Kevin Latz, Liam Fischer, and Grant Mitchell perform in their garage-rock band, Willis, in the Elmhurst Art Museum during Yesfest 2016.
Five years ago, a group of self-described “stir crazy” performers wished they had a festival in Elmhurst where they could perform all the things they loved: original music, comedy, improv, and poetry.
“Nothing like that really existed in Elmhurst, so that’s how Yesfest came to be,” said Clark Pavlik, co-founder of the festival. “The mission was to provide a supportive and fulfilling event for musicians, artists, comedians, and poets in the community,” he said. “When you get people together and give them a space for them to come and present their art, awesome things happen.”
Yesfest had humble beginnings: first in a park, the next year in a garage. Now in its fifth year, Yesfest has grown into a two-day festival featuring over 60 acts on three different stages. The event is co-presented with the Elmhurst Art Museum and the Elmhurst Public Library.
“The amount of talent in this town is limitless,” says Pavlik, who says that this year, submissions had to close earlier than expected because of the overwhelming response.
Yesfest 2017 is Friday, July 28, 12-9 p.m. and Saturday, July 29, 12-8 p.m. The event is mostly free and open to the public, with the exception of the stage located inside the Art Museum which is free for students and nine dollars for adults. Performances are at Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst; and Elmhurst Public Library, 125 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst.
For full schedule of performances, visit yesfest.weebly..com. Facebook: Yesfest Elmhurst or Instagram: @yes_fe.
