Events at Our Farm
During our growing season, we offer cultural public programming to reflect the diversity of our farm and foster cross-cultural relationships between our farmers and community. This includes our summer concert series that highlights music from around the world and our cooking class series that features locals chefs and our farmers teaching the public how to make cultural dishes from their home country.
Past bands that have played at Global Gardens include: Tuvergen Band, Ochin Pakhi, Magic Carpet, Surabhi Ensemble, Joel Paterson Swing Quartet, La Tosca, Phaedra Darwish, Alpha and the Princes of Futa, Cambodian Traditional Music Ensemble
Video taken at our May 2025 concert featuring La Tosca
Upcoming Farm Events
Uncorking for a Cause!
Visit any Vin Chicago location (Chicago or Highland Park) on November 6th to 8th, make a purchase, and mention that you are purchasing in support of Global Gardens Chicago. For the duration of that weekend, ten percent of your sales will be donated back to the participating nonprofit organization of your choice, for both in-store and online sales. This is a great opportunity to load up for the holiday season, and to give back to great organizations within our community.
For more information, visit: vinchicago.com.
Pumpkin Smash Composting Day
Join Global Gardens Chicago and Waste Not Compost to green your halloween on Saturday, November 7th at 10:00am-2:00pm to smash your pumpkins and enjoy some light bevvys and snacks.
What is the Pumpkin Smash?
The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. It is typically held each year the Saturday after Halloween. Don’t Trash it, Smash it!
Did you know that pumpkins are 90% water? This means they produce a lot of leachate in landfills, further contaminating our soils. But, we can help fix that by composting our pumpkins.
Volunteer Work Day
Help us prepare our farm for the winter by volunteering to do various farm tasks including cleaning, organizing, and other tasks
Volunteer tasks may include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Organizing the farm
Turning the compost
Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and in clothes you don't mind getting dirty. If you have a pair of garden gloves, please bring those with you as we have limited pairs. Make sure to also bring some water with you. Please note that we only have outhouse access onsite.
Fall Harvest Fundraiser
Join us for an evening of celebration and support for our community gardens. The Fall Harvest Fundraiser will take place on Thu Oct 8, 2026 at 6:30 at 4815 N Sacramento Ave . Come enjoy delicious food, na drinks, entertainment, and a raffle. Your attendance will help us continue to grow and maintain our programming. Let's come together under the harvest moon to show our love for nature and community!
Can't attend? Check out our sponsorship opportunities.
Volunteer at Apple Fest for Our Farm
Join us as we volunteer for the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Apple Fest! We are a part of their Volunteer Grant Program, so we get a donation per volunteer shift we fill. (This means you can volunteer multiple times to get us more money, if you feel called to it)
All you have to do is fill out the application at the link below and put “Global Gardens Chicago” in the organization you’re representing, and we’ll get a donation!
Avondale Gardening Alliance's Harvest & Culture Fest
We’re joining the Avondale Gardening Alliance’s Harvest & Culture Fest on Sunday, September 27th at 2-6pm, exact location TBD. RSVP for more details!
On the last Sunday in September, we gather to celebrate the abundance of the harvest season with our community as people have for centuries. Join us! Bring the jam you made from your raspberries, a bouquet of your zinnias for the potluck table, seeds from your favorite tomato, the garden wine you tried this year -- or just bring yourself! You are always enough. Enjoy our charcuterie board potluck, gratitude, and garden talk with your community.
Fall Nature Fest
We’ll be joining Commissioner Degnen along with many other great organizations for an afternoon of family-friendly fun at LaBagh Woods.
Fall Nature Fest is an environmentally themed end-of-summer festival. With over 60 vendors, food trucks, and countless activities, there is something for the whole family. This is a free event, and no registration is needed.
Farm Concert: The Arab Blues
Join us for a beautiful evening of Arab and blues fusion music, dancing, and food! Our events have a suggested donation of $20, payable at the gate.
Doors and farmer-made food served at 4 pm, music is from 5-6:30 pm.
Our events are BYOC-Bring Your Own Chair. We only have access to an outhouse, so please come prepared.
About the Artist:
The Arab Blues traces a trajectory between tradition and innovation. We embody the call of tradition and the response of the diaspora.
The synthesis Rami and Karim create is an auditory expression of not only the power and persistence of tradition, but equally the validity of its transformation under the unique cultural conditions we inhabit.
Chicago teaches us tenacity, while our Arab homelands offer us a deep well of inspiration and reverence. Our reaction to xenophobia, dehumanization, and prejudice toward our beloved people can be heard in our performance. Music offers us the amplification to broadcast our unique story, rebut stereotypes, and shush the negativists.
