Chicago French Market Strawberry Festival

Join the Chicago French Market noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 4 for its Strawberry Festival! The perfect summer kickoff, the Strawberry Festival features everything strawberry -- strawberry cakes, strawberry crepes, strawberry smoothies, strawberry rhubarb tarts with toasted streusel, strawberry frasier, strawberry paczki and chocolate covered strawberries just to name a few!

Be sure to stop by the following vendors and check out their featured strawberry sweet treats!

Bowl Square is offering their new vegetarian dish; Green Rice Noodle, delicious cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, red cabbage radishes and strawberries served with rice noodles and homemade Korean style red spice sauce and sesame oil.

Stop by Canady Le Chocolatier for chocolate dipped strawberries and finish them off with a fizzy strawberry soda at Buen Apetito or an assorted beer made with delicious berries at Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer.

Pick up farm fresh strawberries from City Fresh Market or Produce Express Co. to complete any meal, and grab dessert from Delightful Pastries featuring fresh strawberry fruit tarts, fresh strawberry paczki, chocolate dipped strawberries, strawberry preserves, made-to-order strawberry shortcakes and strawberry Grand Marnier trifles.

Flip Crêpes will feature delicious strawberry filled crepes. Make it a meal with a strawberry infused smoothie from Juice Bar or Raw.

Hungry for lunch? Grab a strawberry caprese sandwich from Fumare Meats & Deli or a strawberry garden salad from Presto Café & Grill.

Saigon Sisters will feature a strawberry ice cream and Vânille Patisserie will offer strawberry rhubarb tarts with toasted streusel and a French dessert Fraisier: fresh strawberries, vanilla bean mousseline, passion curd & banana cake.


Lavazza Espression will feature Strawberry Choco Èspessone™, a double pleasure in honor of the festival: the delicacy of Èspessone, a light mousse with a soft and velvety texture, combined with the intensity of hot chocolate. Available in four perfect combinations: strawberry, vanilla, hazelnut and coconut.

Or pick up a strawberry plant from Les Fleur to enjoy home grown strawberries all summer long!

Make sure to check out the many cheeses from Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine that pair perfectly with a sweet strawberry or strawberry preserves such as an Alpine style cheese including Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Wisconsin, Comte from France, Tarentaise from Spring Brook Farm in Vermont or a fresh chevre from Prairie Fruit Farm in Illinois. Take some home from National Cheese Day on June 5 along with a strawberry pie or strawberry rhubarb pie from Provo’s Village Bake Shoppe or a strawberry specialty from Sweet Miss Giving’s.

While watching cooking demos and enjoying face painting for the little ones, enjoy live music from Rob Cunningham. A Chicago Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony performer, his mix of vocal and acoustic guitar style spans across a wide range of pop, 70’s folk rock and even Broadway! The strawberries won’t be the only thing come for, kids will love meeting the strawberry mascot!

River North Celebrates SummerFest this Sunday, June 22

River North celebrates SummerFest 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Sunday, June 22 at Erie Park (Erie and Kingsbury streets). The day-long event celebrates life in River North and features restaurants, art, retail, and entertainment for young and old alike. The event is organized by the River North Residents Association and the River North Association. The suggested donation is $5 at the door.

Fifty area business will showcase their wares including Ai Japanese, Buca DiBeppo, Citizen, Kitsch'n, LaMadia, Melting Pot, Rocket, The Redhead Piano Bar, and Zocalo restaurants. " This provides the perfect opportunity to experience River North ,"says Art Bryan, an event sponsor and First Vice President of the River North Association. Entertainment includes Jesse White Tumbling Team, Pipe Dream, Sancocho, Jon Wade Ouartet, Impressionist Portraits, Personal Massages, Kayak Rides, Prize Drawings, and the new Erie Park Farmer's Market. There are special sections for children's activities and for pets, including pet adoptions.

Come prepared to explore, have fun and relax. There will be opportunities for massages, psychic readings, and portraiture.

Presenting sponsor of SummerFest are the East Bank Club and Erie-LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care. Supporting sponsors include Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant, Peak Organic Brewing Company, Harris Bank, and Green Heart. Other sponsors include Caribou Coffee, Dance Chicago, East Bank Storage, Erie Cafe, Juvenesse, Kozy Cyclery, Safegard, Park Kingsbury, 7-Eleven, Redhead Piano Bar, and Alderman Reilly.For information, contact River North Residents Association at http://www.rivernorthresidents.com/ or River North Association at http://www.rivernorthassociation.com/ or call 312-645-1047.