Prism Market Lights Up Maplewood Public House with Art, Craft Beer, and Summer Fun This Friday Night in Glen Ellyn
- John E. Streetz
- 17 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Long summer evenings, local art, award-winning craft beer, and a parking lot transformed into a colorful community gathering place—that's exactly what visitors can expect Friday night as Streetz Artz Alliance and Maplewood Public House debut Prism Market in downtown Glen Ellyn.
Taking place Friday, June 26, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Prism Market transforms the parking lot at Maplewood Public House, 486 Pennsylvania Avenue, into a colorful evening marketplace celebrating local creativity, community, and the closing weekend of Pride Month. Admission is free, the event is family friendly, and with numerous nearby public parking lots and street parking throughout downtown Glen Ellyn, finding free parking should be easy for guests planning to spend the evening exploring.
Prism Market marks Streetz Artz Alliance's first event in Glen Ellyn and Maplewood Public House's first artisan market at its new suburban location. Unlike a traditional daytime market, Prism Market is designed around the relaxed atmosphere of a summer Friday night. As temperatures cool into the evening, visitors can stroll through a carefully curated lineup of more than two dozen artists, makers, authors, gamers, and community organizations while enjoying Maplewood's craft beer, food, and welcoming atmosphere.
Left to right: DK Custom Woodworking, Masterlink Chainmaille and Wolf Den Gaming and Custom Dice by Alyssa
To make exploring the market even easier, Maplewood Public House will have a check-in table near the front of the parking lot where guests 21 and older who simply plan to browse the market can quickly have their IDs checked and receive a wristband. The brewery will also be serving beer in plastic cups, allowing patrons to comfortably walk through the market while enjoying a beverage. Guests who prefer the full dining experience are always welcome to head inside or relax on the patio for full food and table service throughout the evening.
Early forecasts are shaping up perfectly for an outdoor summer market, with temperatures expected to reach the low 70s before settling comfortably into the low 60s after sunset. Current forecasts show only a slight chance of rain, making for what organizers hope will be an ideal evening of sipping, shopping, and celebrating the beginning of summer.
As daylight begins to fade, many of the artists will illuminate their booths with battery-powered lighting, creating a colorful evening shopping experience that feels very different from a traditional daytime craft fair. Combined with Maplewood's patio, music, and lively Friday night crowd, organizers hope Prism Market becomes a new way for people to kick off their weekend.
Whether you're already a Maplewood regular or visiting the Glen Ellyn location for the first time, the brewery offers an extensive selection of craft beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic options, and a full food menu throughout the evening.
The inaugural market also arrives during the closing weekend of Pride Month, with several artists and organizations embracing the event's colorful Prism theme through special products, activities, and displays.
Among them is PFLAG DuPage, a volunteer-led nonprofit serving DuPage County since 2004. Visitors can stop by their booth to learn more about their mission of supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies while creating free custom buttons at an interactive button-making station. Guests can choose from dozens of existing designs or create one entirely their own to take home.
Just a few blocks away from Maplewood Public House, local business CluedIn Escape Rooms will be bringing part of the escape room experience outdoors with free mini escape games alongside a collection of handcrafted puzzle tubes, gaming accessories, and Pride-themed puzzles designed specifically for the event. Their booth offers a fun stop for families, puzzle lovers, and tabletop gamers looking for something a little different.
Readers and book lovers will also find plenty to explore at Bookish Business. Founded by two former English teachers, the business specializes in handmade bookmarks, decorative books, Kindle covers crafted from upcycled yarn, and their popular "Blind Date with a Book" bundles. For Prism Market, they'll be featuring special bundles highlighting LGBTQ+ authors, characters, and themes alongside colorful Pride-inspired creations.
Wolf Den Gaming continues the geek culture theme with an impressive collection of tabletop gaming accessories, book nooks, dice towers, controller holders, hand-painted gaming accessories, and unique home décor. As a proudly LGBTQ+-owned small business, their colorful booth fits naturally into the spirit of the evening while offering something for both gamers and collectors alike.
Guests looking for handcrafted self-care products can visit Dive Bar Soap Company, whose playful approach to soaps, bath products, candles, and body care combines bright summer fragrances with imaginative designs. Special Pride-inspired soaps and seasonal bath products will make their debut alongside their popular collection of travel-friendly self-care items.
Two photos showing off the colorful and diverse products from Dive Bar Soap Company. Photos by artist.
Fantasy and folklore fans won't want to miss Art of Alex Kujawa, whose beautifully illustrated folklore artwork blends fantasy, horror, and nature into colorful collections of prints, books, stickers, and original artwork. Many of Kujawa's pieces feature iridescent finishes and glow-in-the-dark elements that come alive as daylight fades, making the evening setting a perfect complement to her artwork. Kujawa also created the official Prism Market artwork and branding, helping establish the colorful identity of this inaugural event.
Visitors seeking a more spiritual experience can spend time with Angelic Celestial Whispers, where third-generation evidential medium Ren Simon will be offering intuitive tarot and mediumship readings throughout the evening in a welcoming and thoughtfully decorated space.
Additional artists will feature handcrafted woodworking, unqiue jewelry, fiber arts, candles, gourmet foods, baked goods, original paintings, chainmaille, 3D printed dragons and fantasy creatures, custom dice, stickers, handcrafted apparel, illustrations, home décor, escape room puzzles, and one-of-a-kind gifts.
The complete artist lineup includes Angelic Celestial Whispers, Art of Alex Kujawa, Bea-Hooked, Bookish Business, CluedIn Escape Rooms, Crow & Moon Enchantments, Cubed Dimensions Printing, Custom Dice by Alyssa, Dive Bar Soap Company, DK Custom Woodwork, Dye The Day Away, EZ Angel Creations, Ghost Owl Studio, Izziebeescraftsandprints, Jakub Advanced Manufacturing Inc., JAM Foods & JAM Graphics, Jen Watson Art, MasterLink Chainmaille, megandowntherabbithole, PFLAG DuPage, Snowingstars, Sprinkle Candles, Sticksnstones, The Great Sandeenie LLC, and Wolf Den Gaming.
Left to right: Ghost Owl Studio, Sticksnstones, Crow & Moon Enchantments and Bea-Hooked
Whether you're searching for original artwork, handmade gifts, Pride-themed creations, fantasy collectibles, handcrafted soaps, your next favorite book, or simply a great excuse to enjoy a summer evening with friends over excellent craft beer, Prism Market offers something for everyone.
Event Details
Prism Market at Maplewood Public House
Friday, June 26, 2026
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Maplewood Public House
486 Pennsylvania Avenue
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Free Admission
Family Friendly
Free Nearby Parking
Grab some friends, enjoy a summer evening outdoors, discover your next favorite artist, and celebrate the closing weekend of Pride Month with great craft beer, local creativity, and community at the very first Prism Market. Organizers hope it's only the beginning of a new Glen Ellyn tradition.
