Chicago Events

Join Mercy For Animals on Thursday, June 20 for the not-so-grand opening of Chick-fil-A’s second Chicago restaurant location. Stand with us against this retailer’s cruel practices. Chik-fil-A’s jeering ad campaigns depicting cows advising people to "eat mor chikin" perpetuate the horror endured by factory-farmed chickens, perhaps the most abused animals on the planet.

By educating the public about the suffering of chickens on factory farms, we can inspire others to spare thousands, if not millions, of animals and ultimately create a more compassionate society. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us distribute literature and hold signs. Look for Becki and Leslie, who will be wearing Mercy For Animals messenger bags.

For more information on this event, please email Becki Markle or call 773-971-3895. An RSVP is not required, but it will help us determine how many leaflets we should bring. We will also notify you if we have to cancel the event due to bad weather.

Where: 177 N. State St., Chicago, IL
When: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at Chicago Pride Fest 2013 in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood. Celebrating its 11th year and growing popularity, Chicago Pride Fest will feature over 60 vendors, live music, and a larger crowd than ever. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate plant-based diet. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station, where we will pay festival-goers $1 to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for this incredible event. Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Intersection of N. Halsted St. and W. Waveland Ave., Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join MFA at our table at Chicago Pride Fest 2013 in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood. Celebrating its eleventh year and growing popularity, Chicago Pride Fest will feature over sixty vendors, live music, and a larger crowd than ever. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate plant-based diet. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station, where we will pay festival-goers one dollar to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for this incredible event. Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Intersection of N. Halsted St. and W. Waveland Ave., Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join compassionate Mercy For Animals volunteers in one of our most fun-filled, raucous, and joyful events of the year: the Chicago Pride Parade! We will march in the parade with banners, rainbow flags, bells, and whistles, and have our best leafleters along the sides. Wear your MFA T-shirt or we'll provide one for you at the event. A complimentary bagel breakfast will be offered at the meeting place. Join us for the fun and show your support of justice and animal protection!

If the day is anything like last year, it's going to be a hot one. We will have plenty of water, but please make sure you bring sunscreen, hats, and sun umbrellas.

An RSVP is required to march in the parade with MFA. Please RSVP by sending an email to Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or calling 773-971-3895.

Where: Meet near Broadway St. and Montrose Ave. (exact location to be determined), Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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This year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, held July 19–21 in Chicago’s Union Park, is offering Mercy For Animals a free tabling spot and a $1,500 donation if we can rally 35 volunteers to help at the festival. Each volunteer will get a one-day pass into the festival and a free Pitchfork T-shirt!

Volunteers are asked to help take tickets, check for wristbands at beer tents, control access to backstage areas, and other similar tasks. You would NOT be volunteering for MFA directly. Volunteer shifts are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and each is six hours long. The shifts are as follows:

     Friday, July 19, 2–8 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

Volunteers for the morning shifts are welcome to enjoy the festival after completing their shifts, while volunteers for evening shifts are welcome to return to the festival the next day for free.

Spaces fill up very quickly, so don't miss out on this fun and rewarding volunteer experience!

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. If you are interested in helping out, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, with your first and last name, age, T-shirt size, and the shifts you’re available for, and then we’ll sign you up. Or you can call Mikael at 773-971-3895.

Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL
When: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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This year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, held July 19–21 in Chicago’s Union Park, is offering Mercy For Animals a free tabling spot and a $1,500 donation if we can rally 35 volunteers to help at the festival. Each volunteer will get a one-day pass into the festival and a free Pitchfork T-shirt!

Volunteers are asked to help take tickets, check for wristbands at beer tents, control access to backstage areas, and other similar tasks. You would NOT be volunteering for MFA directly. Volunteer shifts are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and each is six hours long. The shifts are as follows:

     Friday, July 19, 2–8 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

Volunteers for the morning shifts are welcome to enjoy the festival after completing their shifts, while volunteers for evening shifts are welcome to return to the festival the next day for free.

Spaces fill up very quickly, so don't miss out on this fun and rewarding volunteer experience!

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. If you are interested in helping out, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, with your first and last name, age, T-shirt size, and the shifts you’re available for, and then we’ll sign you up. Or you can call Mikael at 773-971-3895.

Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at the Windy City Pet Expo 2013 in Villa Park's Odeum Expo Center. This forward-thinking festival showcases the connection between farmed animals and companion animals as well as the physical and mental benefits of a vegan lifestyle. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for this amazing event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred. Half-day shifts are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Odeum Expo Center, 1033 N. Villa Ave., Villa Park, IL
When: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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This year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, held July 19–21 in Chicago’s Union Park, is offering Mercy For Animals a free tabling spot and a $1,500 donation if we can rally 35 volunteers to help at the festival. Each volunteer will get a one-day pass into the festival and a free Pitchfork T-shirt!

Volunteers are asked to help take tickets, check for wristbands at beer tents, control access to backstage areas, and other similar tasks. You would NOT be volunteering for MFA directly. Volunteer shifts are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and each is six hours long. The shifts are as follows:

     Friday, July 19, 2–8 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

     Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or 4–10 p.m.

Volunteers for the morning shifts are welcome to enjoy the festival after completing their shifts, while volunteers for evening shifts are welcome to return to the festival the next day for free.

Spaces fill up very quickly, so don't miss out on this fun and rewarding volunteer experience!

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. If you are interested in helping out, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, with your first and last name, age, T-shirt size, and the shifts you’re available for, and then we’ll sign you up. Or you can call Mikael at 773-971-3895.

Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals in Chicago for the Midwest's largest Latino festival, Fiesta del Sol. This will be a perfect opportunity to educate a diverse crowd on the benefits of a compassionate lifestyle and the ills of factory farming. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station where we will pay festival-goers one dollar to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

This four-day, family-friendly festival draws over one million visitors every year. Fiesta del Sol brings together live entertainment, local art, a variety of food, carnival rides, a children’s area, educational resources for parents and youth, soccer games, and much more.

We will be exhibiting all four days and volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table during the following times:

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (July 25)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday (July 26)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 27)

11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday (July 28)

Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred. Spanish-speaking volunteers would be very helpful as well.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: 1400 W. Cermak Rd. (between Morgan St. and Ashland Ave.), Chicago, IL
When: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals in Chicago for the Midwest's largest Latino festival, Fiesta del Sol. This will be a perfect opportunity to educate a diverse crowd on the benefits of a compassionate lifestyle and the ills of factory farming. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station where we will pay festival-goers one dollar to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

This four-day, family-friendly festival draws over one million visitors every year. Fiesta del Sol brings together live entertainment, local art, a variety of food, carnival rides, a children’s area, educational resources for parents and youth, soccer games, and much more.

We will be exhibiting all four days and volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table during the following times:

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (July 25)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday (July 26)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 27)

11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday (July 28)

Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred. Spanish-speaking volunteers would be very helpful as well.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: 1400 W. Cermak Rd. (between Morgan St. and Ashland Ave.), Chicago, IL
When: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals in Chicago for the Midwest's largest Latino festival, Fiesta del Sol. This will be a perfect opportunity to educate a diverse crowd on the benefits of a compassionate lifestyle and the ills of factory farming. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station where we will pay festival-goers one dollar to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

This four-day, family-friendly festival draws over one million visitors every year. Fiesta del Sol brings together live entertainment, local art, a variety of food, carnival rides, a children’s area, educational resources for parents and youth, soccer games, and much more.

We will be exhibiting all four days and volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table during the following times:

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (July 25)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday (July 26)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 27)

11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday (July 28)

Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred. Spanish-speaking volunteers would be very helpful as well.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: 1400 W. Cermak Rd. (between Morgan St. and Ashland Ave.), Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals in Chicago for the Midwest's largest Latino festival, Fiesta del Sol. This will be a perfect opportunity to educate a diverse crowd on the benefits of a compassionate lifestyle and the ills of factory farming. MFA will also be hosting a “Paid-Per-View” station where we will pay festival-goers one dollar to watch a four-minute segment of the hard-hitting documentary Farm to Fridge.

This four-day, family-friendly festival draws over one million visitors every year. Fiesta del Sol brings together live entertainment, local art, a variety of food, carnival rides, a children’s area, educational resources for parents and youth, soccer games, and much more.

