It's been a rainy month but that hasn't stopped the events from pouring in week after week. This weekend includes some incredible music festivals like the Winnetka Music Festival, plenty of farmers and street markets, fantastic literary events happening throughout the month includingAfter Hours at Quimby's and so much more! Scroll down and take a look at what's happening over the next few days!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
ART GALLERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
- All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! RIGHT NOW they are showing "ParkLife" BY Blake Jones and Friends!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm!
- Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stock and on display in their gallery space! Right Now they're showing Further Isn't Far Enough, Paintings and Prints by Chuck U!
- WNDR Museum is an ever-evolving immersive art and technology experience designed to ignite your curiosity! See exhibits like the Light Floor, Try to Get Higher, and the Digital Gallery.
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens! See what current exhibits are on display now.
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND & BEYOND!
- 6/19 & 6/20 Winnetka Music Festival @ Downtown Winnetka
- 6/19 & 6/20, 7/17 & 7/18, 8/14 & 8/15 Naper Nights Summer Concert Series @ Naper Settlement
- 6/19 & 6/20 The Taste of Highland Park @ Port Clinton Square
- 6/20 - 9/5 Wave Wall Wax @ Navy Pier (Most Saturdays)
- 6/21 Make Music Chicago @ Various Locations
- NOW - 9/7 Live on the Lake! 2026 @ Navy Pier
- NOW 9/7 Grant Park Music Festival @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- NOW - 9/20 Skyline Sessions 2026 @ Navy Pier (most Thursdays and Fridays)
- NOW - 10/25 Maxwell Street Market
- NOW - 10/25 Wicker Park Farmers Market
- NOW - 8/30 David Byrne’s Theater of the Mind @ Reid Murdoch Building
- NOW - 9/2 Summer Fireworks @ Navy Pier (Saturdays and Wednesdays)
- NOW -9/7 Chicago Dogs @ Impact Field
- NOW - 9/5 Millennium Park Summer Workouts
- NOW - 9/7 EmotionAir: Art You Can Feel @ The Fields Studios
- NOW - 6/1 Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color @ The Art Institute of Chicago
- NOW - 4/11/27 Pokémon Fossil Museum @ The Field Museum
- 6/25 - 6/28 Rotary GroveFest @ Downers Grove
- 6/28 Garden Walk & Unique Boutique @ Garden Walk & Unique Boutique
- 7/22 - 7/25 Midwest Film Festival
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Rockin’ in the Park @ Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont.
WHAT: A long lineup of great bands ready to rock
SO WHAT: Rockin’ in the Park will take over Parkway Bank Park for a full summer shows full of fun tribute bands and rock-focused bands. Then after the shows enjoy a musical fireworks display! This evening will feature Infatuation STL!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Head out and enjoy the shows!
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
Open Studios and Art Walk @ Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th Street, 7pm-10pm and various hours
WHAT: An opportunity to see the some beautiful art and studios.
SO WHAT: Every third Friday Bridgeport Art Center opens its doors for you to meet their curator, painters, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, ceramic artists, woodworkers and Project Onward artists. Plus,x yu can head on the Bridgeport Art Walk and explore all the amazing of museums, galleries, artist studios, restaurants, theaters, music shops, antique stores, and bookstores in Bridgeport!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Explore the incredible Bridgeport art scene!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JUNE 19 - 21 (& BEYOND)
Taste of Randolph @ Randolph St Between Peoria and Racine, 900 W Randolph St, Friday 5pm – 10pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon – 10pm, All Ages
WHAT: Another year of this foodie street festival
SO WHAT: Taste of Randolph brings together some excellent names in Chicago dining, featuring over 16 restaurants known for delectable menus and irresistibly unique flavors, for this delicious event! There will also be a curated a list of bands and musicians (including the biggest names in Chicago house music) performing on two stages to entertain guests on their culinary trip down Randolph. Some of the band highlights include Ok Cool, Neptune's Core, Jakobs Castle, Matt Maeson, The Happy Fits, Joyce Manor, and many more! And let’s not forget the Kids Stage Performances!
