For the first ever, the live music venue and cocktail bar Robert’s Westside is hosting a two-night music festival.

Weekend @ Bobby’s is a Halloween-themed music festival taking place Friday and Saturday that will feature 11 bands across two stages and multiple contests. 

“We want our community to experience something new. We’re building new traditions here at Robert’s. So, it’s really just a public invitation to come out and discover new artists,” said Donnie Biggins, founder and owner of Robert’s Westside.

This is Robert’s Westside’s first Halloween after it opened in late November last year. 

The majority of the artists playing at the festival are Chicago-based, including Angelenah, The Curls, Nasty Snacks, Meg and the Wheelers, and Wolfman. The Shams, The Staleys, Hoover & Harley and The Boys are Oak Park-based. Biggins is a musician and is part of The Shams.

Psalm One is a Chicago based rapper who will be performing. 

“Psalm one is one of the most influential rappers from Chicago, and the fact that I have Psalm performing at Roberts, I think, is a legendary thing, and so I’m very excited about that,” Biggins said. “A lot of the people on this lineup are artists that I have worked with spanning over 10 years of my career. It’s a real showcase of great local and regional touring acts as well.”

In addition to the music, there will be a look-alike costume contest based on the 1989 comedy “Weekend at Bernie’s.” 

“I wanted to kind of pay tribute to the film,” Biggins said. “But I also think it would be funny to look out in the audience on Friday and just see a bunch of Bernie’s. And maybe other people could dress up as other famous Bernies.”

The first-place winner for the look-alike contest will receive $100 and four free tickets to a Robert’s Westside concert. Second place will receive $50 and two free tickets to a Robert’s Westside concert.

There will also be a Ghost of Rockstars Past lip sync contest and costume contest in which attendees are encouraged to dress up and perform as artists who have died. 

“My staff created some tombstones in the spaces of some of our favorite artists that have passed away and have influenced us over the years,” Biggins said.

The first-place winner for the lip sync battle will receive $150, second place will receive $100 and third place will receive $50. For the costume contest, first-place winner will receive $100 and four free tickets to a Robert’s Westside concert. Second place will win $50 and two free tickets to a Robert’s Westside concert.

The festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct.25 and continues Saturday, Oct. 26. You must be 21 or older to attend. Buy tickets at: https://robertswestside.com/listing/weekend-at-bobbys-charlie-parr-the-staleys-meg-and-the-wheelers-wolfman-hoover-harley-and-the-boys/