Celebrating its 21st anniversary, SOFA CHICAGO—the world-renowned art fair dedicated to sculpture, objects, functional art & design— will kick this year’s event off with a preview party at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall on November 6. Running from November 7-9, the full affair will showcase installations, design competitions, lectures, select works and more.

Last year's event hosted 34,000 attendees and is expected to have a similar attendance this year. Works have been hand selected by esteemed curators, influential critics and the popular designers in the world of art and design. Over 70 galleries will contribute featured pieces crafted with the utmost expertise and creativity in metals, woods, fabrics, glass and ceramics.

CONNECT Design Competition, the university-level design competition, returns again this year with an additional six art and design schools from across the country. Under the supervision of faculty, students will be able to exhibit their create environments and designs to an international audience. Students will work with elements like lighting, special awareness and seating in the hopes of winning a cash prize.

The event's lecture series will showcase notable figures in design who will cover covering a number of subjects such as contemporary trends. Another returning crowd favorite is the Hot Glass Roadshow presented by the Corning Museum of Glass. At this installation, attendees will get to witness the mesmerizing act of professional glassblowing right on the fair's show floor.

The SOFA CHICAGO fair will offer tickets in advance or at the door. The price of admission includes access to all events except the opening night preview party. Single-day admission is $15, a three-day pass is $25. Discount pricing is available for students and seniors.