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Old Town School of Folk Music Tickets
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About Old Town School of Folk Music
Welcome to the Old Town School of Folk Music, a cornerstone of Chicago’s Lincoln Square arts neighborhood. With two dynamic performance spaces on the Lincoln Square Campus—Maurer Hall (West Building) and Szold Hall (East Building)—the venue offers diverse programming from world music to folk favorites. We’ve outlined seating, parking, transit options, and nearby hotels and dining to help you secure your tickets with ease.
Whether you’re catching a Squares Roots Festival staple, a World Music Wednesday, or a special anniversary show, we’ve got you covered with practical details and reliable partner recommendations to make your visit smooth from start to finish.
Maurer Hall seats up to 430 and features generally assigned seating, providing a comfortable, intimate concert experience. Szold Hall is a smaller, general admission space with a capacity often listed around 150 (some materials note up to 170). The campus expansion in 2010–2012 added Szold Hall across the street and enhanced facilities while maintaining the cherished atmosphere. Parking is convenient with a dedicated Old Town School lot behind the East Building and nearby City Lot options. Transit access is strong via CTA, including Brown Line Western stop and multiple bus routes (49 Western, 78 Montrose, 81 Lawrence, 11 Lincoln North). For visitors, nearby hotels and a variety of dining choices round out an easy weekend or weekday outing.
We recommend securing tickets, exploring showtimes for each venue space, and using our affiliate hotel and restaurant partners to maximize comfort and value for your Chicago visit.
Good to know
Seating, Parking & Venue Information
- Two concert spaces on the Lincoln Square Campus: Maurer Hall (West Building, 4544 N Lincoln Ave) and Szold Hall (East Building, 4545 N Lincoln Ave).
- Maximum capacities: Maurer Hall up to 430 seats; Szold Hall up to 150 seats (general admission); Szold has a maximum figure often cited as 170 in some materials.
- Seating: Maurer Hall generally assigned seating; Szold Hall is general admission.
- Parking and transit: a dedicated Old Town School parking lot behind the East Building; City Lot nearby; multiple CTA options including Brown Line Western stop and several bus routes (49 Western, 78 Montrose, 81 Lawrence, 11 Lincoln North).
- Nearby hotels: Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace (3434 N Broadway, ~2–3 miles away); Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago (644 W Diversey Pkwy); Hotel Lincoln (1816 N Clark St).
- Notable events: Square Roots Festival (originated from Lincoln Square/Lincoln Square Chamber collaborations); World Music Wednesday programs; a 50th-anniversary concert at Auditorium Theatre in 2007; the 2010–2012 expansion added Szold Hall and other facilities.
- Renaming/demolition status: the campus was expanded (new Szold Hall across the street in 2012) and the halls carry donor names (Gary & Laura Maurer Concert Hall; Myron R. Szold Music & Dance Hall); no demolition of the campus has occurred.