The basis of our work is the Turath, the canon of classical Arab compositions and improvisational techniques. This rich heritage consists of melodic and rhythmic exposition and instrumental interaction at countless levels of depth.
We interpret the Turath in the context of the equally lush traditions of blues and jazz in Chicago. This marriage of forms is fruitful because of the emotional range of the blues and the improvisational flexibility and ingenuity of jazz.
The Arab Blues was developed by Lebanese-Egyptian oud and guitar player Rami Gabriel through a research fellowship at the Center for Black Music Research, two Illinois Artist grants, and a decade of experience as a jazz and blues musician in Chicago.
Native Egyptian percussionist Karim Nagi, a two-time beneficiary of the Doris Duke Building Bridges grant, is an accomplished teacher and performer who completes this duo with his energetic and lyrical approach to rhythm on riqq, tublah, and assembled drum set. Karim also designs the artwork and graphics, funneling their music into a visual stamp.
Living in Chicago inspired The Arab Blues to amplify the sound of their folk traditions. Participating in the city's musical landscape is a celebration and embodiment of the immigrant experience. The Arab Blues draw from the rich traditions of maqam, blues, and jazz to create an eclectic, playful, and virtuosic sound of the future.
WU! Summer Series: Garden Party
Join Chicago United Solidarity Project, Global Gardens Chicago, and Women Unite! as we connect our communities through meaningful events and a shared value of caring for all Chicagoans.
On Sunday, August 30, we’ll be hanging out at Global Gardens Chicago for our second-annual Garden Party! We’ll have live music, delicious food prepared by local vendors, tours of the farm, a raffle, and, of course, incredible community.
Global Gardens Chicago
(4815 N. Sacramento Ave.)
Can’t make it? You can make a donation to support our vision or select the “Community Member” option to purchase a ticket for those who are part of the global majority and frontline communities.
Cooking Class with Farmer Celestine
Join us for a hands-on cooking class where farmer Celestine will teach us how to make traditional African Fufu and Goat Soup.
All cooking classes take place outdoors at our farm, so please be prepared to dress for the weather. We only have access to an outhouse onsite.
Volunteer Work Days
Help us with some woodchipping and cleaning up around the farm.
Volunteer tasks include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Organizing the farm
Turning the compost
Woodchipping
Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and in clothes you don't mind getting dirty. If you have a pair of garden gloves, please bring those with you as we have limited pairs. Make sure to also bring some water with you. Please note that we only have outhouse access onsite.
Volunteer Work Days
Help us with some woodchipping and cleaning up around the farm.
Volunteer tasks include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Organizing the farm
Turning the compost
Woodchipping
Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and in clothes you don't mind getting dirty. If you have a pair of garden gloves, please bring those with you as we have limited pairs. Make sure to also bring some water with you. Please note that we only have outhouse access onsite.
Farm Concert: Paul Asaro Quartet ft. Natalie Scharf
***Due to an unforeseen conflict, Joel Paterson (who was previously scheduled to play on this date) will not be able to make it. But his band members plus acclaimed pianist, Paul Asaro, will continue on with the show!***
Join us for a beautiful evening of swing music, dancing, and food with the Paul Asaro Quartet ft. Natalie Scharf
Doors and farmer-made food served at 4 pm, music is from 5-6:30 pm.
Our events are BYOC-Bring Your Own Chair.
About the Artist:
The Paul Asaro Quartet featuring Natalie Scharf features absolutely swinging and danceable music from the late 1920s through the mid 1940s. Paul and Natalie are both influenced and inspired by stride piano masters/consummate entertainers Fats Waller, Willie the Lion Smith, and James P. Johnson, as well as early swing innovators like Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Lester Young. They both perform regularly at the historic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, and various other venues around Chicago. There will be a dance floor, and the lineup will feature Paul Asaro on piano and vocals, Natalie Scharf on saxophone, Jeff Parker on bass, and Alex Hall on drums.
Cooking Class with Farmer Nge Meh
Join us for a hands-on cooking class where our very own farmer, Nge Meh will teach us how to make Burmese Chickpea Tofu Salad! (The tofu is made out of chickpeas!)
All of our cooking classes happen outside at our farm unless there is inclement weather, which we will notify you of any sort of change in scheduling. Please dress accordingly.
Volunteer at Square Roots Fest
We are lucky to be a part of Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce’s Community Partner Grant Program which means we earn a donation for every volunteer shift we fill for their Square Roots festival on July 10–12, 2026.
To sign up, click the button below and make sure to write “Global Gardens Chicago” as the organization you are representing to make sure we get the donation.
