Blue Island Mai Fest Celebrates Its Fourth Year

By Carol Flynn

Blue Island Mai Fest 2025 will happen this Saturday, May 10th, from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. along Olde Western Avenue from Canal Street south to 134th Street in Blue Island. In its fourth year now, this arts and crafts fair has evolved into a true street festival.

One hundred artisans and crafters will set up their tents to sell their hand-crafted goods, making this the largest show of the kind in the area. There will also be live music, plenty of food and beverage offerings, a central area to sit down and socialize, and new activities for children.

The name “Mai Fest” honors the German heritage of Blue Island, and in keeping with that theme, the central area, called the Mai Fest Gruppengarten, or group garden, will be set up around a Mai Pole at Broadway Street and Olde Western Avenue. The Gruppengarten will include tables and seating, live music, and booths for special interest groups and community organizations.

The weather forecast so far promises a perfect day, sunny and in the low seventies. The event is the day before Mother’s Day, offering the opportunity to buy unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for Mom, or better yet, to treat Mom to a day out and let her select her own gifts.

The success and growth of Mai Fest is due to the hard work of the people involved in the planning and management of the event: the Blue Island Arts Alliance, the Streetz Artz Alliance, the City of Blue Island, the restaurants and taverns on Olde Western Avenue, and of course, the vendors and their amazing assortment of goods.

The Blue Island Arts Alliance (BIAA), headed by Joe Leamanczyk, plays the lead role in organizing the event, working with the city and the businesses and securing sponsors. Much of the BIAA’s work goes on behind the scenes, leading up to the successful day.

The vendors are arranged by the Streetz Artz Alliance, headed by John Streetz. This is a coalition of over 400 artists and crafters who handcraft their products or are independent small business owners who offer unique products produced in small quantities. No mass-produced items will be found at this show.

Visitors will find artwork and printed materials, photography, pottery, glasswork, wood crafts, candles, personal care products, clothing, jewelry, items for children, pet items, oddities, and much more. Other vendors offer food items ranging from homemade bread and baked items to hot sauces to coffees to pickles. There will also be a tarot card reader and a face painter.

Mary Sklom Hernandez, a “Blue Islander,” wears two hats for this event; she is a member of the BIAA and a vendor with her business Adara Selene Creations.

Hernandez said she loves being part of Mai Fest.

“I really do love it, and I like even more that my mom, Julie Sklom, and I help organize it with the Blue Island Arts Alliance,” said Hernandez. “It’s exciting, just a really cool experience, to be on both sides of it, to be in my hometown bringing so much art and fun to people.”

Hernandez, as part of the BIAA, also addressed the new activities that will be offered for children, at the corner of Olde Western Avenue and Canal Street, where the restaurant Maple Tree Inn used to be located.

“We built a large Jenga set for the kids, plus there will be other games,” said Hernandez. “There will also be chalk drawing.”

Both Hernandez and Leamanczyk also mentioned that the Friends of the Blue Island Public Library will continue their popular activity for visitors to make their own flower crowns.

As far as her business goes, Hernandez said she will offer “a little bit of everything.”

“We'll have handmade jewelry and shirts, plant stakes, home decor items, bookmarks, key chains, everything,” said Hernandez, who describes her goods as “always changing.”

“The tagline for Adara Selene Creations is the ‘ADHD of Creativity’ because we’re all over the place,” said Hernandez, who is known for repurposing materials into new artistic home décor items.

“It’s always evolving, what materials I come up with,” said Hernandez, whose creation of an octopus made from reclaimed wood pallets sold within the first ten minutes of a recent show.

This year, another family member will also be involved in the show. Hernandez’s daughter, Adara Selene, for whom the business is named, will have a tent with a friend to sell their homemade items.

The Soapy Corgi/Enchanted Slime booth will feature slime, very popular with children, made by Adara, with customizable charms. Emmeline Roll, also known as The Soapy Corgi, will offer natural, handmade bath bombs and sugar scrubs. These budding entrepreneurs are in sixth grade at Kerr Middle School in Blue Island.

Another popular vendor at this event will be George Gaitan with The Ancestral Oven, previously known as Quinncakes by George.

Gaitan is known as “the bread man” and has carved out his niche with homemade sour dough breads, including his classic white, cheddar jalapeno, chocolate, and blue mesa. With luck, he’ll also bring along a flavor or two of his focaccia breads to Mai Fest.

Last October, Gaitan’s success with his breads at craft shows led him to open his own bakery and café, The Ancestral Oven, in Oak Lawn at 4616 West 103rd Street. He offers both his freshly baked breads as well as breakfast and lunch menu items and specialty beverages.

He still makes appearances at craft shows and Mai Fest is one of his favorites.

“Mai Fest is a fantastic event,” said Gaitan. “I will always thank John Streetz for giving me the chance to sell my food items at his shows.”

In the beginning, there was some concern that food may not sell at “art” events, but that fear was dispelled years ago, and freshly made food items are very popular.

In fact, The Ancestral Oven usually sells out, so patrons need to visit that booth early.

Carrie Minet-Been of Moonlight BEEN also represents another niche market at craft events, variously called “oddities” or “curiosities.”

Minet-Been grew up as a fan of old-time scary movies, and offers items related to Halloween and other scary topics, or the “macabre,” as she describes it. She is known for the life-size mannequins of famous horror movie stars like Jason from Friday the Thirteenth that often make appearances with her.

Mai Fest is one of her favorite events.

“I love Mai Fest,” said Minet-Been. “I love the sense of community, the people there. We always have so much fun.”

