Northeastern Illinois University’s Main Campus will be the site of the 2024 El Gran Festival Colombiano/The Great Colombian Festival, July 19-21.
Tickets are required and are on sale now. Admission is $10-$45 for single day tickets; $30-$62 for three-day passes in advance. The main entrance will be located at 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago.
This year, El Gran Festival Colombiano celebrates its 10th anniversary. In addition to live performances, the festival will feature art exhibitions, dance workshops, culinary demonstrations and a marketplace offering a variety of Colombian crafts and goods. Attendees can indulge in authentic Colombian cuisine, learn traditional dances and participate in interactive activities that showcase Colombia’s rich heritage. This year’s festival also coincides with Colombian Independence Day, which is celebrated on July 20.
"We are thrilled to celebrate a decade of the Gran Festival Colombiano and to honor Colombian Independence Day with our community in Chicago," said Director and Founder of El Gran Festival Colombiano Jorge L. Ortega Jr. "This milestone anniversary represents not only a celebration of Colombian culture but also a testament to the enduring spirit and unity of our community. We look forward to welcoming attendees from across the Midwest to join us for this unforgettable event."
The festival will kick off with a Community Day dedicated to Chicago’s first responders on Friday, July 19. A sports camp for kids will take place on Northeastern’s Athletic Field (just off of Foster Ave. between St. Louis Ave. and NEIU Access Road) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The sports camp is free and open to the public without festival tickets. Players and coaches from the Chicago Police Soccer Club, Chicago Police Department (CPD) Football Enforcers, CPD Knights Baseball Club, CPD Women’s Football Club, CPD’s Finest Baseball Club, as well as former NFL players Nate Turner (Buffalo Bills/Super Bowl), Mike Martin (Cincinnati Bengals/Super Bowl), Tim Tyrrell (Los Angeles Rams), Gemara Williams (New England Patriots), and more are scheduled to be in attendance. The sports camp will include drills, leadership skills and lots of fun! The main festival grounds will open to ticket holders on Friday at 3 p.m. and the festival will run until 10 p.m. On July 20-21, the festival will be open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Access
- Beginning at 11 a.m. on July 19, NEIU Access Road will become a one-way street from the north (Bryn Mawr Ave.) to the south (Foster Ave.)
- During the festival, only NEIU students, employees and authorized guests will be permitted into University buildings with an NEIU ID.
- All exterior doors adjacent to festival areas across the Main Campus will be locked.
- Please enter the Main Campus from the east side (St. Louis Ave.) to avoid festival crowds.
- All festival areas will be fenced and access will be restricted to ticket holders and event staff.
Parking
- Festival setup begins Tuesday, July 16. All parking lots will be open as normal on July 16.
- From July 17-23, Lots D, E and F will be closed.
- From July 18-22, Lot A will be closed.
- From July 19-21, NEIU students and employees may use Lots C and L. All other parking lots will be closed for festival use.
- Student residents of The Nest will have reserved parking in Lot J. See Nmail for details regarding permits.
Parking lot locations are listed on the Main Campus map.
Top photo: A photo from El Gran Festival Colombiano. Photo courtesy of Colombian Fest Worldwide.