NOW WHAT: Entry is FREE!. Taste of Randolph will be raising money through a online 50/50 cash raffle, online silent auction, and on site barrel raffle which benefits the West Loop Community Organization, which has been advocating for the West Loop neighborhood since 1991, supporting local businesses and economic development
ChiTown Movies @ Pilsen Neighborhood, 2343 S. Throop St, Various Times, All Ages
WHAT: An old school experience for the modern age
SO WHAT: Take a trip back in time and head out to a drive-in movie with ChiTown Movies. Ever since the pandemic started and shut down traditional movie screening, a few pop-up drive-ins have arrived and ChiTown Movies has persevered, offering up modern movies in this retro setting. Check out their lineup at their website for showings this weekend and in the future!
- 6/18 Lilo & Stitch (the 2002 original) 8:45pm
- 6/18 Scream 7 11pm
- 6/19 Shrek 8:45pm
- 6/19 Nightmare on Elm Street 10:45pm
- 6/20 Scream (The Original!) 8:45pm
- 6/20 Scream 7 11pm
- 6/21 Ferris Bueller's Day Off 8:45pm
- 6/21 Scream 7 10:45pm
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, JUNE 20 & 21
Chicago Pride Fest @ Northalsted on Halsted Street from Addison St to Grace St, 11:00am – 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: The official Chicago Pride Fest
SO WHAT: No one celebrates Pride better than Northalsted!Chicago Pride Fest, held during National Pride Month, celebrates the LGBTQ+ achievements as a community in their annual two-day street festival leading up to Chicago’s world famous Pride Parade the following week. The event features tons of food and drinks, 150+ arts/crafts vendors, DJ’s and dancing, drag shows, pet parade, games, giveaways and more. There are also three stages of artists performing throughout the fest including Alex Chapman + Zoe Gitter present: GAG; Black Girl Magicc w. the Vixen Yvie Oddly, and Heidi N Closet; Wic Whitney, Flyana Boss, Caroline Kingsbury, Durand Bernarr, MNEK, Sizteen Candles, G Flip, Mr. Pretty & Friends, Avi Sic, Willa Ford, Anthony Rapp, and more! See the full lineup of performers and the schedule here!
NOW WHAT: There is a $20 suggested donation at the gate, which helps pay performers and festival workers, and funds community programs.
Gold Coast Art Fair @ Butler Field in Grant Park, S Lake Shore Dr & E Monroe St , 10am – 5pm
WHAT: 68th year of Gold Coast Art Fair
SO WHAT: Head out to Butler Field in Grant Park to see the work of 200 juried artists from across the country. Artists will be displaying beautiful pieces in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and more. There will also be plenty of art demonstrations, art talks, 10 live acts performing live music, delicious food and drinks, and more throughout the fair!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $17.85, with $2 from each sale benefiting WINGS Program, Inc. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
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 The Lord of the Rings in 35mm, Leviticus, First Peek Members Week, Fond of His Mother: Queer-coded Hitchcock, a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show and more this weekend!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!
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.
- 6/18 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM and SAM SELBY @ Schubas (Upstairs) (FREE)
- 6/18 - The Hotelier "Goodness" 10th Anniversary + Graham Hunt @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- 6/18 -The Silver Palms + The Sunchokes @ Schubas
- 6/19 - The Hotelier "Goodness" 10th Anniversary + The Ophelias @ Lincoln Hall
- 6/19 -Meet Me Upstairs Presents Anthony Cruz and Double Dipp Present: Full Circle + IAmBrandon @ Schubas (Upstairs)
- 6/19 - PERRY MAYSUN A Very Pathetic Tour + Isaiah Poet @ Schubas
- 6/20 - Greg Mendez + Scarlet Rae @ Lincoln Hall
- 6/20 - Prewn + Pearl Sugar @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 6/21- ALLY NICHOLAS + Shyeye + Sir Echo @ Schubas
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
SUNDAY, JUNE 21 (& BEYOND)
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!
- 6/28 Ann Patchett: Whistler @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
- 10/12 SIMPLE TOO: An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi @ 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!
