The On the One Music Festival returns to the South Loop this Saturday, Aug. 8, running 3 to 9 p.m. at Central Station Park, 8100 33rd Ave. S. Admission is free and open to all ages.
This is the festival's fifth year, and organizers are marking it with the event's first national headliner: Grammy-nominated R&B artist Carl Thomas, known for hits like "I Wish," "Summer Rain" and "Emotional." Thomas built his career after Sean Combs discovered him at a New York open mic and signed him to Bad Boy Entertainment; he later earned a Grammy nomination for "Everyday (Family Reunion)" with Yolanda Adams, Chaka Khan and Gerald Levert.
Rounding out the lineup are L.A. Buckner & Big Homie, BDifferent, Bakarii, BDotCroc, Jhadiya Steele and the Normandale Jazz Alumni. GenerationNOW Entertainment, the official DJ program for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, will keep three DJs spinning between sets, and Sanni Brown of Carbon Sound hosts the day. The festival, produced by The Avant Garde, started at Normandale Lake Bandshell before moving to Central Station Park in the South Loop district.
There's no permanent seating on the park's open lawn, so bring a blanket or lawn chair. Food vendors on site include Soul to Soul BBQ, Muddy Tiger Indian Street Food, Taqueria el Patron, Sambusa Samosa, The Triple Sip, Life Juices and NorthStar Tavern. Parking is available in several lots near the park; a parking map and full vendor list are posted on the city's event page.
