Oct. 16--What: The Chicago Humanities Festival annually presents more than 100 events at venues across Chicago and in Evanston. The lectures, conversations, plays, films, art events and tours are generally, but not strictly, organized around a theme. This year it is "Citizens," which means lots of material about race, immigration and government oversight. But the fest will also book people who are interesting and on book tours, such as Elvis Costello, touring with his new autobiography.
When: Although the CHF puts on events year-round, its main event, the fall festival, takes place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 8.
Where: In recent years, the festival has been trying to cluster events to make it easier for people to attend several. So one weekend afternoon might see most events occur at venues in the vicinity of North Michigan Avenue, for instance. Additionally, there is a Northwestern University Day in Evanston (Oct. 24), a Hyde Park Day (Oct. 25), and this year, for the first time, a day focused on the Pilsen neighborhood (Nov. 8).
Who: Presenters this year include performers such as Costello, comic Aasif Mandvi, and TV chef Nigella Lawson; artists including David Hartt; writers including Ta-Nehisi Coates, Claudia Rankine, Marlon James and 2015 Chicago Tribune Literary Prize winner Salman Rushdie; and many academics.
Why: Begun as a one-day, eight-program event in 1990, the festival states its mission as follows: "to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy and explore the humanities." Because it is an organization devoted to the humanities, it also finds other ways to state this, such as, "For 25 years, the Chicago Humanities Festival has celebrated the questions that shape and define us as individuals, communities, and cultures."
How: To attend events, people can go to chicagohumanities.org for tickets or call the box office at 312-494-9509. Note that a fairly large number of events will sell out -- some three dozen of the 130 as of press time -- but the festival does maintain waiting lists. Note also that most everything is recorded and available for viewing after the event on the organization's website.
-- Steve Johnson
