About this Event
Learn ukulele all day at our chord stations!
Ukes are available to borrow & available for purchase!
Or Win a Uke at the Raffle!
*LOCATION:
Pilsen Arts & Community House (PACH)
Non-Profit Art Gallery
1637 W. 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
Street Parking available
Contact: Lisa Mannion
IG: @UkuladyLisa
*As Seen on TV WGN Chicago
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EVENT DETAILS:
Pilsen Uke Party (PUP)
Saturday, May 9th, 12PM-4PM
A FREE joyful, one-day ukulele festival in Pilsen, Chicago at Pilsen Arts and Community House (PACH), A non-profit art gallery with fresh art on display, merch for sale, and weekly affordable art classes.
This ukulele event is in honor of Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAHPI). All ages and skill levels welcome.
EVERY guest that enters our event receives a FREE raffle ticket to win a Ukulele + Gig Bag!
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Enjoy live performances by Chicago ukulele musicians & uke comedians
A special Hula dance set and Hula lesson
A beginner-friendly Ukulele Class (ukes provided; all instruments, skills, and ages welcome)
Sign up for our Open Mic (ukulele musicians preferred)
And join our Open Jam (ukes provided; all instruments, skills, and ages welcome)
Enjoy games, raffles, & prizes!
Interactive Ukulele Stations:
Chord & Song Stations: Learn uke anytime throughout the day, plenty to borrow
Try a Ukulele: Different size ukuleles
Tune-up Station: Bring your strings and we'll tune you up
Kids Activity Station: Coloring, ukulele zines, fun facts, and ukulele history table
Come laugh, learn, and play. Uke can do it!
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Pilsen Uke Party (PUP) is FREE!
A $1–$5 donation is suggested at the door. Proceeds go to the non-profit venue, Pilsen Arts and Community House.
Accepted Payment: Cash / Venmo / Zelle / Card
EVERY attendee will receive One FREE raffle ticket to win a ukulele!
Additional raffle tickets will be available for $5 each to increase your chances of winning
You do not need to be present to win
Leave your name and phone number on your ticket
If you win, and you’re not present, we’ll call you, reserve your prize, and arrange a pickup time
All proceeds benefit the non-profit, Pilsen Arts and Community House (PACH)
UKULELE DETAILS:
MU40C Mitchell Concert Wooden Ukulele + Gig Bag + Tuned + Free Lesson
******TOTAL VALUE = $150********
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TIMELINE:
*11:30AM – Doors open
*12:00PM–2:00PM Chicago Ukulele Performers (20-minute sets). Order of performers TBD:
Rebecca Jaffe: Comedy Uke – IG: @Reb_Jaffe
Maya: Uke Performer – IG: @may5asings
Jan Slavin: Comedy Uke – FB: @janet.slavin.1
UkuLady Lisa: Uke Performer – IG: @UkuladyLisa
Hula Dancer - Jordann Tamayo
*2:00PM–2:45PM – Beginner Ukulele Lesson (led by UkuLady Lisa)
All Ages, Skills, and All Instruments Welcome
Ukuleles provided
*2:45PM–3:30PM – Ukulele Open Mic (5-minute sets)
A sign-up sheet will be available on-site
5-minute slots
First come, first serve
*3:30–4:00PM – Open Jam
All Ages, Skills, Singers, and All Instruments Welcome
Ukuleles provided
Large TV monitor with music projected
Easy three-chord songs for everyone to strum and sing along
Great for experienced musicians to jump in and groove
Perfect for beginners to follow along and review their skills
*4:00PM – Raffle Winners Announced
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RAFFLE ITEMS:
*Ukulele + Gig Bag + Lesson (donated by Ukulady Lisa) = $150 Value
*One Art Class at PACH (Watercolor, Lincut, Reiki, Sound Healing, Group Uke Class, etc.) = $50 Value
*Split-The-Pot (Half Cash Prize Goes to Winner / Half Cash Prize Goes to non-profit, PACH)
*Tootsie Roll Variety Box = $50 Value
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Buy a New Uke at the Uke Fest:
$55 Concert Ukuleles (Includes Gig Bag)
$90 Tenor Ukuleles (Includes Gig Bag)
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Some famous ukulele players include: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Barack Obama, Tiny Tim, Jake Shimabukuro, Taimane Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Vedder, John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Bruno Mars. And of course, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, who recorded “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in 1988 at 3 a.m. in one take!
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Volunteer between 11AM–4 PM
Choose your time slot and table
Volunteer Perk: Get 2 free ukulele raffle tickets!
