandemic he began painting scenes closer to home.
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“Now people look at my paintings and say, I used to live there, or, waiting in line at Bennison’s Bakery I kissed my husband for the first time — this work resonates locally, with the people that live here, and it’s good to see the effect it has on them,” Cleveland said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter.