Sun sets on Summer Solstice Festival in Yorkville
The Summer Solstice Festival in Yorkville, which was held in June in the city for more than a decade, is not taking place this year.
The two-day music fest, which was first staged in 2013, was always held on the Friday and Saturday in June closest to the summer solstice.
The festival was cancelled only once, in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Event organizer Boyd Ingemunson, 52, an attorney who lives in Yorkville, said given the current challenges involved in booking bands and having the capital to do it the event had run its course. He decided in January not to put on the festival this June, he said.
'I was the one who always organized and ran this and the goal from the beginning was ultimately to curate a festival that brought bands in from all over the country – touring musicians,' he said. 'It's against the grain of what you normally get in municipal festivals. There, you're getting cover bands and bands that just play around the suburbs and I wanted to do something that really was more geared towards original, independent bands on their way up in the industry.'
Ingemunson said over the years 'a wide range of music was curated and that was the main goal behind it all.'
'We wanted to bring something to Yorkville that was unique to all the suburbs,' he said.
While the scope of the festival remained fairly consistent, Ingemunson said over time it did 'morph into a program with the local cross-country team that did a road race as part of the event.'
There was also some philanthropic work with the Knights of Columbus at the festival.
'But other than that, we kind of stuck true to the event. Obviously, you have vendors and beer and food, but I really wanted the focus of the festival to remain about the music and the musicians that traveled here,' he said. 'We did have some generous sponsors over the years, but you can't go to the well too many times and be hitting up the same people for checks to fund this.'
Attendance averaged between 1,500 to a couple thousand visitors each year, he said.
Ingemunson recalled a first-year act that has since become a big name in the music business.
'We had Sturgill Simpson here in 2013 and now he's literally one of the largest bands in the entire country,' Ingemunson said. 'He plays headline spots at all kind of places now.'
The festival used to be free, but transitioned in the past few years into having to charge for tickets 'because we wanted to be able to attract bigger bands and you need to generate ticket revenue to pay bands more money.' he said.
'That's kind of where it just became difficult to compete,' he said, because some bigger corporate-backed festivals are 'generating millions of dollars of revenue, whereas with me I'm self-financing.'
He also said 'it's challenging to get people to pay for tickets in the summer.'
'It just got kind of untenable and way too risky for me to front the financing on it,' Ingemunson said.
Last year, Ingemunson said he doubled the band budget but in the end 'things didn't balance on the balance sheet and it just didn't work.'
'It's not like it's over forever. I always keep options open and maybe in some time it will get resurrected, but at this point it didn't make sense,' he said.
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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Sun sets on Summer Solstice Festival in Yorkville
The Summer Solstice Festival in Yorkville, which was held in June in the city for more than a decade, is not taking place this year. The two-day music fest, which was first staged in 2013, was always held on the Friday and Saturday in June closest to the summer solstice. The festival was cancelled only once, in 2020 due to the pandemic. Event organizer Boyd Ingemunson, 52, an attorney who lives in Yorkville, said given the current challenges involved in booking bands and having the capital to do it the event had run its course. He decided in January not to put on the festival this June, he said. 'I was the one who always organized and ran this and the goal from the beginning was ultimately to curate a festival that brought bands in from all over the country – touring musicians,' he said. 'It's against the grain of what you normally get in municipal festivals. There, you're getting cover bands and bands that just play around the suburbs and I wanted to do something that really was more geared towards original, independent bands on their way up in the industry.' Ingemunson said over the years 'a wide range of music was curated and that was the main goal behind it all.' 'We wanted to bring something to Yorkville that was unique to all the suburbs,' he said. While the scope of the festival remained fairly consistent, Ingemunson said over time it did 'morph into a program with the local cross-country team that did a road race as part of the event.' There was also some philanthropic work with the Knights of Columbus at the festival. 'But other than that, we kind of stuck true to the event. Obviously, you have vendors and beer and food, but I really wanted the focus of the festival to remain about the music and the musicians that traveled here,' he said. 'We did have some generous sponsors over the years, but you can't go to the well too many times and be hitting up the same people for checks to fund this.' Attendance averaged between 1,500 to a couple thousand visitors each year, he said. Ingemunson recalled a first-year act that has since become a big name in the music business. 'We had Sturgill Simpson here in 2013 and now he's literally one of the largest bands in the entire country,' Ingemunson said. 'He plays headline spots at all kind of places now.' The festival used to be free, but transitioned in the past few years into having to charge for tickets 'because we wanted to be able to attract bigger bands and you need to generate ticket revenue to pay bands more money.' he said. 'That's kind of where it just became difficult to compete,' he said, because some bigger corporate-backed festivals are 'generating millions of dollars of revenue, whereas with me I'm self-financing.' He also said 'it's challenging to get people to pay for tickets in the summer.' 'It just got kind of untenable and way too risky for me to front the financing on it,' Ingemunson said. Last year, Ingemunson said he doubled the band budget but in the end 'things didn't balance on the balance sheet and it just didn't work.' 'It's not like it's over forever. I always keep options open and maybe in some time it will get resurrected, but at this point it didn't make sense,' he said.
