Family Friendly Spring Art Market at Church Street Brewing in Itasca 3/14

The return of spring also means the return of one of the area’s most relaxed and creative brewery markets. This Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Spring Art Market at Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca will bring artists, makers, craft beer lovers, and families together for an afternoon of art and community. The event runs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., is free to attend, and welcomes guests of all ages.

Raise a glass to Art Markets at Church Street Brewing! The brewery has a great variety of beers and other spirits and n/a beverages while exploring the market! photo by Streetz

Markets at Church Street Brewing have become a favorite stop for shoppers looking for something beyond the typical craft fair. Hosted inside the spacious brewery, the Spring Art Market offers a relaxed atmosphere where guests can browse handmade goods while enjoying craft beer, food from the kitchen, and plenty of seating to socialize. The brewery’s kitchen will be serving sandwiches, pizzas, pretzels, and snacks, while the bar offers everything from award-winning craft beers to mixed drinks, spirits, and non-alcoholic options, making it easy for everyone to find something they enjoy.

The market is curated by Alissa Harris, one of the curators working with the Streetz Artz Alliance, a collective that connects artists with breweries and community venues throughout the Chicagoland suburbs.

Alissa Harris, cat coasters and a display image from Cats, Crafts & Cooking shown above - photos by Alissa Harris

Harris is also the artist behind Cats, Crafts and Cooking, a creative project she launched in 2018 as both a mental health outlet and an artistic venture. Over time, the brand has grown to include a wide variety of handmade items, though many fans know her best for the distinctive repurposed tile coasters she creates using vintage VHS covers, book pages, paint, resin, and experimentation. Alongside the coasters, Harris’ work has expanded to include everything from pet blankets and cat toys to mugs and decorative signs.

The Streetz Artz Alliance itself has grown steadily over the past few years. In 2025 alone, the organization curated more than 65 art markets, showcasing over 300 artists and makers across multiple breweries in the Chicagoland suburbs. According to organizer John Streetz, much of the work behind the scenes involves coordinating artists, marketing events, and maintaining professionalism while balancing full-time day jobs. The goal is always to make each event stronger than the last while giving artists meaningful opportunities to connect with new audiences.

This Saturday’s Spring Art Market reflects that mission by bringing together a balanced mix of established artists and newcomers, with many of the participating vendors appearing at Church Street for the first time. Guests can expect a wide variety of creative work ranging from handmade accessories and apparel to fine art, specialty foods, and unique home goods.

Among the artists making their debut at the Church Street market is Angelic Celestial Whispers, operated by spiritual medium Ren, who will be offering angelic mediumship and tarot readings during the event. Ren describes herself as a third-generation evidential spiritual medium with intuitive abilities that include clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience. Her readings are designed to offer clarity, comfort, and insight to those seeking guidance or connection.

Another first-time vendor at this venue is Glass Blooms, which creates colorful garden art using repurposed dishes and glassware, transforming vintage materials into decorative yard pieces mounted on garden stakes. Also new to the Church Street market is Gemini Customs, a female-owned business producing one-of-a-kind sewn goods such as fabric pouches, book covers, Kindle cases, handbags, rugs, and the brand’s distinctive “frankenhoodies,” which creatively combine hoodies and flannel shirts.

Returning artists will also be bringing new work for the season. Ghost Owl Studio, a favorite among Streetz Artz Alliance regulars, is known for its bold graphic designs on apparel and accessories. Shoppers may find the studio’s newest design, “Zilla-Tee,” which imagines a giant monster encountering a hot-air-balloon race. Meanwhile, Dye The Day Away will have freshly dyed spring pieces available, including dresses, sleeveless tops, and vibrant new shirt designs that highlight the brand’s signature one-of-a-kind color patterns.

Artist Becky Maslowski of Becky Blue Art will also be unveiling two new prints that arrived just in time for the market after a near miss with the weather when a delivery was unexpectedly left outside. Thanks to a watchful eye from her husband spotting the package before the rain hit, the prints survived and will be available for visitors to see this weekend.

Becky Maslowski luckily will have two new prints available thanks to someone special - photo by artist

Beyond the artwork, the brewery itself will be celebrating the season with new beer releases just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. According to a recent announcement from Church Street Brewing, two red ales are taking center stage behind the bar.

The brewery’s Righteous Red Ale is a malt-forward classic brewed with 2-Row, Vienna, Munich, Dark Crystal, and Roasted Barley malts, creating rich layers of toast and caramel with a smooth roasted finish. Balanced with English hops and fermented with American ale yeast, it’s designed as an easy-drinking pint with plenty of depth.

A second beer, Redemption Red Ale, is waiting in the wings and will be tapped soon. Built on the same malt foundation, Redemption adds a subtle twist with a touch of vanilla that rounds out the malt character with a smooth, slightly sweet note. The brewery has even encouraged guests to help finish the current keg of Altbier so Redemption can make its debut.

The brewery’s Righteous Red Ale is a malt-forward classic brewed with 2-Row, Vienna, Munich, Dark Crystal, and Roasted Barley malts - photo by Church Street

For those looking to take the celebration home, Church Street is also offering a case special on Lucky # 13 Red Lager, making it easy to stock up for St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

With hundreds of people already responding to the event online and organizers hoping to cross the 1,000-guest mark, the Spring Art Market is shaping up to be a lively afternoon in Itasca. Guests can browse artwork, discover new artists, enjoy fresh food from the kitchen, and raise a pint of red ale while welcoming the return of warmer weather.

Returning artists will also be bringing new work for the season. Ghost Owl Studio, a favorite among Streetz Artz Alliance regular, has a new design! - photo by artist

The Spring Art Market takes place Saturday, March 14 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Church Street Brewing Company, located at 1480 Industrial Drive in Itasca, Illinois. Admission is free, parking is available on site and nearby, and the event is open to all ages. Organizers intentionally keep the event free so visitors can spend that money supporting the artists and the brewery instead.

Guests interested in learning more about the participating artists, seeing featured vendor posts, or following event updates can visit the official event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1813233175896422

The organizer invites patrons to bring friends, raise a glass, and spend an afternoon celebrating art, craft beer, and community in Itasca. Come one, come all.

Below are pictures from artists in the event. Each photo file name has the artist name in it.