McAninch Arts Center (MAC) 40th Anniversary Festival Preview
McAninch Arts Center (MAC), located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage (COD), will host a free one-day 40th Anniversary Festival headlined by Chicago’s 1980s dance party band, Sixteen Candles from Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 23.
Activities will include a performances by Jazz Ensemble “Good After V” featuring COD students and alumni, a dance performance and ‘80s style dance classes by COD dance students, a performance by a trombone trio led by New Philharmonic principal trombonist and COD faculty member Tom Stark, and a performance of musical numbers by cast of the COD College Theater production of Footloose. Sixteen Candles will highlight of the celebration, which throughout the day will feature DIY art activities, face painting, mural painting, food vendors and more.
“This milestone anniversary is a celebration of the MAC’s enduring mission to serve as a cultural hub and the countless individuals who have helped bring it to life,” said MAC’s executive director, Diana Martinez. “Our success has been made possible by the vision and dedication of our employees and staff, as well as the unwavering support of College of DuPage and our community. As we honor the achievements of the past 40 years, we also look forward with excitement to the future and the opportunities ahead to continue enriching the cultural vitality of our region.”
Guests are invited to take in Walking With Giants, a free, outdoor, accessible, family-friendly art exhibition celebrating American artistic achievement on view now through October 18. Responding to the national call to reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans and look toward the future, the exhibition features a selection of 10 larger-than-life painted silhouette sculptures developed with community input and created by contemporary artists installed along a walkable route across the MAC and COD campus. Support for Walking With Giants was provided by grant as a donation from the JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund of DuPage Foundation. For more information visit theccma.org/walking-with-giants.
Founded in 1986, the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage has grown into one of the Midwest’s premier regional arts centers and a leading cultural destination for DuPage County and Chicago’s western suburbs. For four decades, the MAC has served as a vibrant “Center of It All” where world-class artists, students and community come together through transformative artistic experiences.
Since opening its doors, the MAC has welcomed more than two million patrons to performances, exhibitions and educational programs that inspire, entertain and connect audiences of all ages. \
Located on the College of DuPage campus, the MAC presents a dynamic and diverse season of touring artists, concerts, dance, theater, comedy, lectures, films and family programming alongside performances by College of DuPage’s own arts programs — nurturing the next generation of creative talent. Its stages have featured internationally celebrated artists including Herb Alpert, Jim Belushi, Lewis Black, John Hiatt, Ramsey Lewis, Kathleen Madigan, MOMIX, Pilobolus, Rick Steves, Wynonna Judd and Stephen Schwartz, among many others.
The MAC is also home to two professional resident companies: New Philharmonic, DuPage County’s only professional orchestra, and Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, the county’s only equity ensemble theater company. Through these partnerships, the MAC plays a vital role in advancing professional arts and cultural life throughout the region.
Beyond the stage, the MAC is recognized for immersive experiences that foster lifelong learning, dialogue and community engagement through artist conversations, educational outreach, public programs and major museum exhibitions presented in partnership with the Cleve Carney Museum of Art. A transformative renovation completed in 2013 expanded the MAC campus with the addition of the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion and enhanced performance venues, allowing the organization to present hundreds of ticketed and free events annually while strengthening its role as a cultural and civic gathering place for the region.
Former MAC employees and alums have been invited to call the MAC Administrative Office at 630.942.3008 to reserve complimentary preferred VIP seating for the upcoming anniversary concert. All attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of a nonperishable food item to benefit the Glen House Food Pantry and College of DuPage Student Fuel pantry. In the case of excessive heat or inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors to the MAC lobby and Belushi Performance Hall. For more information about the MAC’s 40th Anniversary Festival or 2026-2027 events, visit AtTheMAC.org or call the box office at 630.942.4000.
