Six Kankakee area musicians who founded the local music and arts showcase known as the Kankakee Estival Festival, held at Bird Park last September, have taken their love of Kankakee’s music and arts scene even further, forming the non-profit arts organization to be known as “CIRKA.” The name is an acronym for the “Collaborative Initiative to Revive Kankakee Arts.” Following the success of the inaugural festival, boasting approximately 2,000 attendees throughout the day, as well as the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic that adversely impacted the Kankakee area’s vibrant live music scene, it was clear to organizers that the community’s appetite to support local arts was high. “In addition to our love for the Kankakee area and its incredible music and arts scene, the formation of CIKRA was in response to the community’s outpouring of support at the Estival Festival,”

- Greg Peerbolte, Board Secretary.