The Backward River Festival 2021

Reclaiming the Chicago River

Saturday, Oct. 16 and Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Come reclaim your water and foster a sense of joy and community through dance, music, food and connection.

Together we will uplift the voices and narratives of those whose lives and communities have been disrupted as private interests manipulate the river—even reversing its flow—to their will, and reimagine what’s possible in moving forward with the Chicago River.

Enjoy knowledge-sharing  and performances on the mainstage hosted by The Hoodoisie.

Connect to the river and each other through curated activities and engaging art installations.

Visit the community expo for meaningful exchanges with representatives from community-based organizations.

Join us as we bring to life The Backward River—a digital storytelling project from the Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago that sheds light on who benefits from the Chicago River, who bears the burden and how differently it is experienced, depending on where you live in the city. This event is free and open to the public.

Graphic art by Jose Rosa. 

Bridgehouse Experience

Tender House Project returns as a partner program of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and the inaugural Backward River Festival with an activation of Chicago’s historic bridgehouses. Lumpen Radio and Communities Amplified will premiere a series of live radio transmissions at the South Ashland Ave. Bridgehouse featuring stories from community organizations across Chicago’s 25th Ward. In the evenings, the bridgehouse will symbolize a beacon of resident voices and the strong presence of the Chicago River through a curated selection of film projections created by Chicago artists. Collaboration among Tender House Project, Public Media Institute, the UIC School of Art & Art History, Deep Time Chicago and the Freshwater Lab at UIC.

For a full program listing, visit tenderhouseproject.com/calendar-of-programs.

Plan for your attendance

Safety and accessibility

We are committed to fostering a festival environment that is inclusive, safe and accessible to everyone. We do not tolerate any harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, body size, appearance, age or national origin.

Accessibility
To request special accommodations, submit questions or provide feedback, email thefreshwaterlab@gmail.com.

Getting there

The Eleanor Boathouse at Park 571 is located at 2828 S. Eleanor St., Chicago, IL 60608. Limited street parking is available as well as a small parking lot adjacent to the park. The use of public transportation is encouraged where possible.

What to bring

  • Foldable chair or picnic blanket (limited priority seating will be available)
  • Filled reusable water bottle or hydration pack
  • Face mask
  • Umbrella (just in case!)
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (comfortable layers and dancing shoes)
  • Your friends and family!

Support

Freshwater Lab enjoys ongoing support from the The UIC Institute for the Humanities, as well as financial awards from Humanities Without Walls. The Backward River Festival is made possible with support of the  University of Illinois Presidential Initiative: Expanding the Impact of the Arts and the Humanities and our partners.