Jeff Fest Is No More. It’s The Chicago Italian Beef Fest Now

JEFFERSON PARK — After 25 years, Jefferson Park’s namesake festival is rebranding to the “Chicago Italian Beef Fest” — and you can bet there will be plenty of beef sandwiches to go around.

Bella Ventresca, executive director of the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber started talking with events company Special Events Management earlier this year about rebranding the Jefferson Park Arts & Music Festival, or Jeff Fest. She said the goal was to create a sort of “Jeff Fest 2.0.”

“We wanted to build on what we already had with Jeff Fest, but also give the festival its own unique Chicago identity,” she said. “If Italian beefs can be the thing that brings thousands of people into Jefferson Park, that is a huge win for our local economy and our businesses.”

The Chicago Italian Beef Fest is 5-10 p.m. July 31, noon-10 p.m. Aug. 1 and noon-8 p.m. Aug. 2 at Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long Ave.

Tickets are $10 per day, and children younger than 17 can get in for free with a paid parent or guardian. You can buy tickets online here. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson Park Memorial Council.

The fest’s rebranding means a big uptick in food options this year, including eight Italian beef vendors: Bust Outs, Byron’s Hot Dogs, Carm’s Little Italy, Chef Ciccio, Frannie’s Beef and Catering, Genoa Italian Concession, Leona’s Restaurant and Trogo Kitchen and Market.

Festival attendees will be able to vote on their favorite beefs. Ventresca said there will also be boba vendors, funnel cake, Italian ice and more.

The festival will have a kids’ zone with a bouncy house, carnival games, caricatures, face painting, giveaways and two stages with live music.

Special Events Management is bringing artists from around the city to the main stage, while the group Jefferson Park Forward is organizing the community stage, which will feature neighborhood acts.

Main stage performances will kick off 6 p.m. Friday with a performance by The Birkenrocks followed by Bostyxx. Saturday main stage performances will include School of Rock Chicago, The PriSSillas, Without U2, Simply Billy and Sixteen Candles.

On Sunday, the main stage will feature Bucket Number Six, The Wild Chicago, Simply Elton and The Chicago Experience.

Friday community stage performances will include Ian McKinley, Dexter and Emily Jane Powers. Saturday community stage performances include DJ Sliam, 8-Bit Creeps, The Prime, Salisman and Little Church. On Sunday, the community stage will feature the Chicago Music and Acting Academy and the Jefferson Park Songwriters.

Special Events Management has also put on the Windy City Hot Dog Fest in nearby Portage Park for five years.

Ventresca said she hopes the Italian Beef Festival will bring more visitors to Jefferson Park. She encouraged attendees to take the Blue Line and visit the area’s many businesses.

“Come out and see what we’re all about,” Ventresca said.