State Street Becomes Chicago's Biggest Stage at the First-Ever Loop Arts Fest

Soul singer Simone Green headlines a free, all-day street party packed with ballet, Broadway, salsa, line dancing and more on Saturday, October 17

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grab your dancing shoes, Chicago. Chicago Loop Alliance, the team behind the award-winning Sundays on State, is closing State Street from Jackson to Madison and turning it into one big, free celebration of the arts. The first-ever Loop Arts Fest runs Saturday, October 17 from noon to 6 p.m. with three blocks of programming, two stages of live performances and one headliner you won't want to miss. RSVP for free at LoopChicago.com/LoopArtsFest.

Chicago soul singer, songwriter and producer Simone Green closes out the Main Stage at 5 p.m. Green has been moving crowds for more than two decades, drawing on icons like Prince, Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, and she's bringing that big, soulful voice straight to State Street.

The Main Stage kicks off at 12:05 p.m. with Broadway in Chicago performing "In His Eyes" from Kokandy Productions' Jekyll & Hyde, now playing at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place through November 8. Rising stars from Harold Washington College, Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts and DePaul University School of Music & Theatre follow, and Carpacho y Su Super Combo turns up the heat at 3:45 p.m. with salsa and cumbia made for dancing in the street.

Over on the Second Stage, 20 students from The Joffrey Ballet open the day at noon. From there, the afternoon travels the globe with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Kalapriya's classical Indian Bharatanatyam, Hiplet NEXT from Chicago Multicultural Dance, the South Asia Institute and the high-energy footwork of Cloggin' Craze.

And nobody has to just watch. Second City Outlaws will teach the crowd a few easy line dances at 2 p.m., and Ballet Chicago brings excerpts from The Nutcracker plus a mini ballet lesson at 4 p.m. The Second Stage wraps at 5:30 p.m. with a World Fashion runway that brings together designers, brands, diplomats and global communities, with something special still to be revealed.

"Arts and culture are what bring people back downtown, and Loop Arts Fest puts all of that energy on one street for one unforgettable day," said Chicago Loop Alliance President and CEO Dr. Suzet McKinney. "We built this festival to celebrate the incredible artists who call the Loop home and to invite every Chicagoan to come see it for themselves. With Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago happening the same weekend, there's no better time to fall in love with downtown all over again."

The festival features a food truck pavilion, art vendors, and Loop businesses lining the street, along with a beer garden provided by Pier 31. Please note that no outside food or beverages will be permitted.

Loop Arts Fest is a project of Chicago Loop Alliance in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Special Service Area #1-2015 and Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation. Event sponsors are Allstate Insurance Company and Target. Programs sponsor is National Endowment for the Arts. Neighborhood sponsor is Faegre Drinker. In-Kind sponsor is Millennium Garages.

About The Loop Arts Fest
The Loop Arts Fest is a day-long street festival that closes State Street to vehicular traffic from Jackson to Madison as a celebration of the Loop's dense arts and culture assets. The festival combines on-street activations with amplification of existing offsite programming to showcase the breadth of the Loop's cultural community. Chicago Loop Alliance's Loop Arts Fest unites the community; supports the diverse Loop arts community; and attracts visitors from every Chicago neighborhood and beyond. Find more information and RSVP for free at LoopChicago.com/LoopArtsFest.

About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA)'s mission is to lead the community by creating and supporting inclusive programs that attract people and investment to the Loop. CLA is a membership organization as well as the sole service provider for Special Service Area #1-2015, and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation produces free public art projects and events. For more information, visit LoopChicago.com.

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SOURCE Chicago Loop Alliance