Brand Experience · Live Events · Chicago · London · New York · 2023 — 2024

The North Face
Climb Festival

Client
The North Face
Role
Creative Director
Venues
Navy Pier Chicago · Canary Wharf London · Brooklyn Bridge Park New York
Premiered
August 5, 2023 · Navy Pier, Chicago
Scroll
← All Work
Overview

A global festival platform bringing together elite climbing competition and urban culture across three world-class waterfront venues. The North Face Climb Festival debuted at Navy Pier, Chicago in 2023 — the world's first Psicobloc Masters competition staged above Lake Michigan on a 55-foot deep water solo wall — before expanding to Canary Wharf in London and Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York. World-renowned athletes including Chris Sharma, Emily Harrington, and Jimmy Chin competed and hosted across the global tour, with free public access drawing thousands of spectators per event alongside an immersive retail experience, athlete panels, and live DJ programming.

By the Numbers
55FT
Deep water solo wall ·
above Lake Michigan at Navy Pier
3
Global waterfront venues ·
Chicago · London · New York
Free
Public admission across all three
global venues · no tickets required
1st
Psicobloc Masters ever staged
above open water in Chicago
Inside the Experience
Psicobloc Masters · 55-foot Wall · Brooklyn Bridge Park New York
Psicobloc Masters · 55-foot Wall · Brooklyn Bridge Park New York
The North Face Climb Festival · Chicago 2023
The North Face Climb Festival · Chicago 2023
Climb Festival · Athlete Competition
Climb Festival · Athlete Competition
Deep Water Solo · Psicobloc Masters
Deep Water Solo · Psicobloc Masters
The North Face Climb Festival
The North Face Climb Festival
Climb Festival · New York 2024
Climb Festival · New York 2024
Athlete · McCausland Photography
Athlete · McCausland Photography
The North Face Climb Festival · Global Tour
The North Face Climb Festival · Global Tour
"
We see walls as a place to unite our communities through the sport of climbing — a sport that requires trust and partnership.
Tom Herbst · Global VP Marketing · The North Face
Press
Time Out Chicago
Navy Pier hosts the first-ever North Face Climb Festival — free public event introducing new audiences to elite deep water solo climbing
Gripped Magazine
Big Psicobloc falls in Chicago — world-class climbers gather for 55-foot wall competition above Lake Michigan
Gothamist
A 55-foot climbing wall comes to Brooklyn Bridge Park for The North Face Climb Festival — free and open to the public
The Face
The North Face Climb Festival lands in London — Deep Water Solo at Canary Wharf with sets from Ross From Friends and NiNE8 Collective
UKClimbing
The North Face Climb Festival: Mind the Drop — London edition at Canary Wharf Dock features 17-metre wall and pro athlete workshops
PRNewswire
The North Face celebrates Global Climbing Day — 30% of Americans interested in rock climbing as Climb Festival expands globally