The fall- and Halloween-themed events are ramping up this weekend with tons of unique experiences happening all over town! Movies, theater, markets, music, so much is happening this weekend, so don't let it pass you by!
Now, let's get on with your Chicago Curated Weekend!
- Support Local Venues
- Kingston Mines
- Fitzgerald's
- Evanston Space
- Head over to the Hideout's regular shop and get yourself some great merch! Their 2020 Holiday Sale page is also still up with links to great local artists!
- Metro shop is full of fantastic concert posters from yesteryear and cool merch
- Lincoln Hall/Schubas always has great items in their shop waiting for you!
- Same goes for Thalia Hall's merch store
- Let's not forget Empty Bottle's fantastic merch shop!
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 Chicago Style: Hold The Ketchup featuring everyone's favorite Chicago encased meat: the Hotdog! Plus you can check out some of their prints from their Vertical Gallery collab, which you can purchase here!! There is also a virtual gallery featuring all the works! You can also see "Saturday Morning Fever” featuring the works of Griffin Goodman through their virtual gallery! And don't forget to check out the virtual edition of JC Rivera's new exhibition "Still Undefeated" ! Or the All Decked Out virtual show!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm! Currently they are showing @!#?@!: the Art, Design and Sound of Q*bert
- Galerie F has a fun stock of prints from concert posters, pop culture prints and more!
- Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stocks and on display in their gallery space!
- 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. Plus Keith Haring!
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely!
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely
- “Mold-A-Rama™: Molded for the Future” @ Museum of Science and Industry
- NOW - 11/12 Mozart Immersive: The Soul of a Genius
- Art on the Mart
- NOW - 12/31 Karen's Diner - A pop-up dining establishment where you get an extra dose of sass with your order
- SUNDAYS till 10/29 Maxwell Street Market 9am-3pm
- SUNDAY - 10/29 Wicker Park Farmers Market Series
- NOW - 10/29 Back 2 The Video Store: A 90s Speakeasy Bar
- NOW - 10/29 Jack O’Lantern World (Lake Zurich)
- NOW - 10/30 CLUE: A Walking Mystery
- NOW - 10/15 Malibu Barbie Cafe
- NOW - 10/20 Nightmare on Clark Street
- NOW-10/8 Oktoberfest at The Northman Beer & Cider Garden
- NOW - 10/22 : Night of 1,000 Jack-o-‘Lanterns
- NOW - 11/5 Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up
THIS WEEKEND ONLY
- 10/13 Tacos & Tequila Fest at the Zoo - Adults Only Evening at Lincoln Park Zoo
- 10/13-10/14 Stews & Brews (Highland Park)
- 10/13-10/14 Garden of Garden
- 10/13-10/14 The 13th Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch
- 10/13-10/15 Black Alphabet Film Festival 2023
- 10/14 Burning Bush & River Room Fall Fest
- 10/14-10/15 Fall Festival at Cantigny Park (Wheaton)
- 10/14-10/15 The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest & Skeleton Invasion
- 10/14-10/15 Harvest Pow Wow (Wheaton)
- 10/15 Fall Wine Walk (Andersonville)
- 10/15 WineRival Chicago
- 10/15 Bloody Mary Fest
FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 & 14 (& BEYOND)
Garden of Decay @ Navy Pier,600 E. Grand Ave., 6pm-7pm (All Ages), 6pm-Midnight (18+)
WHAT: Brand new immersive theater experience at Navy Pier for Halloween!
SO WHAT: Explore a once-famed genetic plant lab with a haunting twist at Garden of Decay at Navy Pier! The adventure will tell the tale of "a grieving botanist’s desperate quest for resurrection" through amazing art installation guided by audio narration! There will also be a Garden of reCreation with interactive art, themed vendors, botanical cocktails, and late-night entertainment.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $49.34 for this great new Halloween experience!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 - 15 (& BEYOND)
The Neo-Futurists' The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7:00pm, 16+
WHAT: Quick plays live and online!
SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists are back ! Their Infinite Wrench is an ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience. Now it's actually a live audience that will be enjoying the performance in person! With plenty of COVID precautions in place, you'll be able to enjoy the funny, disgusting, profound, terrifying, irreverent, and downright entertaining show with friends!
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $15! Head over to their website to see all they have planned now that in-person audiences are a thing again! If you're still a little anxious about going out, The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral will be continuing til February (and possibly beyond) over at their Patreon
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 (and 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. Be on the lookout for updates to the current season as their website is constantly updated with new talks. Here is a taste of what's coming up!
- 10/14 Oliver Jeffers
- 10/14 Bob and Erin Odenkirk in Conversation with Peter Sagal
- 10/19 Rachel Maddow in Conversation with Kathleen Belew
- 10/21 Improving the American Experiment
- 10/21 Queer Eye's Bobby Berk
- 10/30 Chef Eric Ripert and Christopher Kimball
- 11/1 An Evening with Thurston Moore
- 11/4 Henry Winkler
- 11/5 David Brooks in Conversation with Jonathan Capehart
- 12/5 Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7
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 2023
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 & 15
Chicago Vintage Festival @ 18th and Blue Island, Noon – 7:00pm
WHAT: A wonderful market for all!
