Driehaus Foundation Arts & Culture grantee Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) invites you to its 2023 World Dumpling Fest on Saturday, September 9 from 12 – 7pm at its new venue, Logan Square Park located right off the Logan Square stop on the Blue Line. In its fourth year, the festival will continue to celebrate diverse cultures of Chicago and the world through music, dance, and of course, dumplings!
The Foundation supports CCA’s capacity building services and advocacy efforts for more equitable funding and support of neighborhood-based cultural heritage institutions. CCA’s World Dumpling Fest aims to do just that by giving local communities and cultural institutions a platform to connect with Chicagoans. Future festivals will be held around the city to continue highlighting the richness of Chicago neighborhoods.
The new location brings the festival outside of Navy Pier to the Logan Square neighborhood. CCA Executive Director Mónica Félix says about this change, "World Dumpling Fest is designed to be a festival that is both by and for Chicago’s cultural communities. Most of the dumpling vendors, musicians, and dancers are all recommended by the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s centers of cultural heritage. We made the decision to move this festival from [downtown] to a neighborhood in keeping with our mission of supporting local communities. We believe it is essential for visitors to support local businesses, see the vitality of Chicago’s neighborhoods firsthand, and develop a more nuanced understanding of our city’s cultural landscape."
But let’s not forget about the dumplings. The festival menu features diverse cultural dumplings from more than ten neighborhood-based restaurants in and around Chicago. Expect to find Haitian doumbrey, a Colombian and Polish fusion called emparogi, Indian and Nepali momos, Latin American empanadas, and much more! While you try the array of dumplings, the cultural performances set to take stage will keep you entertained and dancing. Dance and musical performances include groups from Center of Peruvian Arts, Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, and Philippine American Cultural Foundation Performing Arts.
This is a wonderful opportunity to support local businesses and cultural organizations that celebrate the unique culture Chicago neighborhoods have to offer. Dumpling tasting tickets are available to purchase online or on-site. Funds will support the mission of Chicago Cultural Alliance to advocate for over 40 centers of cultural heritage from around the Chicagoland area.
For more information about World Dumpling Fest and to get the early bird discount tasting tickets, click here.
