The internet loves cats. In fact, you could argue the internet is run by cats–everything from memes, to Facebook, Twitter to blogs! Cats are everywhere on the internet (and face it, if you are reading this, chances are you are part of the “problem” of cats on the internet.) No where are cats more prominent though, than on YouTube. So it should be no surprise that the Internet Cat Video Festival (ICV Fest)l is a thing. Not just a thing, but a hugely successful thing! Started by the Walker Art Center in 2012, the ICV Fest was an instant success. It gained world wide media attention, was written up in the New York Times, The Huffington Post and even The Guardian!
Actually, at this point in the game, I would be surprised if you HAVEN’T heard about the ICV Fest. It is everywhere. On the internet and IRL (yes, I just used IRL for in real life. Go with it.) Well, the ICV Fest was such a huge success last year that the Walker Art Center put it on tour. That’s right all the best cat videos on the internet in one spot, touring across the country, so you can watch them with your best friends and a couple hundred strangers! How awesome is that! It is coming to Chicago and I am so excited to be a part of the tour.
Chicago Cat Rescue and Tree House Humane Society, two of my favorite rescue organizations, are partnering to bring the ICV Fest to Chicago on October 19. If you are in the area make sure you stop by the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 Knox Avenue, Chicago) to enjoy the best of the internet’s cat videos with other cat lovers! The film will show at 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4 PM, 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM and runs for approximately 90 minutes. In addition to showing the film there will be a festival going on as well! The festival will include a number of vendors with goods and activities! I hope to be selling the book I wrote there as well as volunteering at the fest!
There might even be special guests showing up, which would be super exciting. I would love to meet Grumpy Cat or Lil Bub IRL! If you are in Chicago or the surrounding area swing on by! Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite, they are $10 each with proceeds going to help the cats of Chicago Cat Rescue and Tree House Humane Society. If you are not in Chicago and interested in learning if the ICV Fest is coming to a city near you, check out their Facebook Page #catvidfest
