2nd Annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival: A Huge Success

The ladies of GADC.

Aum Mu Ra-El

9.8.2007: You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day than Saturday, September 8^th, the day of the 2^nd Annual 79^th Street Renaissance Festival.

The sky was a picture perfect blue with the most spectacular clouds, the back drop for this phenomenal day.

A Jesse White Tumbler skyrockets over 5 of his teammates.

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Approximately 4,000 festival goers attended this festival in the Auburn Gresham community. The day was filled with the smiling, hand-painted faces of children; toe tapping, head bobbing seniors –treated to a free lunch—fun activities and live entertainment.One highlight for the community’s budding athletes was the ‘In The Paint Basketball Clinic’ encouraging the importance of books and basketball.Many local agencies, restaurants, retail establishments, education and financial institutions, and government and health service agencies were of the 100 vendors, selling their wares and sharing their information.

This breath-taking event was not only a success because of the thousands of people who attended, but also because of the much-appreciated sponsorship from the following sponsors: 17^th Ward, 21^st Ward, Citi Bank, Fifth Third Bank, LISC/Chicago, Marquette Bank, Northern Trust Bank, Saint Sabina Church, Shore Bank, Special Service Area (SSA) #32, UJAMAA Construction, and Quest Development.

Carlos Nelson encourages the crowd to enjoy the richness and diversity of the Renaissance Festival.

Maureen Kelleher

Hosted by the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC), the 2^nd Annual 79^th Street Renaissance Festival proved to be more than a success. According to Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of GADC, “I believe our Renaissance Festival is the only one of its kind and density on the south side of Chicago. Where else can you find a plethora of activities, food, services, and entertainment within a two block radius and two aldermanic wards?”

There were many other highlights to include: Alyo’s Children Dance, Jesse White Tumblers, the Kids Corner Entertainment Area, Marvella Ross and the Avalon Swingers, Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters, South Shore Drill Teams, and Tower Hills Petting Zoo.

Student volunteers pose for a photo opportunity.

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Again, special thanks goes out to those participated in this history making moment. They include:

Education

Alpha Learning Center *

Apollo Group *

Devry Institute *

Kennedy King College * Olivet Nazarene University *

Perspectives Charter School

Entertainment

Alyo’s Children Dance * Brimere’s Party Palace * Chicago Crossroads Corvette Club * Chicago Southside Mass Choir * Dan Montrell Sketch Artist * Deborah Gary (Face Painter) * Dino Jump * Giggles and Grunt Clowning Service * Jesse White Tumblers * Johnny Drummond and the Starlighters * Jo Jo the Balloon Lady * In The Paint Basktball Clinic * Miss Jane the Clown * National Marionette Company * Pratts’s Billards & DJ * South Shore Drill Team * Tom Moustos Jazz Band * Tower Hills Petting Zoo 

Oron's fresh produce is displayed for festival-goers.

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Financial

American Family Insurance *

Chase Bank *

Fifth/Third Bank *

IMAX Consulting *

National City Bank *

Washington Mutual *

Citi Bank *

Northern Trust *

Marquette Bank *

South Shore Bank *

Primerica Financial Services * American Income Life

Food

79^th Street Meat and Produce Market * BJ's Market & Bakery * Oron’s

Black Farmers' Market *

Lagniappe Cajun Creole *

Perfect Peace Café & Bakery *

Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken *

Ribs Unlimited *

Rose Ministries *

Stella's Catering

Government Agencies

CEDA – LIHEAP *

Chicago Fire Department

* Chicago Tax Assistance Center

* Cook County Assessor's Office *

Department of Aging *

Historic Chicago Bungalow Association *

State Senator Jacqueline Collins-16th District *

Working For Togetherness-HIV

Immunization * City of Chicago

311 Services

Chicago Crossroads Corvette Club arrives to the Renaissance Festival.

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Health Services

Breast Cancer Awareness *

Access Community Health Network *

Colgate Bright Smiles Mobile *

Curves of Auburn Gresham *

Family Health Network *

Harmony Health Plan *

University of Chicago Medical Center

Mobile Unit

Retail

Agape *

Artistic Impressions *

Brimere's Party Palace *

Circle of Friends Floral Wreaths *

Country Wide Home Loans *

Cosmetology by Chianita (Desi's) *

DiVine Stones and Fashions *

Dream Come True Chaircovers *

Gospel Music by Tom and Kim Miller *

Jo Jo The Balloon Lady *

Health Spring of Illinois *

Kham'Ryn B Shoes & Accessories *

Kesha Candles *

Keller William Realty *

Lena's Artistic Beauty College * New Informatives Inc *

Redacre Corporation *

Rudelle Stanley Lesley, Inc. (Tee-Shirts and Gym Shoes) *

Shankey Unity *

T-N-T Larry Young *

Avon *

Peterson Consulting (Jewelry)

Student volunteer poses Miss Jane the Clown.

Ernest Sanders

Service Agencies

Beloved Communities *

Catholic Charities *

CHA Victims Asst Housing Resource

Cleanslate *

CDPH Childhood Lead Poisoning *

Dept of Health Child Expose Violence *

Domestic Violence Unit *

Employment Resource Center *

FDIC Alliance Economic Inclusion *

GADC *

GrandFamiles * YWCA Rape Crisis Center *

Legal Assistance Foundation *

Neighborhood Housing Services *

Throop Street Block Club *

American Income Life

For other stories regarding this spectacular festival, please visit the http://www.newcommunities.org/news/articleDetail.asp?objectID=834&communityID