We will be exhibiting all four days and volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table during the following times:

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (July 25)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday (July 26)

11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 27)

11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday (July 28)

Half-day or full-day shifts are preferred. Spanish-speaking volunteers would be very helpful as well.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: 1400 W. Cermak Rd. (between Morgan St. and Ashland Ave.), Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Do you support cramming animals into crates so small they can't turn around, lie down comfortably, or walk for their entire lives? Walmart does. In fact, pork sold in Walmart stores comes from factory farms where pregnant pigs spend their miserable lives locked in narrow gestation crates barely larger than their own bodies—unable to engage in basic behaviors and denied all mental stimulation.

Following a Mercy For Animals undercover investigation exposing shocking animal abuse at a major Walmart pork supplier, we are now calling on the world's largest retailer to require its suppliers to phase out inherently cruel gestation crates. Join Mercy For Animals in Rockford for an eye-catching protest outside a Walmart store. Protestors will be joined by a 10-foot-tall, inflatable pig, covered in bloody sores and crammed inside a tiny gestation crate.

Signs, banners, and leaflets will be provided. Media is expected at the event, so please dress professionally. Encourage your friends and family to join you at this peaceful protest. And, before attending, please be sure to sign MFA's petition urging Walmart executives to phase out gestation crates, and then share the petition and undercover video with others. For more details about the campaign, visit WalmartCruelty.com.

For additional details about the event, please email Jeni Haines, national campaign coordinator, or call 916-934-9460.

Where: 3902 W. Riverside Blvd. (on public sidewalk on Owen Center Rd., next to the Walmart sign), Rockford, IL
When: Monday, July 29, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at the 2013 Veggie Fest, one of the largest vegetarian festivals in North America! Thousands of festival goers come to hear the latest research about a vegetarian diet and health, sample tasty vegan food, check out live entertainment, children's programs, as well as local and national speakers. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for this incredible event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Science of Spirituality Grounds, 4S175 Naperville Rd., Naperville, IL
When: Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at Northalsted Market Days. Tens of thousands of people from across the country will converge on Halsted Street to celebrate this 32nd annual event, the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest! MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for this amazing event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 847-756-0524. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: Halsted St. (from Belmont Ave. to Addison St.), Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at Northalsted Market Days. Tens of thousands of people from across the country will converge on Halsted Street to celebrate this 32nd annual event, the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest! MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for this amazing event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 847-756-0524. An RSVP is required to volunteer.

Where: Halsted St. (from Belmont Ave. to Addison St.), Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at the 2013 Veggie Fest, one of the largest vegetarian festivals in North America! Thousands of festival goers come to hear the latest research about a vegetarian diet and health, sample tasty vegan food, check out live entertainment, children's programs, as well as local and national speakers. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for this incredible event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Science of Spirituality Grounds, 4S175 Naperville Rd., Naperville, IL
When: Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at the 11th annual Renegade Craft Fair. This two-day craft fair is a large-scale marketplace event that will highlight the work of contemporary indie-craft artists. There will be hundreds of artists and vendors traveling from all over to sell their unique handmade goods and original artwork. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table for this incredible event from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred. We will notify you if we have to cancel the event due to bad weather.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Division St. (between Damen Ave. and Paulina St.), Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at the 11th annual Renegade Craft Fair. This two-day craft fair is a large-scale marketplace event that will highlight the work of contemporary indie-craft artists. There will be hundreds of artists and vendors traveling from all over to sell their unique handmade goods and original artwork. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table for this incredible event from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred. We will notify you if we have to cancel the event due to bad weather.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mikael Nielsen, eastern outreach coordinator, or call 773-971-3895.

Where: Division St. (between Damen Ave. and Paulina St.), Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m

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Join Mercy For Animals at our table at Chicago VeganMania 2013! Chicago VeganMania is a celebration of Chicago's vegan community, culture, commerce, cuisine, and couture. The first VeganMania celebration took place in October 2009 and drew over 1,500 enthusiastic guests to sample food from Chicago's best vegan restaurants, listen to leading vegan speakers, enjoy exciting live music and dance, and peruse a fashion exhibit, art show, and dozens of organizations and vendors showing off the latest and best vegan products and services.

This is the fifth annual festival and is expected to draw over 3,000 visitors. MFA will offer free Vegetarian Starter Kits and other helpful resources on transitioning to a healthy and compassionate, plant-based diet.

Volunteers are needed to staff the MFA table from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for this amazing event. Full-day or half-day shifts are preferred.

To volunteer for this event, please email Mickey Kudia, Chicago outreach coordinator or call 847-830-4066. An RVSP is required to volunteer.

Where: Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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