YippieFest 2026

Chicago's annual summer festival returns this fall for three days of performances
(30-ish shows!) There's always something going on and something up next.  Join the experience.

Our goal is simple:
1) Provide a stage for artists to perform their current show or try something new.
2) Raise money for three local charities: Howard Brown Health, Deborah's Place, and Northwestern Settlement Food Pantry
3) Have fun getting together to perform

Featuring..

Short Plays • Sketch Comedy • Improv
Storytelling • Puppets • Dance
Object Theater • Music
Performance Art and more...

October 9-10-11
at
Cornservatory

4201 N Lincoln Ave

What is Yippiefest?

A HAPPENING

More than 30 groups/artists will gather together at Chopin Theatre in Chicago to provide hours of back-to-back entertainment and raise money for local charities. There's a wide variety of shows including short plays, improv, monologues, sketch comedy, stand-up, music, performance art, dance, and more. Come early, stay late.

What is a Yippie?

"Yippies" were members of the Youth International Party, a counterculture movement mixing psychedelic hippies with political activists, that began in 1967. With a flair for theatrics and satirical pranks, the Yippies grabbed media attention in the U.S. protesting war and the criminalization of marijuana, and criticizing institutions of government and greed. Some of their most notable mischief included an attempt to levitate The Pentagon, nominating a Pig for President, throwing pies at politicians, and bringing Santa Claus to the House Un-American Activities Committee. 

Pot, politics, music, performance and humor fueled the Yippies. Once referred to as "Groucho Marxists," they aimed to change the system and to provide a means of expression for everyone. According to one of the founders, Jerry Rubin, "We try to bring out the yippie in everybody." 

Above all, Yippie! is shout of joy. As Abbie Hoffman, another founder of the Yippies, explained, "What does Yippie! mean? Energy -- fun -- fierceness -- exclamation point." 

Important Dates