Mai Fest Returns to Blue Island

Fifth Annual Celebration of Art, Music & Community — Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Over 100 Artists & Vendors · Live Music · Kids' Activities · Hot Food · Suggested donation for entrance

Patrons explore the Mai Fest where over 100 artists line Olde Western Avenue and Broadway with the Gruppengarten established at the intersection. Photo by Streetz

Blue Island, IL — This Mother's Day weekend, the South Suburbs' most beloved handmade market makes its triumphant return. MAI FEST, presented by the Blue Island Arts Alliance in collaboration with the Streetz Artz Alliance, celebrates its fifth year on Saturday, May 9, 2026. With over 100 artists and vendors, an exciting live music lineup, interactive kids' activities, and an expanded footprint to welcome record crowds, the 2026 edition is on track to be the festival's largest and most exciting yet.

A Community Tradition Five Years in the Making

What started as a grassroots celebration of local makers has grown into one of Blue Island's most anticipated annual events. MAI FEST draws thousands of visitors from across the Chicagoland area who come to shop handmade, sample artisan food, experience live entertainment, and connect with the community — all in a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season.

Held during Mother's Day weekend, the festival has become a cherished alternative to the ordinary — a destination for thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts and meaningful experiences. This year, expanded parking options will help ease access for the growing number of guests expected to attend.

Left to Right: Eli Coleman with Gigawatt Coffee Roasters, the main sign for the Mai Fest event and Jon Belonio with Belonio Doodles smiling at a previous Mai Fest. Photos by the Streetz Artz Alliance.

Over 100 Artists — Something for Every Taste

The MAI FEST artist market is a hand-curated showcase of local and regional talent spanning an extraordinary range of mediums, aesthetics, and price points. From fine craft to folk art, pop culture to the poetic — the diversity of this year's vendor list reflects the organizers' commitment to an inclusive, multi-dimensional creative community.

Shoppers can explore original works across dozens of categories including:

Fine Art & Illustration: Original paintings, prints, and mixed-media works from artists such as Brian Paints, ChillyGirlArt, Nasaria Designs, Kinda Sketchy With Jen, Becky Blue Designs, and Curvy Girl Comics. Photography lovers will find archival giclée prints from Chicago-based Linda Horton Photography.

Handcrafted Jewelry: A stunning array of wearable art from MasterLink Chainmaille, Ladysmith Jewelry Studio (vintage chandelier crystals), Lucy + Lola Gem Creations (boho-chic mixed metals and gemstones), InSpirit Adornments, Castillo & Co. (Mexican culture-inspired beadweaving), and more.

Masterlink Chainmaille specializes in handcrafted chainmaille and links apparel similar to the piece of above and more. Check out their space at Mai Fest 5/9/2026! Photo by artist.

Fiber Arts & Crochet: Handcrafted textiles from Bea-Hooked, Luna's Loops, Spookystitches, Stormy's Happy Place, Crochet By Rose, and Dye The Day Away — featuring everything from amigurumi creatures and flower crowns to wearables and wall hangings.

Woodworking & Functional Craft: From the lathe-turned pens and kitchen items of Canal Woodturning to the layered wooden artwork of Crafted Laserworks, and handcrafted cigar box guitars from Scrapgrinder Guitars. Not All Thumbs Woodcrafts rounds out the lineup with cocktail smokers, Yardzee sets, and more.

3D Printing & Modern Maker Art: Avocado3DShop, 3Damian Art, mpn3d, Tobys3DPrinting, The Crooked Workbench, and Wolf Den Gaming bring imaginative 3D-printed figurines, accessories, gaming gear, and home décor.

Ceramics & Pottery: Expressive handmade pottery from Cryptid Claywerks (folk monster mugs and planters), LoCo Pottery (colorful functional ceramics), and Robin Power (ceramic sculpture).

Hex & Crust specializes in pies and almost always sells out at shows - photo by artist

Leather, Resin & Mixed Media: Maverick Leather LLC's functional leather goods and canine accessories, one-of-a-kind leather totes from Mamo and Jo, custom resin dice from Custom Dice by Alyssa, and eclectic insect art and spirit boards from Nethercrafts.

Self-Care & Botanical: Galaxy Skincare's whipped body butter, handcrafted soaps and scrubs from Dive Bar Soap Company and With Love Products, and vegan candles and fragrances from WhistleNotes Perfumery and Serpent & Flame Candle Co.

Literary & Pop Culture: kat. | poet & author brings her debut poetry collection, while Rabbit Hole of Research — a trio of a PhD scientist, printmaker, and comedic horror writer — offers sci-fi paperbacks, zines, and live letterpress printing. Daisy Brand Arts brings dual-language coloring books, and Black Flag Trading caters to Pokémon TCG fans.

Spiritual, Mystical & Crystals: L&W Crystals, That Girl at the Market, Primtentions, and RockinCrystals LLC bring healing crystals, intention candles, tarot readings, and metaphysical tools. Prairie Henna offers bespoke henna body art with 14 years of professional experience.

...and that's only part of the lineup. Shoppers will also find perler bead pixel art, handpainted bags and jackets, epoxy tumblers, stone shadowbox art, dog accessories and treats, and much more.

Left to Right: Daisy Brand Arts, Masterclass Sweet & Savory Foods and Not All Thumbs Woodcrafting

Artisan Food Market: Treat Yourself

MAI FEST wouldn't be complete without an indulgent lineup of artisan food vendors. KP's Candy Factory returns with an extraordinary spread of handcrafted confections — from chocolate-dipped everything to peanut clusters and caramelized puffed corn. Polly Ann Cakes brings her signature cream cheese pound cakes and ooey gooey butter cakes, while Grandma Dan's Bakery offers cookies, breads, and unexpected flavor combinations straight from a home kitchen.