New York Times
21-04-2025
- New York Times
Pope Francis, the Unlikely Movie Star: 6 Films Show His Cinematic Appeal
Watching Edward Berger's hit Vatican thriller 'Conclave' last year, I found it hard not to think of Pope Francis. The film is fictional, based on Robert Harris's 2016 novel, published three years into Francis's papacy. But one key character in the film is a Mexican archbishop working in Kabul, a reformer calling on the church to focus on those marginalized and historically excluded by the institution. Plenty separated the 'Conclave' character from the sitting pope, who died on Monday, the day after Easter. But such a simple yet eloquent onscreen activist could recall only Francis, the first Latin American cleric to assume the papacy. He drew both admiration and controversy, based largely on his concern for the poor, immigrants and refugees; his calls for environmental stewardship; and his efforts on behalf of gay and lesbian Catholics. That work inflamed more conservative wings of the church while endearing him to many, Catholic or not, who saw a new way forward in his life and teachings. And that also made the pope an unlikely movie star. Francis may have been the most cinematic pope, with fictional and documentary representations of him proliferating during his 12-year papacy. Some of those films were made by and for Catholics, like the 2013 documentary 'Francis: The Pope From the New World,' produced by the Knights of Columbus; Beda Docampo Feijóo's 2015 'Francis: Pray for Me,' a biographical drama about his pre-papal days; and Daniele Luchetti's 2015 'Chiamatemi Francesco,' or 'Call Me Francis,' which concentrated on his work as 'the People's Pope.' But many of these movies weren't really aimed at an audience of the devout. Instead, they show the source of Francis's wider appeal. His attention to issues of social and cultural import gave filmmakers a way to approach him as a screen character, not just a religious leader. Here are six such films, which help frame Francis's legacy and illuminate why he made such an appealing subject. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018) The documentary 'Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,' which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, is a remarkably intimate glimpse into the pope's thinking, straight from his own lips. The director Wim Wenders spends little time filling in biographical details. Instead, Francis speaks at length — both directly and winsomely — about the matters that concern him and why. He talks about his travels, the way he approaches world leaders and the philosophical and theological underpinnings of his work. It's become clichéd to say that a documentary is a 'portrait' of its subject, but Wenders's film really is: Francis is often seen in a medium shot, alone in the frame, talking frankly to the audience. The aim, it's clear, is to give a sense of the pope as possessing both integrity and a gently human touch. 'The Two Popes' (2019) Directed by Fernando Meirelles, 'The Two Popes' received Oscar nominations for Anthony McCarten's screenplay (based on his own play); supporting actor Anthony Hopkins, who plays Pope Benedict XVI; and Jonathan Pryce, who stars as Francis. The film is an imagined encounter between Benedict, who is experiencing a crisis of faith while also considering stepping down from the papacy, and Francis, then still Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who spends a day conversing with Benedict about matters of faith, doctrine and history. The film is often funny and wonderfully humanizing, with a section that explores Bergoglio's own misgivings about an episode in his past. But the greatest strength of 'The Two Popes' lies in how it sheds light, through fiction, on divisions in the Roman Catholic Church between a traditionalist wing and a more progressive one. It's like watching two eras collide, then pray for one another. (And then watch soccer.) 'Francesco' (2021) 'Francesco' was directed by the documentarian Evgeny Afineevsky, whose work often explores the effects of conflicts on people in countries like Syria and Ukraine. For 'Francesco,' Afineevsky looked at Francis's responses to contemporary social issues, especially his concern for and visits with displaced and persecuted people. In the film, Francis meets with Rohingya Muslims displaced from Myanmar. He visits a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and brings Muslim refugees to Italy. In 2018, Francis had infuriated clergy-abuse victims by downplaying their concerns; in the film, he meets with a few survivors and asks for forgiveness. The pope's demonstrated engagement with global injustices, the film suggests, challenges the broader church to consider its role in the world as well. 'The Letter: A Message for Our Earth' (2022) Most movies about Francis make some mention of his concern for environmental issues, but 'The Letter: A Message for Our Earth' focuses directly on them. In his 2015 encyclical entitled 'Laudato Si' ('Praise Be to You'), the pope called the world to action, criticizing those who put profits over people and noting that climate change has a broad range of 'grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods.' For 'The Letter,' the director Nicolas Brown worked with activists from regions not often included in the environmental conversation — the Amazon, India, Senegal and Hawaii — as they prepare to meet with the pope. It's another look at a religious leader who saw his faith as extending far beyond the boundaries of tradition, and challenged others to do so as well. 