On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Galewoodstock music festival filled a portion of North Newland Avenue in Galewood with music, food, vendors, games and of course people.
This was the fourth annual Galewoodstock, a free community-oriented music festival in Galewood, a neighborhood of about 10,000 people in the Austin community on the far-west side of Chicago.
This year, the festival moved into the street on North Newland Avenue, creating a music filled street-festival feeling for new and returning attendees. As such, they said they had more opportunity to mingle with neighbors.
Beth Ranucci, the Galewoodstock Committee lead and vice chairperson of Galewood Neighbors Inc., said the move onto the street made the event more personal this year.
“It just feels tighter. I think people have more traffic for the food vendors and sponsors. People are passing each other, seeing each other on the street more, whereas when you’re in a big open space, it’s farther to travel to see everything and for everybody to engage in one particular space,” Ranucci said.
The annual event is presented by Galewood Neighbors Inc. The list of the festival’s sponsors, which included community organizations and local civic leaders, restaurants and businesses, can be found on its website here.
Richard Salvador, a Galewood resident, stands behind his dogs, King and Boss, as he enjoys the live music at Galewoodstock on Saturday, Aug. 24. Credit: Sam Tucker 
A large inflatable kids-play area lines the street during Galewoodstock on Saturday, Aug. 24. The expanded kids play area was one of many new additions to this year’s festival. Credit: Sam Tucker 
Food offerings from Taqueria La Ciudad, located at 5005 S. Ashland Ave., are displayed at their booth at the Galewoodstock music festival on Saturday, Aug. 24. Credit: Sam Tucker 
Festival goers dance to the music of Projecto 7 at the Galewoodstock music festival on Saturday, Aug. 24. Credit: Sam Tucker 
Music group, Rocket & Gizzae, perform for the crowd and passing attendees at the Galewoodstock music festival on Saturday, Aug. 24. Credit: Sam Tucker
Steve Green, chairperson for Galewood Neighbors, said the changes brought some “cool” benefits on Saturday during the summer heat of August.
“I think with the tree canopy, the shade has really been a benefit,” Green said. “There’s been more people who have waited, stuck around and hung out. Beth added more seating so people can sit and watch the band or ‘people-watch.”
Before the music festival began, a 15-vehicle car parade meandered through Galewood for about a half hour, organizers said.
North Newland Avenue was closed off for a few blocks. Vendors selling food and goods, sponsor booths, youth painting classes and an inflatable kids-play area lined the street on Saturday, creating a street festival feeling for many residents.
The music stage, at the intersection of North Newland Avenue and West Bloomington Avenue, had six acts throughout the day.
Performers hit the stage starting at noon and the last set played at 7:30 p.m. This year’s lineup included Mr. Gac, Test Pattern, Projecto 7, Rocket & Gizzae, Gerald McClendon “Soul Keeper” and Los Gallos.
Richard Salvador, a Galewood resident of eight years, praised the improvements, although the music remains his favorite part.
“I like that it’s on the street and it’s a little more intimate, rather than being in the field. The other years it was in the field, and for some reason this just feels different. It kind of forces people to mingle more,” Salvador said.
Janice Grant and her husband, Eric, moved to the neighborhood from Hyde Park last August. This year was their first time at the festival. Janice Grant, who has been a member of Galewood Neighbors for about three months, said Galewood is a welcoming and diverse neighborhood.
The Grants said Galewoodstock has a different feeling to it than some of the larger community events and festivals they have been to while living in Hyde Park.
“There would be tons and tons of people, whereas this feels more homey. It feels like it’s all your neighbors. It’s all the people you see walking by your house, walking their dogs,” Janice Grant said.
Eric Grant said events like Galewoodstock can paint a picture of the wider community.
“It kind of shows you the character of the people who live in the neighborhood – very friendly…the turnout has been tremendous,” Eric Grant said.
Rannuci said every year the Galewoodstock committee creates community surveys to decide on what to bring to the festival.
Katrina Morrissey, a Galewood resident of 10 years, attended the festival with her family and commended the community for its diversity, welcoming attitude and public safety. She also praised this year’s setup, saying, “It’s in the street this year. Which I think is a little better… it feels a little bit more like a street-fest in the street.”
Nina Sanchez, who has lived in Galewood for eight years, said this was her first time attending any community event in her neighborhood. She was sad she hadn’t come sooner since she enjoyed meeting familiar faces.
She finds Galewood, like many in the neighborhood, to be a “hidden gem” of Chicago.
“I met a lot of great people just walking one day in the neighborhood. I was hoping I’d come here and I’d be able to see them, and I did,” Sanchez said. “Some people think that we’re like, not Chicago anymore because we’re so far west, but this is still Chicago and it’s inclusive and it’s diverse.”