Bueller?…Bueller?…Bueller? 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the 80’s classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. To celebrate this event, a three-day festival will take place from May 20-May 22 here in and around the Windy City and these days will be packed with many fun activities. Here’s what you can expect from a festival.
The festival kicks off on May 20 with an opening ceremony and party which will feature musical guests and the famous 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. The following day, a special screening of the film will be held at the John and Nancy Hughes Theater located in Lake Forest.
Chicago film critic Richard Roeper will host the screening with special guests Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward (Bueller’s parents), as well as Jonathan Schmock, the French restaurant maître d’. There will be a Q&A session with them following the film.
Currently, the people in charge of the event are in talks with more stars and production members from the film to join the event. Since the seating was limited to only 300, another screening of the film has been added for Sunday.
A bus-tour will be split into two parts, one part Saturday and the other part on Sunday. Attendees will be taken to the different locations that were featured in the film. Here is a breakdown of the two days:
Saturday
– Willis Tower Skydeck (cough cough Sears Tower)
– Cameron’s House
– Shermer High School (Glenbrook North HS): where Ferris picks up Sloane disguised as her dad
– Wrigley Field: you will visit the same exact seats that Ferris, Cameron and Sloane sat in during the game
– Lunch served (you pay), courtesy of The Breakfast Club & Grill
– Ferris Bueller’s room (explained later in the article)
– Film screening and Q&A
– Access to officially licensed Ferris Bueller/John Hughes movie-related, and 80’s-related items on sale
Sunday
– Northbrook Water Tower: where SAVE FERRIS was featured
– Art Institute
– Ferris Bueller’s room
– Lake Michigan Overlook: where Ferris and Sloane try to calm down Cameron
– Dearborn Street in Downtown Chicago: where Ferris shows off in the parade
– As a bonus, you will also visit the former Maine North High School: where The Breakfast Club was shot
– And Glencoe Union Church: Samantha (Molly Ringwald) finds Jake (Michael Schoeffling) waiting for her to the sound of the Thompson Twins’ iconic song, “If You Were Here”
– Lunch served (you pay), courtesy of The Breakfast Club & Grill
– Film screening and Q&A
– Access to officially licensed Ferris Bueller/John Hughes movie-related, and 80’s-related items on sale
– “Twist and Shout” live re-creation parade (explained below)
Along with these locations, you will also be able to visit an immersive 360-degree re-creation of Ferris Bueller’s bedroom. Artists/designers Sarah Keenlyside and Joe Clement made a precise replica of the room, which premiered at an event at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.
The room features everything that you see in the film. Judging by the pictures of the room, it will be as if you were actually there. This portion of the tour will be held at a hotel downtown and the location has yet to be revealed.
Probably one of the most interesting events of this whole festival is that on May 22, the last day of the festival, there is going to be a live re-creation of “Twist and Shout” parade sequence.
This event will bring together many of the live elements from the movie and according to the festivals website, there are going to be some surprises! The location of the parade has yet to be determined. This sounds like a very cool thing to be a part of.
Now let’s talk tickets. As you can imagine, this is an event that everyone wants to attend. Right now, single-day passes for Saturday have sold-out. There are still plenty of other options for you to choose from. There is a 3-day pass that you can purchase for $300 and this comes with its perks.
You will have access to a meet and greet with the stars of the film and you will also receive two t-shirts, one is a Ferris Fest shirt and the other an official Ferris Bueller’s Day Off shirt. Individual tickets for Sunday are still available and that costs $175.
If you want to opt for something cheaper, individual Friday tickets (opening ceremony/party) are available for $25. Individual event ticket options are also able to be purchased. For just $10 each, you have the option to visit Ferris’s room and be apart of the parade. Tickets are going fast. If you don’t stop and purchase them, you could miss it (see what I did there).
This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and if you are a big fan of the movie, this is a festival that you want to be at. Come play hooky for a few days and enjoy the fun!
Elizabeth Granato
Features Editor
Photos courtesy of: goodnewsnetwork.org, hotwheelsclubzafree.org, postersn.org, cinemablography.org
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