The Old Town Merchants and Residents Association will be hosting a virtual Old Town at Home event on August 29 in lieu of an in-person Wells Street Art Festival. In the weeks leading up to the online event, the OTMRA will have different promotions and programs to celebrate and highlight different businesses in the neighborhood. Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook in the coming weeks for more information about Old Town at Home!

Press Release:
Chicago, IL (July 29, 2020)

To prioritize the safety of Old Town patrons and residents, the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association has made the decision to postpone the 46th Annual Wells Street Art Festival. The 46th Annual Wells Street Art Festival has been rescheduled for June 2021. 

Safety and health of residents, guests, and businesses are always the primary concern of the OTMRA. In lieu of an in-person Wells Street Art Festival this year, the OTMRA will host a virtual Old Town at Home event on August 29, 2020, to provide an opportunity for safer connections while showcasing all Old Town has to offer. 

With an estimated 50,000 attendees, The Wells Street Art Festival is one of the earliest festivals on the calendar and is popularly seen as the kickoff of summer in Chicago. Each year, the festival showcases juried artists in a number of different categories including painting, photography, sculptures, digital, and many more. The festival also celebrates the Old Town neighborhood, featuring a dozen Old Town restaurants and a number of local retailers. The Wells Street Art Festival is a major driver for small businesses. In 2019, the festival brought in an estimated $600,000 in revenue to brick and mortar businesses in Old Town. Funds raised by the festival go to benefit the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association to fund neighborhood initiatives, including quality-of-life efforts for residents in the Old Town neighborhood.

With an estimated 50,000 attendees, The Wells Street Art Festival is one of the earliest festivals on the calendar and is popularly seen as the kickoff of summer in Chicago. Each year, the festival showcases juried artists in a number of different categories including painting, photography, sculptures, digital, and many more. The festival also celebrates the Old Town neighborhood, featuring a dozen Old Town restaurants and a number of local retailers. The Wells Street Art Festival is a major driver for small businesses. In 2019, the festival brought in an estimated $600,000 in revenue to brick and mortar businesses in Old Town. Funds raised by the festival go to benefit the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association to fund neighborhood initiatives, including quality-of-life efforts for residents in the Old Town neighborhood.

About the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association
Since its establishment in 1971, the OTMRA has served as the voice of the Old Town community advocating city services for businesses and residents. Working in partnership with our local aldermen, the OTMRA addresses issues concerning development in the neighborhood, streetscape maintenance, business development, and promotion of the neighborhood as a destination in Chicago. The OTMRA also hosts regular social events, informational workshops, business roundtables, and the Wells Street Art Festival.

Media Contacts
Ian M Tobin, Executive Director, Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, itobin@oldtownchicago.org