Upcoming Events
Events Calendar
See what’s coming up in our arts community. Explore featured events hosted by OPAAC, upcoming performances and exhibitions from community partners, ongoing opportunities for artists, and classes for all ages. New events added weekly.
Featured
Featured this week
Handpicked highlights from OPAAC and our arts partners.
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Hosting an arts, music, cultural, or community event? Submit it below and we’ll consider it for the OPAAC calendar.
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Crossing Paths Festival
Crossing Paths Festival
Saturday, June 20th @ 7:30
Madison Street Theater
Black Cat Theatre Company presents their inaugural Crossing Paths Festival. Made possible by a generous grant from the Oak Park Area Arts Council, this two night festival will showcase the multifaceted beauty of theatrical adaptation. This year, we will be celebrating the myths of The Pleiades constellation, often called the Seven Sisters. Each playwright began with the same research packet, filled with references to this story, both ancient and modern, from around the globe. The culmination of their work will be shared back to back to back along with the others in their cohort, showcasing the different motifs, characters, and themes that people draw from depending on their perspective. No adaptation is quite the same despite coming from the same exact source material! The Crossing Paths Festival will feature works by Annemarie Andaleon, Madie Doppelt, Katherine Gwynn, Jessica Posey, Keegon Schuett, Taz Stahlnecker, and Skyler Tarnas, performed by an ensemble of actors.
Crossing Paths: The Pleiades will be performed on Saturday, June 20th at Madison Street Theatre in Oak Park. Tickets are free, with a suggested $5 donation.
Link to Tickets:
https://collections.humanitix.com/crossing-paths-the-pleiades
Beyond the Walls Exhibit
Beyond the Walls Exhibit
Friday, June 26th @ 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cheney Mansion
The Oak Park Area Arts Council's "Beyond the Walls" Exhibit is back for a second year!! Join the Oak Park Area Arts Council and the Park District of Oak Park for an exclusive evening at Cheney Mansion focused on Oak Park's Mini Murals and the artists that created them.
Some of these talented muralists will be on hand, showcasing miniature canvas versions of their works and sharing the stories behind their inspiration, vision, and artistic process. This is your chance to engage with the creators, ask questions, and gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry that brightens our community.
Enjoy delicious light bites, sip on a beer, wine, or soda, and mingle with fellow art enthusiasts from the community. The evening will culminate in a raffle where you may win one of these exclusive canvas recreations—a unique piece of Oak Park’s art scene!
$15 of your registration fee goes directly to supporting the Oak Park Area Arts Council, ensuring that public art continues to thrive in our community. Ages 21+
Tickets Available via Link:
https://pdop.org/event/beyond-the-walls-the-art-behind-oak-parks-mini-murals/
OPAAC Jazz Festival
The OPAAC Jazz Festival — happening inside the What’s Blooming Street Festival in Oak Park, in collaboration with Oak Park Arts District Business Association!
Join us Saturday, May 30, 2026, 11am–9pm for a full day of incredible live jazz on a brand-new second stage in the Arts District of Oak Park. The OPAAC Jazz Festival will feature amazing performers celebrating the rich tradition and future of America’s original art form. We believe jazz belongs in the community, and Oak Park is the perfect place to showcase this vibrant music.
WHAT'S BLOOMING ON HARRISON – Street Festival
Harrison Street, Arts District – Oak Park
May 30, 2026 – 11am - 9pm.
• Free & Outdoor
• All Ages Welcome
• Food Vendors
• Art Vendors
Bring your friends, family, and spend the day celebrating jazz, creativity, and community. Lineup TBA. Stay tuned.
Throwback Island by Ro Reddick. Directed by Ebby Offord
Throwback Island by Ro Reddick
Directed by Ebby Offord
May 19 @ 7:30pm
Six “sexy singles” go to a secluded island for nostalgia soaked good vibes, #truelove, and a chance to win $100K. But when a strongman bachelor enters the villa there’s a lot more at stake than a pot of money… Throwback Island is a dark and eerie satire that explores homegrown, all-American fascism through a bonkers reality dating show.
Rona Fortunae by Rammel Chan. Directed by Hannah Todd
Rona Fortunae by Rammel Chan
Directed by Hannah Todd
May 17 @ 7:30pm
In a world where the walls between dreams and reality are permeable, Henry, drowning in debt and hoping to help his sick friend, applies for a job to the Tether Candidate Program. In exchange for ten million dollars a year, trillionaire adherents tether their souls to the souls of good commoners in order to avoid damnation by the scientifically proven One True God.
Clownfishing by Bailey Jordan Garcia. Directed by Jessica Love
Clownfishing by Bailey Jordan Garcia
Directed by Jessica Love
May 17 @ 3:00pm
Set in the early days of online anonymity, Clownfishing follows a grieving teenager who slips into his dead best friend’s digital persona to entrap her former bully, only to discover that the performance offers a freedom and recognition he’s never had in his own body.
Oak Park Mini Murals
The community mini-mural project was launched in 2010 to promote creative expression and provide an enriching visual experience for residents and visitors alike.
OF THE MOMENT – Photo Closing Exhibit
OF THE MOMENT – Photo Closing Exhibit
Join the Oak Park Area Arts Council and the Oak Park Art League for the closing exhibit of their “Of the Moment” Photography Contest. Enjoy free bites & wine while taking in the selected contest finalists. The exhibit will be your final chance to vote for the winners of three different categories. Be there when the winners are announced! A FREE event hosted at the Oak Park Art League’s Gallery on Friday, January 30th from 6pm till 7:30pm. Winners will be announced around 7.
Special thanks to Juan Carlos at Print Innovation Lab for printing the selected finalists.
**Can’t make it to the closing exhibit? Don’t miss out on your chance to vote for the winners. Stop by the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library between January 15th and January 29th for your chance to participate in voting. The Jury selected finalists will be on display after noon on the 15th until noon on the 2
Cozy On Up Artisan Market: Call for Vendors & Artists
The Oak Park Area Arts Council is hosting an artisan market during the upcoming Holiday season. Our goal is to support artists of all kinds this season by providing a space where they can sell their work, build community, and create holiday joy.