World Dumpling Fest
SAT, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 | 12-9PM
LOGAN SQUARE PARK | 3150 W LOGAN BLVD, CHICAGO
2024 Festival information coming. Check back soon.
About the Fest
This all-ages event features food, music, and local small businesses sharing their cultural identities through their respective crafts. World Dumpling Fest features diverse cultural “dumplings” from +10 neighborhood-based restaurants in and around Chicago.
World Dumpling Fest is a fundraiser held to support the work of the Chicago Cultural Alliance with the mission of supporting, promoting, and advocating for over 40 centers of cultural heritage from around the Chicagoland area. We hope that you will take the time to learn more about the centers we represent, visit their centers, volunteer for them, and otherwise support their work!
WHAT DUMPLINGS WILL I FIND AT THE FEST?
Empanadas – Cafe Tola (Latin American)
Empanadas are baked or fried turnovers consisting of pastry and filling. Cafe Tola’s empanadas are made from scratch and folded by hand, inspired by their Latino roots.
Emparogi – Polombia (Colombian & Polish Fusion)
Cynthia Orobio and Phillipe Sobon have translated their love for food, their native cultures, and one another into Polombia – an innovative fusion experience like no other, offering a modern take on classic dishes from both Sobon’s Poland and Orobio’s Colombia.
Falafel – Shawarma Point (Middle Eastern)
Falafel is a deep-fried ball of ground chickpeas or other types of legumes. It can be wrapped up in flatbread, drizzled with sauce, or eaten as a snack. Shawarma Point will be serving up their falafel at our festival.
Hushpuppies – Harold’s Chicken (Southern)
Hushpuppies are deep-fried cornmeal fritters. First eaten by Southeastern Indigenous groups, it is now a Southern soul food staple. Harold’s Chicken provides a traditional home-cooked taste to our festival, as one of Chicago’s first black-owned fast food chains.
Momo – Himalayan Restaurant (North Indian & Nepalese)
Momo are steamed dumplings mildly spiced with onion, ginger, garlic and spices, served with sesame seed sauce. Visit Himalayan Restaurant’s booth to sample these, or visit their establishment for a family-style meal!
Momo – Momo World (Nepalese)
Momo are steamed dumplings mildly spiced with onion, ginger, garlic and spices, served with sesame seed sauce. The Momo World is pleased to introduce you to this perfect and delicious Himalayan street food.
Pierogi – I Love Grill & Lemonade (Polish)
Pierogi are boiled dumplings made by wrapping unleavened dough around a savory or sweet filling. I Love Grill and Lemonade will serve their original home cooked pierogi at our festival.
Samosas – Bombay Eats (Indian)
Samosas are fried pastries with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, meat or fish. Bombay Eats will serve samosas, sharing with you the delicious, easy, and affordable street food they grew up eating in Bombay.
Wontons & Edamame Dumplings – Global Dumplings (Chinese/Japanese)
Wontons are a type of Chinese dumpling with thin skin and various minced fillings, most commonly served in soup. Come enjoy catered pork wontons in soy garlic and chili oil, as well as edamame dumplings with shoyu broth.
*Menu subject to change.
WHAT DANCE AND MUSICAL GROUPS WILL PERFORM AT THE FESTIVAL?
12:00pm | Chicago Balinese Gamelan
Chicago Balinese Gamelan engages the public with Indonesian culture through high-intensity, quality performances, lectures, and interactive workshops.
1:15pm | Crossing Borders Music
Crossing Borders Music shares music and stories to promote the dignity of people from all cultures. They will perform with Nisa Pov, Resident Artist of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum.
2:15pm | Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
The Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago (KPAC) is a community-based cultural and educational organization. They will perform traditional Korean drumming and dance.
2:30pm | Los Pleneros de Don Segundo
One of Chicago’s most sought-after plena groups, Los Pleneros de Don Segundo shows unwavering commitment to the advancement of the genre with original compositions and arrangements.
4:00pm | Center of Peruvian Arts
The Center of Peruvian Arts promotes Indigenous Peruvian cultures through performances, educational programming and workshops.
5:00pm | Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) Performing Arts
PACF Performing Arts and their partner group BIBBAK IL will perform several folk dances from the Philippines, including the entertaining bamboo dance called Tinikling.
5:45pm | Nejla Yatkin
Incorporating Turkish and German culture into her work, Nejla will perform “Whirling,” evoking circles, curves, lines, waves, and spirals to celebrate the patterns and cycles found in nature.
6:00pm | Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Hailed as one of the world’s greatest orchestras, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will present a trombone quintet with arrangements of popular music and a range of classic Latin songs.
6:45pm | Chicago Flying Fairies Culture and Arts Center
This Chinese dance studio has won top awards at international dance competitions, and it remains an audience favorite at the Navy Pier’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations.
**We are continuing to expand the performer list! Check back for more updates.
MEET CHICAGO’S CULTURAL CENTERS
12:00-2:00pm | Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
The Balzekas Museum is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the preservation and perpetuation of Lithuanian language and history.
12:00-2:00pm | Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago serves the educational, cultural, psychological, and socio-economic needs of Ethiopians in Chicagoland.
12:00-2:00pm | National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture presents exhibitions and programming to promote the rich Puerto Rican arts tradition.
2:15-4:15pm | Chinese American Museum of Chicago
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago promotes the culture and history of Chinese-Americans in the Midwest, through exhibitions, education, and research.
2:15-4:15pm | T. G. Masaryk Czech School
The T. G. Masaryk Czech School provides Czech language classes and organizes exhibitions, concerts, literary workshops for both children and adults.
2:15-4:15pm | Thirsty Dumpling
Thirsty Dumpling is a small business that delivers dumpling kits to your doorstep, complete with ingredients and instructions. The owner of Thirsty Dumpling will be providing an on-site dumpling making demonstration.
4:30-6:30pm | Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
The Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago collects, records and preserves artifacts and documents of history of the Filipino Americans of metropolitan Chicago. They educate the community about Filipino American history and Philippine heritage.
4:30-6:30pm | Haitian American Museum of Chicago
The Haitian American Museum of Chicago creates a gathering place for Chicagoans and visitors to explore Haitian art, culture, and history.
4:30-6:30pm | The Peace School
The Peace School helps people of all ages practice peace in everyday life. It brings communities and cultures together to celebrate peace, unity and diversity.
TRAVEL information
World Dumpling Fest will be located in Logan Square Park, on Milwaukee Avenue (see highlighted section of map on right).
By Bus: The nearest bus stop is Milwaukee & Logan Blvd, which is reachable by CTA Bus #56. Click here for the CTA Bus Tracker to see up-to-date information.
By CTA: The park is a quick walk south from the Logan Square Station, a Blue Line stop. Click here to see more information about this station.
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