The Lot 2024 Line-Up

Downtown Highland Park announces The Lot 2024 Line-Up:

Alfresco Dining & Entertainment Destination Enters 3^rd Year of Fun

Highland Park, Illinois – The City of Highland Park is thrilled to announce the 2024 festival and event line-up at The Lot. Launched in June of 2022, The Lot is downtown Highland Park’s exciting alfresco dining and entertainment destination.

From June through November, the City will once again transform the south portion of the St. Johns north parking lot (at the northwest corner of Central and St. Johns Avenues) into a dynamic and flexible multipurpose entertainment space at the heart of downtown Highland Park.

“After our 2nd successful year, we were able to glean from downtown business owners, community members, residents and attendees what events they enjoyed and wanted more of in 2024,” says Carolyn Hersch, Business Development Manager, Highland Park. “We are thrilled with our plans and are even more excited for what this season and beyond will bring - with the ultimate goal of creating a permanent space to facilitate multipurpose events for all.”

Since its inception in 2022, The Lot brought over 50,000 visitors to Highland Park, creating vibrancy, enhanced business patronage and community involvement in and around town. As permanent plans continue to be developed, the eclectic line-up of events planned at The Lot in 2024 include:

The 2024 lineup:

• Taste of Highland Park:  June 21 & 22, 5-10 PM

This fan-favorite at The Lot will showcase a variety of delicious cuisines and beverages from local restaurants, specialty shops and other Highland Park foodservice businesses, as well as a fantastic lineup of live music and on-site fun for the entire family!

• Vintage Auto Show: August 11, 12-4 PM

Attendees will spend the day in Highland Park perusing an eclectic display of vintage cars; both antique and classics up to the early 1980s, while enjoying music, food, libations and lots more. This event will run simultaneously with The Lot’s weekly French Market.

• Decades Fest:  September 14 12-10 PM

Sounds of the 70s, 80s, and 90s will bring a multitude of tastes and experiences together all within a fun, family-friendly festival atmosphere! A “Decades of Music” scavenger hunt through downtown businesses will round this event out, and offer attendees both discounts on food and the chance to win a grand prize.

• Oktoberfest:  September 28, 12-10 PM

This seasonal event will feature traditional Oktoberfest food, drink and a biergarten along with headlining live music, games and other on-site activities and contests in keeping with the fun Oktoberfest theme! Enjoy family-focused fun for all ages from 12-5 PM; once the sun goes down, it’s “Oktoberfest After Dark” from 5-10 PM, with entertainment geared toward audiences 21+.

• Scarecrow Fest & Walk: October 19, 12-5 PM

This inaugural Lot event will celebrate the season by offering scarecrow themed family friendly activities and entertainment with the bonus of a Scarecrow Walk through Downtown Highland Park, for attendees to vote for “best in show!”

• Stews & Brews (& Booze) & Blues!:  November 2, 5-9 PM

This cool weather fan-favorite event will warm the hands and stomachs of attendees with a variety of hearty stick—to-the-ribs stews including chili, jambalaya, Hungarian goulash, chicken pot pie, and more; if it is a warm meal in a bowl, it qualifies! All kinds of brews will be available too, from craft beer, spiced ciders and wines, to hot toddies and kombucha! A stellar line-up of blues artists will grace the stage as attendees stay cozy by firepits and heat towers.

Launching weekly at The Lot:

• French Market at The Lot: Sundays, June 9-September 29, 10 AM–3 PM

Attendees can browse a diverse, expertly curated selection of seasonal artisan foods, goods, and beverages while enjoying incredible live music right in Downtown Highland Park.

Other Concerts at The Lot:

• 18^th Annual Bitter Jester Music Fest Grand Finale*: June 29, 2-10 PM

Discover your next favorite band at Bitter Jester! This family-friendly concert is the culmination of the Midwest's largest professional competition series featuring a variety of "rising star" bands and solo artists from across the Midwest! In addition to various food trucks and food/drinks vendors, a “Live at Bitter Jester” vinyl album will be recorded. Come lend your cheers and applause to the record and find your next favorite act!
*This is event is produced by the 501(c)(3) Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts

From specialty markets to unique dining, weekend concerts and food fests, there’s something for everyone this season at The Lot.

For more information on how to be a part of The Lot, as a vendor or sponsor, please contact the City’s event management team, Ripple Public Relations, info@ripplepublicrelations.com, or call 847.432.6000. Learn more about plans for The Lot at enjoyhighlandpark.com/thelot. For more information about the City of Highland Park, please contact Diane Larson, Marketing Coordinator, at dlarson@cityhpil.com.