By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

The 26th annual Northhalsted Market Days returns to Lakeview August 11 and 12.

Billed as the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest, Northalsted Market Days spans six city blocks and takes place on North Halsted Street between Belmont Avenue and Addison Street. About 400 different vendors usually participate.

A wide variety of performers headline on the Market Days stages this year. Cathy Richardson, best known for portraying Janis Joplin in the original cast of the off-Broadway musical “Love, Janis,” performs Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. on the Belmont Stage. That same night, the band Powder, who have performed dressed as everything from femmebots to 10-foot tall aliens, plays the Addison Stage at 8:45 p.m.

The next day brings singer Taylor Dayne—of “Tell It to My Heart” fame—to the Roscoe stage at 6:45 p.m. At 8 p.m., Big Brother and the Holding Company are joined by Richardson for a salute to the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love on the Addison Stage.

Josh Harris, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Shout!-The Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble, Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps and Chicago Spirit Brigade are among the performers who also appear over the weekend.

A $5 donation is the recommended admission to Market Days. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, visit www.northalsted.com.