2009 TIGRAY FESTIVAL IN CHICAGO

NEW HOTEL BLOCK

2009-07-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Guests,

The Holiday Inn in Skokie has advised us that the previous block is now full. Therefore, we have arranged another block with other sister hotel, Holiday Inn O'Hare Area. The new BLOCK NUMBER is TDA. CALL the hotel at 773-693-5800 and make sure to mention the group code (TDA) to get the discounted price. The Hotel will honor the previous rate ($74.00) for a double bed room.

2009 TIGRAY FESTIVAL: A FIVE DAY SCHEDULE

2009-07-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

A. Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Activity: UTNA Conference
Time: 10:00am-6:00pm
Place: Truman College
Room# 3440, Lecture Hall B
1145 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640

B. Thursday, July 30, 2009
Activity: UTNA Conference
Time: 10:00am-6:00pm
Place: Truman College
Room#3440, Lecture Hall B

C. Friday, July 31, 2009
Activity1: Youth Conference
Time: 9:00am-6:00pm
Place: Truman College
Novar Hall, Room #326

Activity 2: Music Night
Time: 8:30pm-2:00am
Place: 4941N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640

D. Saturday, August 1, 2009
Activity1: Public Meeting
Time: 9:00am-12:30pm
Place: Truman College
Novar Hall, Room# 326

Activity 2: Soccer Games
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Place: 4400 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640

Activity 3: Music Night
Time: 7:00pm-3:00am
Place: Croatian Cultural Center
2845 W. Devon Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659

E. Sunday, August 2, 2009
Activity 1: Final Soccer Games/
Outdoor Barbeque
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Place: 4400 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640

Activity 2: Boat Cruise
Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm
Place: Lake Michigan

Activity 3: Music Night
Time: 9:00pm-3:00pm
Place: Diamond Restaurant
Chicago, IL 60640

For more info, you may e-mail us at 2009tigrayfestival@gmail.com or call members of the “event organizing committee” at the following numbers:

General questions: 630-207-7682
Transportation: 773-818-7152
Hotels/musicians: 630-532-1607
Sport: 630-456-5671
Boat Cruise: 773-960-6450

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-05-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Q.Why do we have to have Tigray Festival?
A.The purpose of hosting Tigray Festival is to bring the members of the Tigray community together, and celebrate their culture.

Q. Why do we have to call it Tigray Festival instead of Ethiopian Festival?
A. As we all know, Tigray is the heartland of Ethiopia, and its people are--together with other nations and nationalities in the country--the custodians of Ethiopia’s sovereignty. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in calling it Ethiopian festival for Tigrayans are Ethiopians. In light of the fact that most of the participants of the festival are from Tigray region, however, the festival has been named as such.

Q. How can we book hotel rooms in Chicago?
A. For your convenience, we have signed a contract with Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore. But you will be responsible for booking your individual rooms by directly contacting the hotel at the following (don't forget to mention the Block Code:TDF)
Sandra Bondi
Sales Manager
Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore
Skokie Banquet and Conference Center
5300 W. Touhy Avenue
Skokie, IL 60077
P: 847-763-3005/847-679-8900
F: 847-763-3078
sbondi@hiskokie.com
www.skokieconference.com
You can also call 1-866-750-3369, and ask for the Room Block Code:TDF. You need the Block Code (TDF) inorder to get the discounted group price of the hotel rooms ($74.oo/room). One room has two beds. The price is a good deal considering the condition of the hotel/rooms. If you wish to reserve your own hotel rooms anywhere in Chicago by your own, you may do so.

Q. Who are the singers (musicians) coming for this year’s Festival?
A. Renowned artists such as Tadesse Abraha(Wedi Kokeb), Abrehet Abdu, Tsegazeab Gebreselassie, Eden Gebreselassie, and Yayne Abay have been invited for the festival.We will post a detailed information on this blog, and other web sites soon. Thank you for your patience.

Q. What will be the weather condition in Chicago in July?
A. It is hard to predict the weather condition in July for sure, but, generally speaking, it will be reasonably hot. Therefore, you don’t need to pack any jacket. Wear for the weather. Light clothing will do it.

Q. Who do we have to call for questions regarding the festival?
A. You can call the following members of the ‘event organizing committee’:

General info: 630-207-7682
Hotels: 630-532-1607
Transportation: 773-818-7152
Soccer games: 630-4565671
Youth: 773-216-9339

An Invitation to all Ethiopians

2009-05-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia;

We are going to tell you what you might have known before; the 2009 Tigray Festival is going to be held in Chicago, also known as the ‘City of the Big Shoulders”, ‘Windy City’, ‘Chi-Town,’ and the ‘Second City’. As a result, we, the residents of Chicago and its environs are thrilled with the prospect of hosting many Ethiopians from various cities in North America in this great city with its abundant resources. The event is sponsored by the Union of Tigrayans in North America (UTNA), and being organized by volunteers who reside in Chicago.

Here in Chicago, we are ready to make your stay with us a worthwhile by offering a range of activities, including sports, music, organized tours of the city, and educational meetings. You will love them all.

Killing Two Birds with One Stone

By coming to Chicago this summer, you will accomplish two important things: attending the cultural event that is full of festivities, and visiting Chicago—a city that was chosen as one of the final four world city candidates to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Chicago has a long-standing tradition of hosting numerous events that attract millions in a year.

While in Chicago, you will enjoy watching the city’s lakefront, skyscrapers, museums, and other landmarks. The city is a family-friendly destination; hence, it is an ideal place to spend summer vacation with kids when they are on break from school. Reward your kids with this wonderful gift and they will remember it forever. Hey! You need it, too. Refresh your body and spirit in Chicago while mingling with your family members and other friends that will converge in Chicago for the event.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at
2009tigrayfestival@gmail.com or call us at the numbers posted at the upper right corner of this blog. We appreciate your comments, and we look forward to getting feedback from you.

Sincerely,

2009 Tigray Festival Organizing Committee