'Chicken Lady' Returning to Musikfest Coop

Other Weekend Highlights at Musikfest

The Patch Musikfest 2013 Guide

5 Tips for Your Musikfest Visit

The beloved Musikfest Chicken Lady, Pat Holetz, will fly into Musikfest this weekend, for the first time in five years, ArtsQuest officials announced today in a news release.

Holetz will make three appearances Saturday, and will lead the Chicken Dance at Festplatz at 2:45 p.m.

For more than two decades, Holetz donned the feathers of the Chicken Lady, serving as Musikfest’s official ambassador. In 2004, however, she flew the coop, retiring to Florida.

One of the 24 individuals who have volunteered at all 30 Musikfests, Holetz has returned to the festival each year to volunteer, but this year marks her first appearance as the Chicken Lady since 2008.

“Being the Chicken Lady gave me an opportunity to be a representative of our community, and also part of one of the premier music festivals in the nation,” Holetz said. “I loved meeting all the children and guests at the event, and I developed many lasting friendships with some very special people through the years."

The Chicken Lady will greet children and families at Banana Island and Plaza Tropical from 1:30-2 p.m., then appear at Festplatz from 2:30-3:30 p.m., performing the Chicken Dance during Joe Stanky & the Cadets’ set. She will also visit the Festplatz merchandise tent from 3:45-4:15 p.m.