Here are some things you can help with:
Set-Up Crew – Help bring the fest to life by setting up tables, chairs, banners, signage, and beverage stations before the gates open.
Gate Greeters – Be the welcoming face of the fest! Greet guests and encourage a suggested donation that supports the music, the festival, and neighborhood programs. Great for outgoing personalities and strong communicators.
POS Stations – Perfect for tech-savvy volunteers who are calm under pressure and comfortable handling credit card transactions in a fast-paced environment.
Beer Stations – Help keep the good vibes flowing! Pour drinks, check IDs, and work in the center of the festival action.
Teardown Crew – Help us wrap up a successful weekend by breaking down festival areas, packing materials, and restoring the neighborhood.
Cooking Class with Chef Rory Leahy
Learn how to make Tofu Peanut Curry with our very own board member, Rory Leahy! Rory has been instrumental in booking our cooking classes since 2023. Tickets are $50. Cooking classes take place at our farm, so please dress accordingly.
Allergies: Soy, nuts, gluten
Cross-Pollination Event
Join us this Saturday from 11-4 PM for Cross-Pollination, an exciting free event executed by 2nd story and in collaboration with various organizations and businesses near Lawrence & Sacramento. Haley LeRand, Executive Director of Global Gardens, will give farm tours at 11, 11:30, and 12, and host a U-Pick/vegetable sales hour from 12:30-1:30. You can just show up! Visit 2ndstory.com/crosspollination-2026 for the full schedule of events.
In collaboration with 2nd Story, Albany Park Theater Project, Albany Park Mutual Aid, Cambodian Association of Illinois, and Brü Coffeeworks.
World Refugee Day
The theme for World Refugee Day 2026 is "Solidarity with Refugees". This theme emphasizes turning sympathy into action, welcoming refugees into local communities, and ensuring they can work, thrive, and contribute. The 2026 Chicago community celebration is made possible by support from individuals, event partners, and The Reva and David Logan Foundation.
Global Issues, Local Responses Book Club
Join Executive Director, Haley LeRand at the Global IssuesJoin Executive Director, Haley LeRand at the Global Issues, Local Responses Book Club which is curated for readers of books that create connections by linking pressing global issues to particular local contexts for their meeting on Tuesday, April 28.
At the meeting, we’ll be reading THE LAST SWEET BITE by renowned human rights investigator Michael Shaikh. With Guest Host Laurell Sims of Evanston Grows, joined by Haley LeRand of Global Gardens (in Albany Park), and our very own Ana Croegaert, author of Bosnian Refugees in Chicago and essays about Bosnian coffee practices.
The event is open to the public and you are not expected to finish the book before attending. April 28th 6-7:30 PM.
Community Science Volunteer Training
Are you interested in helping our native pollinators? Then, come learn how to become a Community Scientist and track pollinators in our garden! We ask that you can dedicate about one day every week or so and look at the amount of pollinators on one plant for at least 10 minutes and track it using a phone application. A full training will be provided on Saturday, June 13 at 10am-11am.
Opening Farm Concert: Norberto Guerra Trio
Come celebrate the opening concert at our farm and enjoy Cuban music, farmer-made food, and overall great vibes!
Come listen to some music, eat farmer made food, and enjoy the ambiance of our farm for our opening concert of the season!
Schedule of events:
4:00 - Doors open / food is served
5:00 - Music begins / produce is sold
6:30 - End
All of our events have limited seating, so it's encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs or arrive early for premium seating. Suggested donation is $20 to help our garden continue offering cultural programming and supporting our small refugee farm.
More about the artist:
Norberto Guerra is a Cuban musician, composer, arranger, and producer, driven by a deep passion forthe vibrant rhythms of Cuban son, enriched by the diverse influences of Caribbean and African music.His artistry captures the essence of Cuban son, fusing traditional melodies and rhythms with theexpressive nuances of flamenco, bossa nova, blues, and jazz. This fusion enables him to craft uniqueinterpretations that resonate deeply with audiences, celebrating the richness of Cuban heritage whileembracing contemporary musical expression. Instruments: Acoustic and electric guitar, tres cubano,electric bass, and Latin percussion. Education: • BFA in Classical Guitar, Instituto Superior de las Artes(ISA), Havana, Cuba (2015) • Classical Music Studies, Escuela Nacional de las Artes (ENA), CubanConservatory of Music, Havana, Cuba (2008)
University of Chicago Farmer's Market
Come down to the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative’s Farmers Market at the University of Chicago’s Main Quadrangles from 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 10th.
Hope to see you there!
