Chipotle Cultivate Festival comes to Chicago

By Beth Schumacher

No plans for the weekend?

There’s plenty going on in DeKalb, but if you want a change of scenery, take a trip to Lincoln Park in Chicago for the Chipotle Cultivate Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The festival will play host to live music throughout the day, including performances by G. Love & Special Sauce, LP, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Allen Stone, J Roddy Walston and the Business and Chris Golub.

Thirteen top-notch chefs will be on-site, teaching their ways and promoting sustainable food preparation.

The people who make this all possible, the farmers, will also be available to answer questions and talk about why the relationship between farms and the food we consume is so important.

In addition to live entertainment and demonstrations from chefs, ativity tents will be spread throughout the festival.

The experience, according to the festival’s website, is to “elevate your awareness regarding Chipotle’s commitment to sustainable farming and get rewarded along the way.” As a result, each tent will help festival goers engage in different aspects of the Chipotle way, gaining you a stamp in your program. Once four stamps are collected, a coupon for a burrito, bowl, salad or tacos will be awarded. Being rewarded with free food for merely learning about responsible food practices sounds like a pretty good deal.

A map of the festival grounds, as well as a tentative schedule of events, is available online at chipotle.com/cultivate. The site also includes a section that will guide you through different methods of transportation, like driving and public transportation. There is also a list of local hotels and other nearby tourist attractions to ensure your day goes smoothly.