'In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis' (2023) Stream it on Hulu or rent on digital platforms. Francis traveled a lot in his time as pope, often using deliberately simple methods of transportation so that he could be closer to the people. 'In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis' follows his extensive trips during the first nine years of his pontificate — 37 visits to 53 countries. Some footage from the director Gianfranco Rosi's documentaries about displaced people, 'Fire at Sea' and 'Notturno,' is incorporated into the film alongside Francis's speeches, which often include exhortations to care for migrants as well as the poor and disenfranchised. Rosi doesn't shy away from some of the controversies that Francis created, instead crafting a portrait of a man on the move, traversing the world as a minister of his faith. 'Conclave' (2024) Equal parts pulpy and thoughtful, 'Conclave' was a favorite with audiences and awards voters. As Francis's successor is chosen in the coming months, it's likely to be popular once again: a suspenseful drama starring Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal trying to do what's right in the midst of a power struggle for the papacy. Eventually one cardinal seemingly modeled at least in part on Francis, Benitez (Carlos Diehz), becomes a key player. While this film, like 'The Two Popes,' points to divisions in the church's leadership over gender and sexuality, power dynamics and the meaning of faith, it's also just a straight-up thriller with a startling conclusion. It's a little silly, sure. But it's also stirring and a reminder of what is at stake for the church going forward.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: March 28-30
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Take some time to unwind with friends, family or yourself this weekend. Below you'll find a list of some fun events going on this weekend (March 28-30) around Mississippi. – Jackson – Friday Enjoy catering by Nick Wallace Culinary, a keynote by Rita Brent, and celebrate our Visionary honorees. – Jackson – Friday Tiera is a standup comedian born and raised on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. She's known for making the world laugh via her viral videos on Facebook and Instagram. – Natchez – Friday In this play, a young couple must learn how to accept and embrace their differences as they learn that marriage is no easy walk in the park. – Vicksburg – Friday The Fish Fry will be from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm at Knights of Columbus, 310 Fisher Ferry Rd. Dine in or Carry Out. The price is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. – Pearl – Friday and Saturday The event offers hands-on opportunities for children to explore, climb and touch trucks, emergency response vehicles, heavy machinery and other equipment. All proceeds support the mission of the Junior League of Jackson. – Clinton – Friday and Saturday The annual festival brings together music lovers, artists, and food enthusiasts for a celebration in the heart of Olde Towne Clinton. – Natchez – Friday and Saturday Using the theme 'Follow the Frenchman through Natchez: The Farewell Tour of Lafayette,' this historical conference will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Gilbert du Mortier, the Marquis de Lafayette's farewell tour of the United States. – Ridgeland – Friday and Saturday Dive into powerful sessions on faith, personal growth, and wellness while having fun, sharing laughs, and connecting with amazing women who are on the same journey. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Join New Stage as tell the story of the March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of growing up during the American Civil War. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday This exhibition will feature over 50 handmade and machine-stitched quilts from MMA's permanent collection, including Crossroads Quilters, Gwendolyn Magee, and several collected by American photographer Roland L. Freeman on his travels. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers! Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers showcases photographs by Vicksburg-based artist Melody Golding, documenting the resilience of Mississippians after the storm. – Natchez – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The tours offer an intimate look inside the city's grandest homes. – Pearl – Friday, Saturday & Sunday With numerous of the best vendors in Vintage from across the US – they bring truckloads of repurposed, specialty 'finds' that will be unique to your home! Gold in the Hills – Vicksburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Since 1936, Gold in the Hills is the Guinness Book of Worlds Records' longest-running show. – Jackson – Saturday Learn about the impact of the Tougaloo Nine during a gallery talk and flash tour. – Jackson – Saturday An evening of highlights by Saint-Saëns, Mozart and Stravinsky, along with captivating works by current American composers Nico Muhly and Jessie Montgomery, make the most of the venue's intimate warmth, charm and exceptional