The Burning Cicada Festival will return to embrace the DeKalb community this Saturday and invites you to check out some of their activities, guest speakers and food vendors. 

From 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Hopkins Park, the annual Burning Cicada Arts and Music Picnic Festival welcomes anyone interested to enjoy a variety of artists, musicians and food options with other members of the community. 

Organized by Jason Byron Wise and sponsored by a variety of businesses and organizations, including Fargo Indoor Skatepark, Jonamac Orchard and the Aurora Music Company, this marks the fifth consecutive year the festival will be held in Hopkins Park. 

Wise seeks to inspire positive change and interactions in the community through the Burning Cicada Festival. 

“I want the festival to be relevant and helpful to the community,” Wise said. “Uplifting, thought-provoking and something that inspires dialogue within the community in a positive way and affects positive change in people’s lives. I’m a composer and I find music to be an excellent vessel for empathy and compassion.” 

The festival will feature a variety of workshops hosted by several musical artists such as Renee Nanzer, Steve Deiss, Gavin Wilson and Daerielle Balika for visitors to attend. 

The festival will also feature artists including Marty Gniech, who will create live art for around two to three hours and will offer it to one of the organizations, and Wayne Roe, a Kishwaukee Valley Art League caricatures artist, who will both perform in front of a live audience and answer questions. 

Jana Roe, novelist and writer of “Burned,” will attend the festival as a guest speaker. Writer Dori Burg will attend as a guest speaker as well. 

A community resource fair featuring Safe Passage, the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses, Ben Gordon Center Mobile Living Room and a Family Service Agency will also be available to visitors of the festival. 

Food and vending will be provided by “Tamales Los Girasoles” as well as other local food vendors.

Tickets are required for general admission and can be obtained from the website with no fee required.