Our newest mural features Printers Row Lit Fest, an annual celebration bringing booksellers, authors, and readers to the Printers Row Historic District to enjoy book browsing, author talks, and panel discussions.

This year’s free, family-friendly festival will take place in downtown Chicago on September 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Covering five city blocks, the Lit Fest will feature new, pre-loved, and treasured books from more than 100 booksellers. Attendees can also participate in a variety of programs for kids, young adults, and grownups, including poetry programs presented by the Poetry Foundation, a playwriting workshop for teens hosted by Steppenwolf Theater, and a Lit Fest kickoff by Natasha Trethewey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, two-term U.S. Poet Laureate, and Harold Washington Literary Award recipient.

Artist Steve Musgrave explained that his inspiration for the mural came from past Printers Row Lit Fests, where the joy of books and outdoor summer fun is prevalent. The themes of summer and reading appear throughout the mural while also depicting the diverse group of Lit Fest visitors who flock to the Printers Row neighborhood each year.

The Near South Planning Board organizes Printers Row Lit Fest. This not-for-profit community-based organization has served businesses, institutions, and property owners in the near south area since 1946.

As an organization passionate about literacy and giving back to the Chicagoland area, Wintrust is proud to serve as Printers Row Lit Fest’s program sponsor. Discover more information about this year’s Lit Fest, including the schedule of events and how to volunteer, at printersrowlitfest.org.