Silver Room Block Party returns to Chicago at Salt Shed on July 18
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. Photo: Courtesy of Silver Room
The Silver Room Block Party, one of Chicago's signature summer festivals, is coming back this year at a new location.
Why it matters: The festival has long been a cornerstone of Chicago's Black creative community.
The latest: It's returning this summer after Williams scrapped it in 2023 amid rising costs at Oakwood Beach.
- This year, he tells Axios that the event is back and will move to the Salt Shed on July 18.
What they're saying: "After being away for two years, and being asked about the block party almost every day, I understand its importance," Eric Williams tells Axios.
- "People are craving connection and joy, and the arts have always provided that for us. Music, fashion, art, and culture bring people together."
Context: The block party began in Wicker Park, where Williams ran the original Silver Room, a popular jewelry, clothing and community hub.
- After relocating the store to 53rd Street in Hyde Park in 2015, the event grew into a massive gathering at Harper Court and surrounding streets.
Reality check: The festival moved to Oakwood Beach in 2022 after outgrowing 53rd Street, but production costs for stages, labor and vendors surged.
Zoom in: The Salt Shed helps Williams bring it back without the usual street-festival production costs.
The intrigue: Williams says he wants to tie the block party to the country's 250th anniversary.
- While the Trump administration has pushed to prioritize grants that tell a specific "patriotic" history tied to the 250th, Williams says this event isn't part of that — and isn't receiving federal funding.
- That independence, he says, allows him to explore and examine the country's sordid history, while centering Black music and art and its role in shaping America.
- "Now, more than ever, the block party is about creating that space for the people of Chicago."
What to watch: Beyond the Salt Shed show, organizers are planning panel discussions and private dinners throughout that weekend.
What's next: Lineups and additional events haven't been announced yet. Tickets go on sale later this week.