Email me your preferred table and time slot
*Outdoor Strummers: Play ukulele outside to draw a crowd
*Door Greeter:
Collect $1–$5 cash donations and direct to QR for online giving
Have guests sign the guestbook/newsletter, share the event timeline, and let them know ukuleles are provided to learn chords and songs anytime.
*Ukulele Raffle Table:
Give each guest a free ticket (name + phone on back) Do not need to be present to win
Direct to QR to buy additional tickets, $5 each (QR: Zelle/Venmo/PayPal)
*Resource Table:
Run Open Mic sign-up sheet (2:45PM–3:30PM)
Newsletter sign-up (art classes, events, monthly uke group)
Display monthly uke class flyer + Chicago uke groups
Hand out whistle kits to stand up against ICE
*Ukulele Chord Station: Teach basic chords, easy songs, tune ukes
*Try-a-Uke Station: Lend out various sizes to borrow
*Ukulele Game Table: Spin the chord wheel, win prizes
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Musicians Needed to Perform:
*Hawaiian-Native: dancers, artists, poets, or musicians for open mic or 10-20 min performance.
*Ukulele Players: 5-minute slots for open mic (2:45PM–3:30PM). First come, first serve.
*Open Jam: We will have a large TV monitor with the music projected, featuring easy-to-follow, three-chord songs for everyone to jam and sing along. All musicians welcome
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*Founder of Pilsen Uke Party (PUP): Lisa Mannion, aka Ukulady Lisa, is an Army combat veteran, singer-songwriter, and ukulele entertainer, dedicated to healing through music. She’s recognized among the Top 25 Veteran Leaders of Illinois for traveling with 15 ukuleles and teaching group classes to her fellow veterans and her Chicago community. Lisa performs original music and gives away FREE ukuleles because she believes, “Anybody can play the ukulele!”
*Partnered With: Aurora Ukulele Festival, Libraries, Schools, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), At Ease, Allenforce, American Legions & more!
*Ukulady Lisa is Available for Hire:
Live Music (Folk, Rock, Blues, Originals, Patriotic, Holiday, Xmas, etc.)
Group Ukulele Lessons (Ukes Provided)
*As Seen on TV WGN Chicago
IG: @UkuladyLisa
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********THINGS TO DO IN PILSEN CHICAGO!********
ABOUT PACH
Pilsen Arts & Community House (PACH) is co-founded by talented Chicago artist, Teresa Magaña. This non-profit art gallery is a creative safe space celebrating Pilsen’s Latino community offering affordable weekly art classes, open studio time on Tuesdays with free materials to create, Wellness Wednesdays (reiki and sound healing), whistle-kit making events to stand up against ICE, and more! Artwork & prints available for sale, with a new art gallery showing each month.
PACH OPEN MIC: Every 3rd Thursday, 7PM–9PM. Poets, musicians, storytellers welcome. Show off your NEW uke skills! BYOB
PILSEN FOOD: Cafe Carranza (next door), Corazon Cafe (across street), Panaderia Nuevo León Bakery (across street), Urban Treez, 5 Rabanitos (Mexican), Banh Mi City (Vietnamese), Jumping Bean Café, Honky Tonk BBQ, La Michoacana Premium, etc.
FREE: National Museum of Mexican Art OPEN DAILY: 10AM-5PM except Mondays. And Explore Pilsen’s beautiful murals on 16th and 18th St!
LOCAL GEMS: Angmir Boutique, Pilsen Vintage, 606 Records, Pinwheel Records, Thalia Hall/Tack Room, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Swap-O-Rama Flea Market, Little Italy neighborhood, Little Village, Bridgeport, Chinatown, etc.
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PACH Events & Art Workshops:
IG & FB: pilsenartscommunityhouse
Donate: pilsenartscommunityhouse.org/donate
pilsenartscommunityhouse.org/calendar
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Monthly Group Ukulele Meetup:
meetup.com/WestLoopUkes
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Can’t attend PUP Festival?!
We do Group Ukulele Lessons every 2nd Sunday at noon
Our next Group Uke Class is June 14, 12PM-1:30PM
We giveaway a FREE Uke after EVERY class
At Pilsen Arts and Community House (PACH)
ALL Ukes Provided, All Ages & Skills
*There will be NO May CLASS due to the festival
REGISTER for June Group Uke Class: GroupUke.Eventbrite.com
JOIN Uke Meetup Group: MeetUp.com/WestLoopUkes
*As Seen on TV WGN Chicago
Contact: Lisa Mannion
IG: @[email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Pilsen Arts & Community House, 1637 West 18th Street, Chicago, United States
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