Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 3/12 and Beyond

It's St. Paddy's day weekend! While the weather may not be the most ideal for all the Irish-themed festivities this weekend (including some incredible food and drink options), that surely won't stop us from heading out in to the chilly, then suddenly warm and rainy (Sunday forecast is 60 degrees!) streets of Chicago! Add in festivals like Synth Fest, 312 celebrations, and even more events next week like Pattie Gonia at Thalia Hall on St. Patrick's Day and you have yourself a full schedule!

Let's get on with your curated weekend!

The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7pm, 16+
WHAT: Quick plays live and online!
SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists' Infinite Wrench is an ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience.
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $15-20!  The Infinite Wrench and more is also available over at their Patreon!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 14 & 15

WHAT: St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago can be a lot, so why not plan ahead and decide exactly what you’ll be doing this weekend!
SO WHAT: Check out all the festivities below and while you're at it get a drink and a bite over at Guinness Open Gate Brewery Offerings and Fatback Sammies!

March 14

• 10am – Dyeing of the Chicago River @ The Chicago River, West of Columbus to East of Orleans
• 10am - Avondale St. Patrick's Day Parade @ 3471 N. Elston Ave
• 11am – 5pm – Shamrock’n the Block @ 625 W. Adams Advance tickets sales are sold out! A very limited amount of general admission tickets will be sold at the door.
• Noon - Archer Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade @ Archer Avenue east from Oak Park to Merrimac.
• 12:15pm (entry starts at 10am) – Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off at Balbo and Columbus Drive proceeding north to Monroe Street & broadcast on ABC-Channel 7 and streaming on their website and app!
• 12:30pm – 11pm – St. Patricks Fest 2025 @ Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave.
  • Enjoy traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and drink for purchase, children’s activities, and an Arts and Craft Fair with vendors selling Irish gifts. Tickets are available now and children 12 and under are free.

March 15

• 11am - 3pm - St. Patrick’s Day @ Gallagher Way
• Noon – Northwest Side Irish Parade @ Neola & Raven (start of parade)
• Noon - 3:00pm – South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade @ 103rd and Western Avenue.
• 1pm – 11pm – St. Patricks Fest 2025 @ Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave.
  • Enjoy traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and drink for purchase, children’s activities, and an Arts and Craft Fair with vendors selling Irish gifts. Tickets are available now and children 12 and under are free.

NOW WHAT: Click the links above for more details and have a splendid St. Patrick’s Day Weekend!

THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND

Synth Fest 2026 @ Life on Marz (1950 N Western Ave) & Marz Community Brewing (3630 S Iron St), Various Times
WHAT: Good beer, great music, and an awesome flea market
SO WHAT: Share the love of electronic and synthesizer music with some like-minded folks over at Marz Community Brewing. Check out some live performances from Chicagoland’s excellent electronic music scene, have a few brews, and don’t miss out on the Synth Flea Market on Sunday 3/15 at Marz Community Brewing (3630 S Iron St)! Check out the full lineup on their website!
NOW WHAT: It’s free to attend so head out and enjoy the vibes!

Weekend Shows @ Lincoln Hall & Schubas, 2424 N Lincoln Ave & 3159 N Southport Ave, various times, 18+
WHAT: A full weekend of amazing shows at Schubas and Lincoln Hall!
SO WHAT: Lincoln Hall and Schubas are some of our favorite venues in the city and they always have something great going on. This weekend is the start of their month long festival TNK, so you can check out what those show have going on just above this!

• 3/12 - Vendredi Sur Mer + FINGY @ Lincoln Hall
• 3/13 - Cousin Simple + Violet Crime + Coach House Band @ Schubas
• 3/13 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Lover's Lounge + Cow @ Schubas (Upstairs)
• 3/14 - The Ike Reilly Assassination + Special Guest Brendan O'Shea @ Schubas
• 3/14 - RECESSION INDICATOR A Recession Pop Dance Party: St. Paddy's Day Edition DJ Moonlanding + Sara Kay @ Lincoln Hall
• 3/15 -The Ike Reilly Assassination + Special Guest Brendan O'Shea @ Schubas
• 3/15 -ALEXSUCKS AUTOPILOT TOUR + Dogma Society @ Lincoln Hall

NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!

Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, various times
WHAT: A great way to support a great local movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations, and it's ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like Andre is an Idiot, Sirat, Project Hail Mary - 70mm Early Access, 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films, 2026 Oscar Nominated Live Action Short Films, Filth and Freedom: Selections from the Vinegar Syndrome Film Archive, Psycho Goreman + Deathstalker, a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!

Chicago Humanities: New Talks and Video Archives @ Various Locations & Chicago Humanities Festival YouTube channel, your favorite browser or YouTube app, any time you want some inspiration, All Ages
WHAT: Interesting conversations with interesting people!
SO WHAT: Chicago Humanities Festival always brings some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. There's tons of talks going on this season, so head over to their website, which is constantly updated with new talks. And be sure to check out their podcast Chicago Humanities Tapes, which features conversations with some of their best presenters and other great humanities-minded minds! Check out their talk with Ed Helms below!

• 3/24 A Night With Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur @ Salt Shed - Three Top Lounge
• 3/29 An Evening with Senator Cory Booker @ Thalia Hall
• 4/11 R.F. Kuang in Conversation @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
• 4/15 Michael Pollan: A World Appears @ Francis W. Parker School
• 4/18 Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Chain of Ideas @ Ramova
• 4/23 A Night With NPR’s Planet Money @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture

NOW WHAT: Head over to take a look at their past events here! You should also sign up for their email list to get updates on upcoming talks in 2025

University of Chicago Folk Festival @ Your favorite spot in your home, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic folk festival
SO WHAT: University of Chicago Folk Festival might have come and gone but their digital presence is still around, making sure the wonderful music reaches as many people as possible! You can check out the past few years of performances on their Facebook page and their YouTube channel any time you want! This past year's performers included Gap Civil, High Fidelity, Lissa Schneckenburger & Garrett Cameron, Ethan Leinwand, Jontavious Willis, Luke Huval Band, Mariachi Flor de Primavera, and more!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their Facebook page and their YouTube channel and enjoy the show! We highly encourage you to donate to help support this fantastic folk festival!

Pattie Gonia: SAVE HER Feat. Sequoia and VERA 3/17 @ Thalia Hall
WHAT:  The 2026 national tour of “Save Her!”-an environmental drag show also featuring Vera! and Sequoia to fight the fascist power with massive wigs, copious glitter and luscious lip syncs.
SO WHAT: With over 1.5 million followers, queen and singer Pattie Gonia co-founded The Outdoorist Oath, a nonprofit to get LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks into the outdoors, as well as founded the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board, fundraised over $4.7 million for related nonprofits, produced three films, and can spelunk in stilettos.
NOW WHAT: Celebrate St. Pattie Gonia’s Day on March 17th with tickets to this fierce and inspirational show.