Heat-seekers will want to visit Spicy Grrrls Hot Sauce (woman-owned, all-natural), JAM. Foods & Services' twelve-variety AWE-SAUCE fermented hot sauce lineup, and Beaver Rub Spice Company's BBQ rubs and hot honey. For sweet sips, Lady Lemonade presses fresh lemonade on-site, Gigawatt Coffee Roasters (Bensenville, IL) brings their small-batch air-roasted beans and nitro cold brew, and Undici Gelato serves authentic Italian-style gelato in artisanal flavors.

Boozy Treats, Hex & Crust (gourmet pies), Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods, Jamming4Bullies (small-batch jams that benefit Bull Terrier rescue), Masterclass Savory Sweet Foods, and Jetibles (hemp-infused honey, sugar, and coffee) round out an artisan food lineup that is as diverse as it is delicious.

Beaver Rub Spice Company returns to Blue Island and was a part of the Mai Fest 2025. They carry a variety of fresh spices, honey and more. Photo by artist.

Live Music, Flowers & More: A Full Day of Experience

MAI FEST is as much about atmosphere and experience as it is about shopping. Live music will fill the festival grounds throughout the day, and a dedicated flower market will make the event an especially perfect stop for Mother's Day. Interactive activities for kids ensure the whole family can enjoy a full day of exploration.

The Blue Island Arts Alliance is also finalizing an exciting hot food vendor lineup, with local favorites Pasta La Vista, Pollo Locuas, El Cortez, and Jerry's Jerky already planning to serve up delicious options throughout the day. Complete entertainment and food vendor announcements will be made in the weeks ahead — attendees are encouraged to follow the event page for updates.

From the Organizers

“Each year, MAI FEST grows not just in size, but in quality and diversity. We work hard to curate a lineup that feels fresh, balanced, and exciting, while still staying true to our mission of supporting local artists and small businesses.” — John E. Streetz, Streetz Artz Alliance

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Location: Downtown Blue Island, IL

• Admission: Suggested donation at the entrance (proceeds support Blue Island Arts Alliance programming)

• Parking: Expanded options available — additional details to be announced

• RSVP & Event Updates: Facebook Event Page

• Sponsorship Opportunities: blueislandartsalliance.ticketspice.com/mai-fest-2026

Full List of Artists (Subject to change):

• 3Damian Art

• Adara Selene Creations

• Angelic Celestial Whispers

• Aqueos Creations

• Art by Decker

• artberto1design

• Atlas Art Designs

• Avijo Design

• Avocado3DShop

• Bea-Hooked

• Beaver Rub Spice Company

• Becky Blue Designs

• Black Flag Trading

• Boozy Treats

• Brian Paints

• Canal Woodturning

• Castillo & Co. Jewelry

• CatWitch Designs

• ChillyGirlArt

• Craft Heads Chicago

• Crafted Laserworks

• CreepSewCreations

• Crochet By Rose

• Cryptid Claywerks

• Curvy Girl Comics

• Custom Dice by Alyssa

• Daisy Brand Arts

• Daisy Mae Designs

• Daniel's Designs

• Dive Bar Soap Company

• Dye The Day Away

• Galaxy Skincare

• Geekbit Creations

• Ghost Owl Studio

• Gigawatt Coffee Roasters

• Grandma Dan's Bakery

• Great Lakes Stone Works

• Hex & Crust

• InSpirit Adornments

• It's A Crafty Life By Trinity

• It’s Just Puppy Love

• JAGIII

• JAM. Foods & Services - AWE-SAUCE Hot Sauce

• Jamming4Bullies

• Jessica Krylowicz

• Jetibles

• kat. | poet & author

• Kinda Sketchy With Jen

• KP’s Candy Factory

• Kraftasaurous Kreations

• L&W Cryatals

• Lady Lemonade

• Ladysmith Jewelry Studio

• Linda Horton Photography

• LoCo Pottery

• Lucy + Lola Gem Creations

• Luna’s Loops

• Mamo and Jo

• Masterclass Savory Sweet Foods

• MasterLink Chainmaille

• Maverick Leather LLC

• megandowntherabbithole

• Moonlight BEEN/CRAWLSPACE

• mpn3d

• Mr Gear Grinder

• Nasaria Designs

• Nethercrafts

• Not All Thumbs Woodcrafts

• Olivia’s Garden of Creations

• Osito Azul Crafts

• Paty's Crafts

• Polly Ann Cakes

• Prairie Henna

• Primtentions

• Rabbit Hole of Research

• Reflections With Kate

• Robin Power

• RockinCrystalsLLC

• Scrapgrinder Guitars

• Serpent & Flame Candle Co

• Simply Charming

• Spicy Grrrls Hot Sauce

• Spookystitches crochet

• Starr Creations

• Stormy's Happy Place

• Susan Larsen Design

• Susan’s craft studio

• Ten Cups Tarot

• That girl at the market

• The Craftholes

• The Crooked Workbench

• Tobys3DPrinting

• Twinkies Beaded Creations

• Undici Gelato

• Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods LLC

• WhistleNotes Perfumery

• With Love Products

• Wolf Den Gaming

About the Blue Island Arts Alliance

The Blue Island Arts Alliance is a community-driven organization dedicated to nurturing arts and culture in Blue Island and the surrounding South Suburbs. Through events like MAI FEST, the Alliance creates meaningful opportunities for local artists, small businesses, and community members to connect, celebrate, and thrive together.

About the Streetz Artz Alliance

The Streetz Artz Alliance is a collaborative arts organization led by John E. Streetz, focused on expanding access to art, culture, and creative entrepreneurship through community events and partnerships.