One wouldn’t expect the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile to show up at a village art fair.
But there it was on site all weekend during the 30th annual La Grange West End Art Festival.
“When you think about it, somebody designed the Wienermobile,” Laura Kiro, participating artist and director of the Fest, said Saturday. “It’s literally a piece of art. It’s a massive piece of art, and there’s so much history.”
This year’s edition of the Festival drew 64 entries, lining Burlington Avenue from Waiola to Brainard avenues.
As in most years, there was a healthy mix of media, including artists practicing ceramics, jewelry, photography, printmaking and oils. But a glance at the roster showed acrylics was the most popular medium.
The Art Festival included another art form — music.
The Kyle Miller Trio opened the show Saturday, led by Kyle Miller, a trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist whose first album, “As You Were,” came out in May 2026.
Also on Saturday, Chicago-based Bad Ass Gumbo, entertained the crowd with New Orleans-style jazz and blues.
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Sunday, the crowd was entertained by jazz vocalist Toscanellie Marcelain, a jazz vocalist and veteran of international shows in Europe and Africa and “Jazz Appreciation Month” organized by the Smithsonian Institute who performs as Lady T.
Sunday afternoon, Mr. Dave Music was scheduled to close out the weekend, specializing in family and children entertainment and instruction.
Food was provided by several area restaurants. Some, such as Antonino’s Ristorante and Pizzeria and Milksop Cafe, were located right in the Art Festival grounds.
Other food vendors were Taqueria Mi Taquito, Bash Board Candy Company, Beavers Coffee and Donuts and Grumpy Gaucho.
The event also featured a model train exhibit, a caricature artist, works by the Lyons Township High School art department, and activities for children.
Kiro talked about her involvement in the West End Art Festival and her evolution as an artist.
She had worked in the corporate world as an area manager for Adidas. But, as she had been an artist since she was 13, she’d always wanted to pursue it full-time.
Looking at a Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait in a museum during a trip to Amsterdam helped make the decision for her.
“I just said, that’s it, I’m done. I’m going to be an artist full-time and pursue my dreams,” she said.
Kiro has been showing at the West End Art Festival for 15 years and recently was instrumental in bringing the Weinermobile to La Grange for the event.
The people at Oscar Meyer saw a canvas she did for Lollapalooza and contacted her about doing one for them.
“So this is the piece I did for them,’ she said pointing to the canvas. “And they wanted hot dog clouds, of course, which you can see here.”
Kiro said the event has been an important part of her life.
“I have been doing this show for 15 years. It was the first show that I ever did after I left a corporate retail career,” she said. “And it was the show that was nice enough to let me display my work for the first time after leaving that career. So, from there, I became very loyal to the show, and every year, I’ve been doing it consistently. I have a huge clientele in the neighborhood that always comes and supports and visits.”
Dan Mulka, executive director of the La Grange Business Association, was happy with how everything turned out.
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“It’s been really good,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of families out today … perfect weather, you couldn’t ask for anything better. The Wienermobile’s brought out a lot of folks.”
About three years before he retired from an accounting career, Gene Benes knew had to have something to do in retirement, so he launched the custom pen company, “Pens By Gene” in his basement, starting a new career. He’s one of the artists that’s been coming to the festival the longest.
Joel Maldonado brought his “Joel Photography” exhibit to the Art Festival for the first time.
“I’ve been doing this for six years, since COVID,” he said.
He uses a phone camera for much of his work, and showed an image he took from the observation deck of the John Hancock building, showing the Willis Tower and other skyscrapers peaking out from under cloud cover.
Kera Bjerga produces what she describes as “contemporary art,” and said she had a good weekend.
“This is my second year, and I will come back,” she said.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.