When South Side Zine Fest wraps, we’re taking the fun to Marz Brewery! Our afterparty kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Bridgeport taproom, 3630 S. Iron St. (about a mile southeast of the Richard J. Daley branch of the Chicago Public Library). Free!

Marz is our favorite spot to hang out in Bridgeport, with food, beverages, and a free arcade. We can’t wait to see y’all there!

Thank you to Katie Armentrout for designing our afterparty flyer!

Image description: A colorful flyer with an illustration of pinwheels and fireworks and this text: “The fun kicks off at 5 pm! South Side Zine Fest Afterparty at Marz, 3630 S. Iron St., Bridgeport; Come and celebrate with us!; More info at zineclubchicago.com”

Cynthia E. Hanifin (she/her) is a zinemaker, writer, arts organizer, and social worker from the Southwest Side of Chicago. She grew up in the Marquette Park neighborhood and currently lives in Heart of Chicago with several staplers and a tabby cat named Kasimira Pulaski. Her zines and community work explore the power of our personal stories to forge connections with others and inspire transformations of the heart and the world around us, often through the lens of her life as a Chicagoan. Cynthia (aka Zinethia) is one half of the Virgo duo that is thrilled to bring you South Side Zine Fest, the producer of Zine Club Chicago, and founder of the South Side Zine Library. Find her on Instagram at @zineclubchicago and on Bluesky at zineclubchicago.bsky.social

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of photos of South Side Zine Fest 2025 co-organizer Cynthia E. Hanifin and her zines with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Co-Organizer Cynthia E. Hanifin!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Jamie Kadas (she/her) is a lifelong South Sider, growing up in the Brighton Park neighborhood. During the day, Jamie pretends to be an adult and is a public high school teacher. In the evening, she drinks far too much coffee and creates zines that focus on body image, anxiety, and womanhood. Additionally, Jamie designs fat pin-ups that reimagine pop culture in a more inclusive light. These illustrations come in the form of prints, stickers, buttons, greeting cards, and even on her own handmade pottery. Jamie has been creating zines for over 10 years and is beyond excited to work with Zine Club Chicago to bring you the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Find her on Instagram at @CurvyGirlComics and online at JamieKadas.com

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of photos of South Side Zine Fest 2025 co-organizer Jamie Kadas and her zines with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Co-Organizer Jamie Kadas/Curvy Girl Comics!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Anna Jo Beck (she/her) is a zinester based in Chicago, IL. She runs the zine by mail subscription service Zine-A-Month, in which subscribers are sent a brand new zine by a different zinester each month. Find out more at www.zineamonth.com

Anna is a founding member of Zine Club Chicago and the creative force behind our visuals, including the Zine Club Chicago and South Side Zine Library logos. Check out her Zine-A-Month titles at the fest on our Organizers’ Table!

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of images of South Side Zine Fest 2025 exhibitor Anna Jo Beck/Zine-A-Month with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Anna Jo Beck!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Thank you to the Chicago Reader and reporter Sydney Richardson for a great preview of South Side Zine Fest! You can check it out in the print edition and online: South Side Zine Fest brings a celebration of self-publishing to Bridgeport

We can’t wait to see y’all in Bridgeport this weekend! Please join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. Free!

Image description: An image of a Chicago Reader story featuring a photo of a recent Zine Club Chicago event and this headline: “South Side Zine Fest brings a celebration of self-publishing to Bridgeport; Zine Club Chicago and Chicago Public Library’s Richard J. Daley branch joined forces to plan the event”

Tangible Books, Bridgeport’s family-owned bookstore, will host our panel, Fandom and Zines: A Conversation Between Liz Mason and Keidra Chaney at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26! Head over to the bookshop at 3326 S. Halsted St. (one block north of the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library) for this lively discussion between two zinesters who publish work about media.

Tangible Books is the Chicagoland area’s newest premier bookstore. The shop carries a large selection of books on a wide range of topics and interests, with new titles added daily. Find them on Instagram at @tangiblechicago and online at tangiblebookschicago.com

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of photos of South Side Zine Fest 2025 community partner Tangible Books this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Tangible Books!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center is partnering with South Side Zine Fest to offer empowering creative activities for kids all day in the children’s area of the library, including storytime at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26! ChicagoCAC staff also will be on hand to provide resources for adults.

ChicagoCAC and their partners are the frontline responders to reports of child sexual abuse in Chicago. They are only non-profit in the city that coordinates the work of child protection and law enforcement professionals, family advocates, and mental health clinicians under one roof. ChicagoCAC’s programs work collaboratively, reducing trauma, removing barriers, and ensuring that the children and families we serve receive the essential services they need in one place — helping them restore hope and begin their healing journey. For more information, visit ChicagoCAC.org

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of images representing the work of South Side Zine Fest 2025 community partner Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Liz Mason (she/her) publishes zines with names like Caboose and Cul-de-sac, works at Quimby’s Bookstore and is getting a Masters in Library Science. Her work has been in places like Punk Planet, The Zine Yearbook and the back of the toilet at her friends’ houses. Find her on Instagram at @caboosezine, on Bluesky at caboosezine.bsky.social, and online at LizMasonIsAwesome.com

Liz Mason will join Keidra Chaney of Wild Ramp Publishing in conversation about Fandom and Zines on our SSZF panel! Don’t miss their lively discussion at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at Tangible Books, 3326 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of images of South Side Zine Fest 2025 exhibitor Liz Mason and her zines with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Liz Mason!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Wild Ramp Publishing is a Chicago-based micro-press dedicated to small-run zines and chapbooks about pop culture, fandom, disability, and identity. Wild Ramp uplifts marginalized voices and supports community-driven storytelling, including offering microgrants to disabled zinesters working at the intersection of art and activism. Find them on Instagram @wildramppublishing, on Bluesky at wildramppublishing.bsky.social, and online at wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/

Keidra Chaney of Wild Ramp Publishing will join Liz Mason in conversation about Fandom and Zines on our SSZF panel! Don’t miss their lively discussion at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at Tangible Books, 3326 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of images of zines distributed by South Side Zine Fest 2025 exhibitor Wild Ramp Publishing with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Wild Ramp Publishing!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”

Solar-Powered Zines is a zine distro co-op. We LOVE publishing new zinemakers and publish zines ranging from serious academic work to incredibly ridiculous nonsense to art and poetry to religious ritual guides. Solar-Powered Zines is TRADES ONLY, so please bring your own art to trade!!

Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Free!

Image description: A collage of images of zines distributed by South Side Zine Fest 2025 exhibitor Solar-Powered Zines, with this text: “Join us for the inaugural South Side Zine Fest! Welcoming Solar-Powered Zines!; July 26, 2025; Chicago Public Library; Bridgeport”