On Friday, September 20th, and Saturday, September 21st, Haymarket proudly continued the tradition of the West Loop Bavarian Block Party. Hosted by the Associate Board, this fest celebrated authentic German culture, featuring staple foods like bratwurst and pretzels, along with lively traditional polka music.
The musical lineup included crowd favorites such as Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press, as well as Too Hype Crew. The fest originated as an annual birthday celebration for our founder, the late Monsignor Ignatius McDermott, aimed at fostering community spirit and goodwill among our neighbors. We carry on this tradition with the West Loop Bavarian Block Party, with funds raised supporting comprehensive substance use and mental health treatment for Chicago’s underserved populations.
Reflecting on the event, Kelly McKay, President of the Associate Board, shared, “I loved the setup this year of the game tent and kids’ activities, along with the NA bar facing Haymarket. It made the event accessible to everyone. One of my favorite moments was seeing Haymarket clients—one of whom helped us build flower displays the day before—join in the games and activities right in front of the building during the fest.”
Kelly also emphasized the importance of volunteerism, stating, “Volunteers make everything possible! What makes a fest like this special is the meaning behind it—supporting Haymarket. We accomplished that by adding love to so many pieces, like putting hearts and quotes on the building and creating flowers for clients. We couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support from our volunteers.”
If you would like to learn how to volunteer, please contact Ella Benoit, Development Manager, at 312) 226-7984 ext. 577 or ebenoit@hcenter.org. You can also click on this link to get involved: [link].
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our community and contributing to such an impactful cause!