About Us

The fair began in 1972 on historic Custer Avenue named after General George Armstrong Custer in gratitude for his service to the Union during the Civil War.

Each year since then artists, craftspeople, antique dealers, restauranteurs, entertainers and the business community get together with 60,000 attendees for this award-winning Northshore tradition.

Custer's Last Stand, or as the locals call it, the Custer Fair is a function of Evanston Festival Theatre, Inc., a thirty-three year old not-for-profit corporation. In addition to producing Custer's Last Stand it also has undertaken the restoration of the Main St. Metra train station. In addition to providing excellent commuter services the station will function as a cultural center called, The Evanston Arts Depot. The Evanston Arts Depot is the home of another Evanston Festival Theatre, Inc. enterprise - the Piccolo Theatre, a professional ensemble-based theatre company. Go to the Piccolo Theatre web site to see the offerings for the current season.

For more information on the work of Evanston Festival Theatre, Inc. and how you can be a part of this community contact us at artsdepot@mac.com.

Please visit the Evanston Art Depot, a one of a kind arts and cultural center housed in Evanston's historic train station.