We are smack dab in the middle of summer and the atmosphere is perfect! There are so many street fests, concerts, and amazing literary events happening all month long! So put on your best outfit and get out into the warm weather and enjoy everything our great city has to offer.
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!
- 7/11 Fresh Fest @ Navy Pier
- 7/11 John Mulaney @ Wrigley Field
- 7/11 - 7/12 Southport Art Fest
- 7/12 Slice of Chicago: A Pizza 5K Run (Walk + Run) @ Soldier Field
- 7/12 Kids’ Fest @Thornton
- 7/12 Jazz Up Music Festival @ Glen Ellyn
- 7/12 Forge Fest @ Lemont
- 7/12 Summer Mela @ Near South Side
- 7/12 Naperville Ale Fest
- 7/12 - 7/13: Southport Art Fest @ Lakeview
- 7/12 - 7/13: Barrio Arts Festival @ Humboldt Park
- 7/13: Bastille Day @ Navy Pier
- 7/22 - 7/25 Midwest Film Festival
- NOW - 8/25 Ravinia Festival
- NOW - 8/15 Grant Park Music Festival @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- NOW - 9/7 Live on the Lake! 2026 @ Navy Pier
- 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
THURSDAY, JULY 9 (& BEYOND)
Rockin’ in the Park USA FEST@ 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 weekend is will feature New World Men!
NOW WHAT: Head out and enjoy these free shows!
SATURDAY, JULY 11 (& BEYOND)
The 36th Annual Chosen Few DJs Picnic and Festival @ Jackson Park, E Hayes Dr & E 63rd St, 8:00am – 10:00pm
WHAT:A full day of great music and more!
SO WHAT: After a pair of digital editions of the fest, Chosen Few DJs Picnic and Festival are returning to an in-person event! The wonderful day will include DJ sets from The Chosen Few DJs Alan King, Andre Hatchett, Jesse Saunders, Mike Dunn, Terry Hunter, Tony Hatchett, Kim Parham, and Wayne Williams. There will also be sets from special guests DJ Jazzy Jeff, Boolu Master, DJ Slugo, AMG and more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $89.94 for this amazing outdoor fest!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JULY 10 - 12 (& BEYOND)
Square Roots Festival 2026 @ Lincoln Square, on Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson, Friday 5:00pm -10:00pm, Saturday Noon – 10:00pm, Sunday Noon – 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Lincoln Square’s excellent summer party!
SO WHAT: Join this bustling neighborhood for the Square Roots Festival featuring great food and regional craft beer, as well as unique and exciting market vendors. There will also be some amazing bands and artists from around the world entertaining the crowd on four stages throughout the fest! Headliners include Margo Price, DEHD, Nick Loe & Los Straightjackets; along with other incredible acts like Hurray for the RIff Raff, Deeper, GRELLEY DUVALL FEAT. FINOM, and so many more!
NOW WHAT: Square Roots entry is free! They do ask for a donation that help support non-profit organizations Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and Old Town School Of Folk Music.
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!
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
Taste of Chicago 2022 @ Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Jackson & Columbus, 11:00am – 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: The big, over-the-top mainstay food celebration of Chicago
SO WHAT: It may happen every year to mixed results, but you can still find some great things at the Taste of Chicago. There is a hefty list of 30+ food vendors participating in this year’s return to Grant Park. Plus there are tons of musical acts playing for free including Girl K, Local H, Drive by Truckers, and Nelly! Take a look at their map for an idea of the scope of this annual food fest!
NOW WHAT: Make your way to Grant Park and have yourself a good time. Getting into the Taste of Chicago is free, but of course you’ll have to shell out for food and this year there will be no food tickets, so bring cash or card!
Windy City Smokeout @ United Center, 1901 W Madison St, Various Times
WHAT: BBQ, beer, and all the country music you could wish for!
SO WHAT: Your favorite country music festival is back at the United Center parking lot for four(!) full days of summer fun! In addition to all the great BBQ from the world’s best pitmasters and beers from fantastic breweries that Windy City Smokeout provides, you’ll get the chance to check out headliners like Hootie and the Blowfish, Lainey WIlson, JOrdan Davis, Blake Shelton,, and more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets for for the weekend are still available! Single day passes start at $85 and 4 day passes start at $299.99!
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!
- 7/9 Mean Girls (the orginal!) 8:45pm
- 7/9 Nightmare on Elm Street 10:45pm
- 7/10 Lilo & Stitch (the 2002 original) 8:45pm
- 7/10 Scream 7 0:45pm
- 7/11 The Notebook 8:45pm
- 7/11 Night of the Living Dead (The Original) 11pm
- 7/12 Shrek 8:45pm
- 7/12 Scream (The Original!) 10:30pm
- 7/15 The Notebook 8:45pm
- 7/15 Halloween (the 1978 Original!)10:45pm
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 Rose of Nevada, Maddie's Secret, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, Looney Tunes on 35mm, Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut, MUBI Fest 2026, The Chicago Film Society Presents, 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.
- 7/9 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM and SAM SELBY @ Schubas (Upstairs) (FREE)
- 7/9 - The Bug Club + Golomb @ Lincoln Hall
- 7/9 - corto.alto + Wave Cage @ Schubas
- 7/10 - AKRIILA + Heartgaze @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 7/10 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Private Practice @ Schubas
- 7/11 - DUSTBOWLCHAMPION + Computer Kill + Night Ritualz @ Schubas
- 7/11 - AKRIILA + Heartgaze @ Lincoln Hall
- 7/12 - Soft Fiction Album Release Show + White Lucy + Shop Class @ Schubas
- 7/12 - Congress the Band + The Gringos + Rigometrics @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
SUNDAY, JULY 5 (& 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!
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!
