CZF 2025
We're excited to partner with Chicago Public Library to bring you the next Chicago Zine Fest! CZF is always free to attend; no tickets are required.
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 11 am to 4 pm
Harold Washington Library Center
Winter Garden, 9th Floor
400 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
Find the full list of zinesters who will be tabling at CZF 2025!
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 11 am to 4 pm
Harold Washington Library Center
Winter Garden, 9th Floor
400 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
Find the full list of zinesters who will be tabling at CZF 2025!
Our official poster artwork for CZF 2025 was created by Kelly Wang! Kelly perfectly captures the colorful clutter and chaos of a zinester’s workspace. Keep your eyes peeled for Zinehead—our official mascot for this year's fest.
Kelly Wang is an award-winning alternative cartoonist, printmaker, and musician based in Chicago. Find more of Kelly's artwork at their website.
Kelly Wang is an award-winning alternative cartoonist, printmaker, and musician based in Chicago. Find more of Kelly's artwork at their website.
Workshops & Panel
We'll have 3 engaging sessions throughout the day. All workshops take place on the 9th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center in the South Hall.
We'll have 3 engaging sessions throughout the day. All workshops take place on the 9th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center in the South Hall.
- 11:30 am–12:30 pm: "My First Zine." A panel discussion featuring some of Chicago's most prolific zine makers sharing stories and advice on how to get started making your very own zine! Featuring local favorites Keidra Chaney, Laryssa Olmedo, Anna Jo Beck, and Sasaki Family Zines.
- 1–2 pm: "Narrative Zine Making: Approaching Zines as Therapy." Join us for a zine-making workshop focused on emotional expression, processing, and healing. Facilitated by Shelby Graves and Bailey Katz, both licensed art therapists.
- 2:30–3:30 pm: "Zine Scene Characters: Design Like a Pro." Chicago Zine Fest's own Emily Steffen will provide a crash course on character design. Learn the do’s and don’ts of character design through shape, color, and personality. Explore character design applications and then create your own original characters using fun shape prompts during open studio time. Perfect for all skill levels! All ages welcome!
Venue Accessibility
The Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library is on the 9th floor. There is a bank of elevators just off of the library's back entrance at 401 South Plymouth Court which travels directly from the ground to the 9th floor.
There are no gender neutral bathrooms at the Harold Washington Library. There are two bathrooms directly outside the Winter Garden space.
There is no parking garage at the Harold Washington Library. The library provides a list of paid parking facilities within walking distance of the library. The Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren L station is located just outside the library, serving the brown, orange, and pink lines. Many busses stop at the library, including the #2, #6, #10, #22, #24, #29, #36, #62, #146, #147, and #148. There are bike racks on the east and west sides of the library, at 401 S Plymouth Court and 400 S State St.
COVID Considerations
City of Chicago policy does not allow masks to be required at the fest. We are asking everyone who attends CZF 2025, either as a tabler or visitor, to wear a mask. While we cannot guarantee that everyone will wear a mask, we want to ensure CZF will remain as accessible as possible. N95, KN95, and KF94 masks are strongly preferred, because they are more effective than surgical masks at reducing the spread of COVID.
Our primary COVID-mitigation strategies include:
Other COVID-mitigation strategies include refunding registration fees for any tabler who feels ill at the time of the fest. We encourage everyone to test before the event, especially if traveling to Chicago, and request that you not attend CZF if you test positive for COVID.
We encourage your questions and suggestions at [email protected].
The Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library is on the 9th floor. There is a bank of elevators just off of the library's back entrance at 401 South Plymouth Court which travels directly from the ground to the 9th floor.
There are no gender neutral bathrooms at the Harold Washington Library. There are two bathrooms directly outside the Winter Garden space.
There is no parking garage at the Harold Washington Library. The library provides a list of paid parking facilities within walking distance of the library. The Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren L station is located just outside the library, serving the brown, orange, and pink lines. Many busses stop at the library, including the #2, #6, #10, #22, #24, #29, #36, #62, #146, #147, and #148. There are bike racks on the east and west sides of the library, at 401 S Plymouth Court and 400 S State St.
COVID Considerations
City of Chicago policy does not allow masks to be required at the fest. We are asking everyone who attends CZF 2025, either as a tabler or visitor, to wear a mask. While we cannot guarantee that everyone will wear a mask, we want to ensure CZF will remain as accessible as possible. N95, KN95, and KF94 masks are strongly preferred, because they are more effective than surgical masks at reducing the spread of COVID.
Our primary COVID-mitigation strategies include:
- free KN95 masks (adult and child-size) available at the fest entrance
- air purifiers (one for the main space, one for the workshop room)
- CO2 monitors to provide information about the air quality in the workshop room and the main exhibit space.
Other COVID-mitigation strategies include refunding registration fees for any tabler who feels ill at the time of the fest. We encourage everyone to test before the event, especially if traveling to Chicago, and request that you not attend CZF if you test positive for COVID.
We encourage your questions and suggestions at [email protected].