This year, Moonlight BEEN will feature new dolls that Minet-Been has been crafting, including movie character dolls, horror dolls, and even roller derby dolls, another area of interest for her. She will also feature new small cross-body purses and new sun catchers.

Moonlight BEEN is joined by The Crawlspace, another macabre venue, which will offer spell kits and candles.

This year, there will be about 40 new vendors at Mai Fest, so there are always new items of interest.

One new vendor will be Robin Power, who works with many materials but is primarily known for her pottery and figurative sculptures.

Power, who is well known and respected in the Chicagoland arts community, said she looks forward to being part of the event.

"I am thrilled to be exhibiting some of my new creations at Mai Fest 2025,” said Power. “Last year I went to the fest with my family, and we all had an amazing time. We were impressed with the art, music, and family fun community vibe."

Power said she plans on bringing her dress vases, a popular gift for Mother’s Day. She also featured her figurines and bird houses on her Facebook page.

The Streetz Artz Alliance has been profiling vendors for this event on the Facebook page for Mai Fest 2025 at https://www.facebook.com/events/2111348259336167/?active_tab=discussion. A list of the vendors appears at the end of this article.

Live music will also be featured, thanks to generous sponsorship by Wintrust. The bands scheduled to appear are Chandelier, The New Band, New Groove Revolution, and Andrew Dylan. The bands appear at the central seating area at Broadway and Olde Western Avenue.

In addition to the BIAA and the Library, other groups that will have stations at Mai Fest include the Blue Island Stray Dog Project that rescues and rehomes dogs found abandoned on the streets of the city, and the authors of the new Arcadia Press “Images of America” book on Blue Island, developed in cooperation with the Blue Island Historical Society.

Restaurants and pubs along the route will be open for business. These include the Blue Island Beer Company, Rock Island Public House, B*U*B Café, El Cortez Taqueria & Tortilleria, Retroz Pizza, and Natural Law Cocktail Club and Eatery. There will also be food vendors on Broadway Street.

Olde Western Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic, and parking issues from previous years have been addressed. Cars will be directed to park in the city lot at 2131 Fulton Street, and shuttle buses will run continuously between the lot and the Fest. Parking and the shuttles are free, as is admission to Mai Fest. A donation of $5 per person is suggested to help offset costs.

The City of Blue Island has been busy in recent years fixing up the streets with new curbs and lighting, and Mayor Fred Bilotto extends an invitation to visit the city for this special occasion.

“Mai Fest is evolving into the premiere spring arts, music and crafts event in the region,” said Bilotto. “This festival first came about in my first year as mayor. We are now preparing to celebrate Blue Island’s fourth year hosting Mai Fest, and the event has gotten bigger and better each year.

“Mai Fest falls on Mother’s Day weekend, so it’s a great opportunity to bring Mom out, enjoy the festive atmosphere on Olde Western Avenue and find homemade gifts for the Moms in your life.”

May festivals are of ancient origin, celebrating the coming of summer. Blue Island keeps that tradition alive through its Mai Fest.

List of Vendors for Mai Fest 2025

3Damian Art

Adara Selene Creations

Adorned By M

Aqueos Creations

Art of Alex Kujawa

artbeto1design

Avijo Design

Avocado3DShop

Beaded by Michelle

Beaver Rub Spice Company

Becky Blue Designs

Becsta's Creations

Belonio Doodles

BoothyChicago

Boozy Treats

Boscos All Natural (Dog and cat treats)

Bourbon Wood Art

Canal Woodturning

Cats, Crafts & Cooking

CatWitch Designs

Chi-town Sistha's Sweet Treats

CK Creative

Crafted Laserworks

Creations Made With Passion

Cristal's T-shirt Creations

Curvy Girl Comics

Dye The Day Away

FrankenWerks Studios

Galaxy Skincare

Geekbit Creations

Ghost Owl Studio

Gigawatt Coffee Roasters

GLPWORKS

goddess of Jules

InSpirit Adornments

It's A Crafty Life By Trinity

Jaide's Gems

Jamming4Bullies

JD Co Natural Luxury

Jeannine’s Jems

Jerry's Jerky

Just craftin around

KP’s candy factory

L&W Crystals

LeafEscape

Leather Art by Decker

LeonMechelle Artist Studios

Lil Bird Kitchens LLC

Linda Horton Photography

LoCo Pottery

Luna’s Loops

magick lotus botanica

Masterclass Savory Sweet Foods

MasterLink Chainmaille

Maverick Leather LLC

Moonlight BEEN

MPN3D

Mud & Fiber

None of This is Cake

Not All Thumbs Woodcrafts

Nube Noche

NUVE

Olivia’s Garden of Creations

Osito Azul Crafts

Paty's Crafts

Polly Ann Cakes

Primtentions

Punkburd Arts

Rabbit Hole of Research

Raven Feathers and Bat Wings

Reflections with Kate

Robin Power

RockinCrystalsLLC

Same and Went

Sarah Cats Colors

Scary Lair of Doom

Scrapgrinder Guitars

Serpent and Flame Candle Company

SharonAble Crafts

Sid Sauce

Spicy Grrrls Hot Sauce

Spliff Society

Starr Creations

Stormy's Happy Place

Susan Larsen Design

Susanscraftstudiostudio

Sweet Ghoul

Sweet Treats

TeMi Beads

Ten Cups Tarot

The Ancestral Oven

The Daydreamers Shop

The Soapy Corgi / Enchanted Slime

The Tangled Dame

the urban canopy

Thicknickglass

Three moon crafters

Treats By William - Made With a Pinch of Love

Undici Gelato Llc

Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods

Wicked Art LLC

Wikd weaves paracord and spooky stitches crochet

With Love Products