Midsommar, one of the most popular holidays in Sweden, celebrates the beginning of summer and the season of fertility. These festivals have been around for over 500 years but were not prominently recognized until the 1900s.

Since 1967, the Andersonville area, just three miles east of NEIU’s main campus, has hosted its own spin on the holiday. The event, called Midsommarfest, draws nearly 50,000 people over the span of a three-day weekend. Music, dancing, entertainment, activities and food are provided to represent the diverse neighborhood.

This year’s event took place from June 7-9, 2024 in the heart of the Andersonville area. Every year, vendors from all parts of the Chicagoland area made their presence known.

One of the vendors from the event was Thrive Pet Care, a healthcare service exclusively dedicated to pets at all stages of life. Thrive Pet Care has several locations in the state of Illinois, including emergency rooms in Elk Grove and Hoffman Estates.

Per said on the company’s website, “We aim to revolutionize veterinary care for pets and the people who love them through the world’s most trusted, innovative, and connected pet healthcare network.” “With our personal, professional, and technological support, our medical teams are able to dedicate their passions towards evolving veterinary standards, benefiting both pets and their human families.”

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, established in 1986, encouraged passersby to sign up to become organ donors. According to their website, their mission is to save and enhance the lives of people through organ and tissue donation.

Of course, the vendors were not the only part of the three-day extravaganza. Three stages engaged in song and dance throughout the duration of the event.

One stage featuring the Chicago’s Gay Men’s Health Chorus sang a rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s 1983 hit, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” in honor of her recently announced farewell tour.

Another stage featured dancers from Gus Giordano Dance School, located within the area of Midsommarfest. The school is open to aspiring dancers of all ages, with classes occurring daily.

There were also many opportunities for shopping. Strange Cargo and Raygun were two LGBTQ-friendly t-shirt shops for passersby wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the event.

Midsommarfest has been a tradition of the Andersonville area for nearly six decades and will undoubtedly continue for years to come.