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Beginning May 26, the Market Continues on the Last Sunday of Each Month through October 27

CHICAGO—The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced that the iconic Maxwell Street Market will return to its original home on Maxwell Street for the 2024 season beginning Sunday, May 26, with six market days taking place on the last Sunday of each month through October 27 (the only exception being the August date, which is rescheduled to September 1), from 9am–2pm. The 2024 edition of Maxwell Street Market will be located on Maxwell Street between S. Halsted Street and S. Union Avenue, as well as on S. Union Avenue between W. Rochford Street and W. Liberty Street.

“The Maxwell Street Market has been a Chicago tradition for more than a century,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “It not only promotes entrepreneurship, but also provides critically important opportunities for small businesses including craftspeople, artists, farmers, restaurateurs, and re-sellers. Our hope is that the move back to its original neighborhood will spur memories of the historic Maxwell Street Market, bring back that entrepreneurial spirit, and ensure its longevity for generations to come.”

“We intend for the Maxwell Street Market to further enhance this already-bustling neighborhood, which features several public artworks honoring the market’s past,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “We and our community partners including the University of Illinois Chicago are thrilled to welcome new and returning visitors to the area with an exciting lineup of vendors and entertainment that celebrates the important legacy of the market while reflecting the diversity of the city itself.”

The original Maxwell Street Market, centered at Maxwell and Halsted Streets, began as an open-air market established in the late 19th century by newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, and was officially recognized by the City of Chicago in October 1912. As the neighborhood changed, so did the market. In the 1930s and 1940s, Maxwell Street became known as a place where many Black musicians who had migrated to Chicago began to develop a new musical genre—electrified urban Blues, later coined “Chicago Blues.” These performances came to be identified with Maxwell Street Market. In 1994, the Maxwell Street Market was moved by the City of Chicago to accommodate expansion of the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was relocated a few blocks east to Canal Street and renamed the New Maxwell Street Market. In 2008, it was relocated to S. Desplaines, where it became well known for its Mexican and Latinx street food. The 2024 edition will bring the market back to its original home.

Visitors to the Maxwell Street Market will experience an eclectic mix of foods and finds—including handmade crafts, resale housewares, clothing, and much more. This year’s edition will also feature live entertainment and programming from cultural partners, and will incorporate nearby businesses and restaurants including several “Maxwell Street originals” with longstanding ties to the neighborhood; highlights include:

• Express Grill
• Hashbrowns
• Jim’s Original Hot Dog
• Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant
• Bar Louie

Market dates are as follows:

• Sunday, May 26, from 9am-2pm
• Sunday, June 30, from 9am-2pm
• Sunday, July 28, from 9am-2pm
• Sunday, September 1, from 9am-2pm
• Sunday, September 29, from 9am-2pm
• Sunday, October 27, from 9am-2pm

Vendor applications for Maxwell Street Market’s 2024 edition are now open at MaxwellStreetMarket.us.

Parking is available for vendors and customers at nearby lots and parking structures. The area is also easily accessible by public transit, via the Blue Line’s Halsted Street station, as well as the #8 Halsted Street bus and the #12 Roosevelt Street bus.

For more information, visit MaxwellStreetMarket.us. Join the conversation on Facebook at Maxwell Street Market, and on Instagram and X at @ChicagoDCASE (#MaxwellStreetMarket).

Maxwell Street Market is produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored in part by Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city—to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city—serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

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