Thursday, September 24, 2026 | View in browser
Read below for information about weekend events, new murals around town, a watch party at Ryan Field, and more!
 Weekend event roundup
Embrace the fall spirit: Join us for the Fall Harvest Festival at Eggleston Park on Sat., Sept. 26, from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy tours of the Farmette, Bee Apiary, and Food Forest, plus games, a pumpkin patch, a scarecrow-making contest, and more! Because of ongoing alley work and limited street parking, we encourage guests to walk, bike, take transit, or carpool.
Bike the Ridge returns: On Sun., Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ridge Avenue will transform into a car-free zone, allowing cyclists to pedal from Howard to Church Streets. Mayor Biss will kick things off at 9 a.m. at Ridge & Howard. Afterward, head to Ridgeville Park for live music and food trucks.
Check out the new theatre: Northlight Theatre is hosting a free community open house on Mon., Sept. 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can take a backstage tour and meet Northlight staff to learn about artistic plans, community programs, and business partnerships. RSVP today.
We're painting the town!
Main Street Mural: Join in on Sat., Sept. 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 727 Main St. for the Main Street Mural Dedication. Help celebrate this colorful new addition to the neighborhood and everyone who helped bring it to life.
Make Your Mark on Ryan Field: Northwestern University, in partnership with the City, has released a Request for Qualifications for a 78 ft. mural on Ryan Field's southeast façade celebrating Evanston's diversity. Artists of all disciplines are welcome, especially those with Evanston ties. Three semifinalists will receive $2,500 each to develop proposals, and the selected artist/team will receive $20,000. Applications are due October 23.
Encore Mural: The City unveiled a new downtown sidewalk mural celebrating the return of the newly opened Northlight Theatre. City-funded and partly painted by staff, it brings to life a design by Robin Marquand of All Together and joins the Entertainment District's Walk of Fame-style decals honoring local theater figures.
 Game-Day traffic expected Friday at Ryan Field
Northwestern will host a Season Ticket Holder Watch Party at Ryan Field on Friday, Sept. 25, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., serving as a dress rehearsal for the October 2 home game. The full stadium will be open, with the game shown on the video boards, so nearby residents should expect game-day-level traffic, crowds, and sound into the evening.
Parking Restrictions: Parking District 6 restrictions will be in effect for the watch party and upcoming home games, limiting street parking to vehicles with a valid District 6 resident or guest permit, typically from two hours before each event until one hour after it ends. Learn more.
 2nd Benchmarking non-compliance warning
Beginning the week of October 5, the City will post the second round of Benchmarking Non-Compliance Stickers on buildings. This means that the building is not in compliance with the City’s Healthy Buildings Ordinance and needs to report its annual energy and water consumption.
Please note: It does not mean that the building is unsafe to occupy, that its certificate of occupancy may be revoked, or that a health hazard has been identified. It does not mean tenants are at risk of being ticketed.
Non-compliance will result in fines to building owners of $250/month starting January 1, 2027. For more information and for help achieving compliance, go to the City’s benchmarking helpdesk or call 3-1-1.
More News and Events
Celebrate the launch of Space to Place
Community members are invited to celebrate Space to Place, Evanston's new small business retail incubator and pop-up program, for its opening weekend on Oct. 3-4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Bookman's Alley (1712 Sherman Ave.). Shop coffee, vintage clothing, plants, jewelry, home goods, and more from independent businesses, plus enjoy food and drink specials.
Get your free flu & COVID-19 vaccines
The Evanston Health Department has partnered with CIMPAR to offer free flu and COVID-19 vaccines to eligible community members on October 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Robert Crown Community Center. Advance registration is encouraged, though walk-ins are welcome.
Friendly reminder: pay your wheel tax!
The 2027 wheel tax is due September 30, 2026. It applies to all vehicles registered to an Evanston address with the Illinois Secretary of State and covers Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027. You can pay online, by mail, in person, or at the drop box at 909 Davis Street.
Mobile DMV coming to Evanston, October 9
State Rep. Robyn Gabel and the Illinois Secretary of State's office are hosting a Mobile DMV at the Robert Crown Community Center (1801 Main St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can renew or correct driver's licenses, upgrade to a REAL ID, get or renew state ID cards, and buy license plate stickers. Registration is required, and appointments are limited.
Register to participate in the annual Zombie Scramble
Registration is open for the annual Parks & Recreation Zombie Scramble, happening Sat., Oct. 17, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ladd Arboretum. This thrilling event challenges kids to make it through a zombie-infested course with their “lives”, represented by flags on a flag football belt, still intact.
Civic Fest invites ETHS students to get engaged
Her Rising Initiative and Evanston Cradle 2 Career invite ETHS students to Civic Fest on Fri., Sept. 25, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Gibbs-Morrison Center. Students can enjoy free food, games, prizes, and swag while connecting with ETHS alumni in politics and leadership, registering to vote, and learning how to get civically engaged.
Community Calendar
Downtown Evanston gets its first Community Fridge and Pantry
 Photo Credit: My Ly
On Tuesday, the Woman's Club of Evanston and Evanston Community Fridges celebrated the opening of a new community fridge and pantry at the Woman's Club (1702 Chicago Ave.), the first community fridge in downtown Evanston. The new fridge/freezer and dry-goods pantry expand free food access in the community and are part of ongoing efforts to fight food insecurity in Evanston. Read more in the Evanston Round.
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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