acoustics. – Jackson – Saturday This vibrant event will showcase various captivating performances and interactive activities that celebrate the essence of movement in its many forms. – Jackson – Saturday This event will be held at Social 21 Bistro. – Jackson – Saturday Bring home plants divided from the Welty garden, plus specially grown old-fashioned plants from Eudora Welty's prose and era—many of which have become hard to find. – Jackson – Saturday From persimmons to peaches, from bok choy to butter beans, the Mississippi Farmers Market is the one place to go for the freshest fruits and vegetables that are grown in the state. – Clinton – Saturday During the event, you will be able to make Caterpillar-themed costumes to wear in Clinton's Caterpillar Parade on April 12. – Flowood – Saturday The City of Flowood is thrilled to debut Liberty Park's brand new pickleball courts with its Inaugural Big Dill Pickleball Tournament! 5K Race – Gluckstadt – Saturday This race with the assistance of vendors and sponsors will focus on heart health nutrition. – Natchez – Saturday Natchez Festival of Music presents vocalist Susan Ruggiero in an evening of music representing the rich musical heritage of the American South. – Natchez – Saturday The Miss-Lou Makers Market are local handmade artists from Mississippi and Louisiana gathered into an exclusive vendor showcase at the Natchez Bluff Gazebo. – Natchez – Saturday Teams of two players will play 18 holes with several unique challenges. Awards given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, closet to the pin, hole-in-one and longest drive. – Natchez – Saturday Every week there will be live fresh produce, baked goods, fresh dairy, and arts and crafts all from local growers and artists. – Ridgeland – Saturday Students will learn the basics of crocheting including the chain stitch, single crochet and double crochet. – Ridgeland – Saturday Butterfly Bash is an adults-only fundraiser benefitting The Canopy School. Kids Consignment Sale – Vicksburg – Saturday The sale is open to River Diamonds from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. for $5 and to the public from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Big Wheels Keep On Turning – Vicksburg – Saturday The Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg presents this family-friendly event where children can explore a variety of large trucks, heavy machinery, emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles and much more. Singin in the Rain – Vicksburg – Saturday Enjoy this iconic film directed by Gene Kelly. Tickets are $10 at the door and popcorn is free. – Natchez – Saturday and Sunday The Natchez Powwow is an annual event that celebrates the culture of Native Americans. In addition to dance and music, it includes Native American food, arts, and crafts. – Natchez – Saturday and Sunday Gospel music star Ditty Blaylock promises a reunion of the Blaylock Sisters, her three adult daughters who were once a national sensation as 'little superstars for Jesus.' But the sisters have been estranged for over twenty-five years-and reconciliation seems impossible. Will the show go on? – Jackson – Sunday Jackson Indie Music Week is a celebration of Central Mississippi's independent music scene. Youth Art Show – Vicksburg – Sunday This youth art show is presented by the Vicksburg Art Association. – Hattiesburg – Friday Eaglepalooza is a live music event in the heart of downtown Hattiesburg. Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Briston Maroney is set to headline the evening. – Hattiesburg – Friday The University of Southern Mississippi School of Performing and Visual Arts Dance program will showcase original works by faculty and distinguished guest artists, all brought to life by its talented dance students. – Laurel – Friday Wine Down is a prefect date night or girls' night out! Pick up your cup from the LMS Entry tent, located at the corner of Central Avenue and North Magnolia Street. – Laurel – Friday Enjoy karaoke at 320 5th St. in Laurel. – Laurel – Friday Join Museum Director George Bassi for an engaging and informational walking tour of Laurel's historical district as he traces the history and evolution of the city and some of it's finest homes and structures. – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the film by Tim Burton, Big Fish is a joyful and funny musical experience. – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum has a new exhibit every month, so be sure to head downtown for a small surprise! – Hattiesburg – Saturday HUBFEST is Hattiesburg's premier arts and music festival. The annual event is held in beautiful Historic Downtown Hattiesburg and features four stages of live music, over 250 arts, crafts and food vendors, and a large children's area. – Hattiesburg – Saturday Dive into the world of this relaxing craft and learn the art of handcrafting soy candles. Unleash your inner artisan and create unique, aromatic masterpieces that will fill your space with warmth and tranquility. Bulls, Bands And Barrels: Ole 60 & Hudson Westbrook – Hattiesburg – Saturday The event will be held at the Forrest County Multipurpose Center. Pretty Pittie Put Pawty – Hattiesburg – Saturday Whether you're a golf pro or just here for the pawsome after-party, there's something for everyone! Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