Donation Day at Eco-Flamingo
Visit the Eco-Flamingo on Friday, May 8th and make a purchase to earn us 10% of sales for the day!
Location: The Eco Flamingo
4750 N Rockwell St, Chicago
Open from 11am-7pm
Volunteer Fair
Come learn how to get involved in your community, leave inspired to take action!
The Volunteer Fair is back this spring with even more opportunities to do impactful work in Chicago. No matter what interests your or what skills you bring, there's an opportunity for everyone!
Whether you're passionate about protecting the environment, mentoring youth, or advancing social justice, there's an organization that needs you! The Volunteer Fair makes it easy for passionate people ready to get involved to connect with inspiring non-profits & community groups making our city stronger. Come to learn all the ways you can make a difference, leave feeling inspired—find your thing!
In addition to 20+ super rad local organizations, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with others in your community, passionate about building a better Chicago.
Drinks will be available for purchase from our hosts at the River Room.
The Volunteer Fair is free to attend, but please let us know you're coming so we can share any important event updates. We can't wait to see you there!
Solidarity Gardening Forever
Reflecting on working-class connections to the land.
A one-day conference presented in collaboration with Perennial City: Experiments in Urban Gardening (March 19 — December 18, 2026), an exhibition at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum that reveals how working people—past and present—have used gardening as a tool for creativity, care, and community action.
The day-long gathering of artists, growers, scholars, organizers, and University of Illinois Chicago partners from UNAM-Mexico City will explore the transformation of land from industrial use to food production; the preservation of local seeds and the conservation of animal species; the documentation and transmission of agricultural and culinary knowledge; the creation of alternative food networks for distributing and sustaining local crops; and the collective organizing required to defend these systems that nourish us all.
Spring Volunteer Day
Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, and other tasks!
Volunteer tasks include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Organizing the farm
Turning the compost
Woodchipping
Slow Water with Stephan Crump
Acclaimed composer and bassist Stephan Crump presents an extraordinary ensemble and body of work inspired by the movement to redefine how we live with water in an era of rapid change.
Yuhan Su • vibraphone
Fung Chern Hwei • viola
Erica Dicker • violin
Jacob Garchik • trombone
Kenny Warren • trumpet
Stephan Crump • acoustic bass
Show is at 8:30pm at the Constellation Chicago on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2026.
Earth Day Happy Hour
Come celebrate, listen to global roots music, enter a raffle and support our farm! 10% of bar sales will be donated to us.
Raffle tickets can be purchased before the event to get an extra entry if you attend Earth Day Happy Hour, but tickets will also be for sale at the event. Tickets are $5 for one, $20 for 5, or $35 for 10. You don't need to be present to win. Raffle prizes include:
Four-course meal with wine pairings and Chef led on-site greenhouse tour at Eden Chicago in Avondale.
Two-hour Historic Chicago Kayak Tour for 2 with Urban Kayaks
$100 Foursided Giftcard
Small Group Climbing Session for up to 6 people at First Ascent
Purchase raffle tickets here.
RSVP not required, but encouraged.
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on
April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.
Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on
April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.
Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
Spring Volunteer Day
Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, and other tasks!
Volunteer tasks include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Organizing the farm
Turning the compost
Woodchipping
Volunteer Workday
Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, rock painting, and seed organizing!
Volunteer tasks include:
Picking up trash around the garden
Painting rock markers for family garden plots
Organizing seeds
Turning the compost
Woodchipping
Support community, culture, and refugee farmers in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood by sponsoring an event or event series. More on each option below:
Second Saturday Concert Series
Our summer concerts for the public fall on the second Saturday of the month, May-September. Concerts mainly feature music rooted in different cultural traditions, and include free food prepared by our farmers.
~700 attendees across all 5 concerts
Posts created on social media to promote event
Posters placed around the neighborhood
Typical reel promo receives 1,500-3,000 impressions and 976 email subscribers
Cooking Class Series
Local chefs teach the public how to cook a dish. Our farmers also have the opportunity to lead several classes and share their cuisine with neighbors. Classes are held outside at the farm, 5-6 times throughout the summer.
20 attendees per cooking class
Posts created on social media to promote event
Posters placed around the neighborhood
Typical reel promo receives 1,500-3,000 impressions 976 email subscribers
Sponsorship Levels
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for one event of your choice
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for two events of your choice
Tabling opportunity at the two events
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for three events of your choice
Tabling and speaking opportunity at the three events
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Name and logo placement on all event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts
Tabling and speaking opportunity at all events of your choice
For any questions or additional information, please email jessica@globalgardenschicago.org