SO WHAT: Head over to Chicago Vintage Festival and discover the wares of over 100 vendors sharing vintage finds and handmade items! Plus you can enjoy some delicious food and drinks from a couple of food trucks on hand. There will also be plenty of music and a gamers lounge!
NOW WHAT: It’s free!
Open House Chicago @ Various locations, Various times, all ages
WHAT: A chance to see some of the beautiful buildings Chicago has to offer.
SO WHAT: The Chicago Architecture Foundation will be opening doors to the city’s most interesting places, with more than 170 sites in 20+ neighborhoods offering a chance to experience behind-the-scenes access. You’ll be able to explore the culture and diversity of our amazing city through its impressive architecture. All the tours are free (unless otherwise noted) and are first-come, first-served. Visit the Open House Chicago website for a full list of locations.
NOW WHAT: Head over to their website and plan these 48 hours accordingly.
BOO! at the Zoo @ Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W 31st St, 10:00am – 6:00pm, All ages
WHAT: Add a little Halloween fun to your Zoo Trip!
SO WHAT: Brookfield Zoo turns into a Halloween wonderland during the spooky season with tons of photo ops, a corn maze, a Creepy Carousel, virtual reality 4D theater show Jinxed, a magician, pumpkin feedings for the animals, fun zoo chats and so much more! Head over to their event page for all the ghoulish details!
NOW WHAT: Entry to the zoo is $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $20.95 for children 3-11, and children 2 and under are free!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15
Chicago Pizza Summit @The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, 1750 N Milwaukee Ave, 11am to 2pm & 3pm to 6pm, 21+
WHAT: Chicago Pizza Summit is back for their first gathering since 2019!
SO WHAT: Chicago’s favorite pizza institutions and cooks from around the city will gather to present their take on this beloved Windy City classic. Many participants will serve up their cheesy creations by the slice while others will present their unique twist and showcase different types of pizza-inspired cuisine! The summit will feature two different sessions (11am to 2pm and 3pm to 6pm) and will feature "a surprise keynote speaker, the ultimate pizza photo booth experience, a Pizza Tattoo Parlor, a Pizza Themed Best Dressed contest, tunes by top Chicago DJs, a Chicago pizza pop-up art showcase, and select proceeds from the event benefiting the local non-profit Doughnate Pizza".
NOW WHAT: Each ticket is $65 + applicable fees and includes all-you-can-eat pizza, three drink tickets and a limited edition pizza plate.
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
The 59th Chicago International Film Festival @ Various Theaters & Streaming straight to your home, various times
WHAT: An annual film tradition is back in theaters, but it keeps a lot of the last few year’s virtual screenings intact!
SO WHAT: The 59th Chicago International Film Festival is back and ready to deliver quality film-making to Chicago! You'll get the chance to enjoy a stunning collection of feature-length films, shorts, and in-person celebrations over 12 days right here in Chicago! Check out our preview of the festival here!
NOW WHAT: You can check out their website for more details on this fantastic festival! You can also see their full schedule in their festival guide!
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. Check out what's going this weekend at these great venues
- October 12 - LHST Comedy Presents: Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SUZ BALLOUT, Sharron Palm, and Sam Selby @ Schubas
- October 12 - Geese + PACKS @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- October 12 - Próxima Parada + Olive Klug @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- October 13 - Blanco White + Edwin Raphael @ Lincoln Hall
- October 13 - Esmé Patterson + V.V. Lightbody@ Schubas
- October 13 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Vibes on Logan @ Schubas
- October 14 - Margo Cilker + Christy Hays @ Schubas
- October 14 -Stop Light Observations + Cheap Monarchy @ Lincoln Hall
- October 15 - Pig Swig Record Dig @ Schubas
- October 15 - Safekeeping + Why Bother + Strawberry Launch + Walkney @ Schubas
- October 15 - Small Black 10 Years Of Limits Of Desire + Claire George @ Lincoln Hall
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
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 below for showings this weekend and in the future!
- 10/13 Friday the 13th - 7pm
- 10/13 Friday the 13th - 9:30pm
- 10/14 The Notebook - 8pm
- 10/14 Scream 6 - 10:30pm
- 10/20 Beetlejuice - 7pm
- 10/20 Hocus Pocus- 9pm
- 10/20 Nope - 11pm
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $33 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience
Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave and at your home, any time you want to watch a movie
WHAT: A great way to support a great local theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is ready to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies including Stop Making Sense, Joan Baez I Am a Noise, The Road Dance, Eric LaRue, Srigala, Summer Stock, Bride of Music Box of Horrors, Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder Matinees Part 2, and more! But if you want to watch some first-run movies at home, you can still watch great movies online! The theater's sister company, Music Box Films, offers a wide range of films available to stream any time via The Music Box Direct series! There are also tons of select titles available on their new platform!
NOW WHAT: Digital subscription is $4.99 a month, $49.99 a year, in person screenings vary, so sit back and enjoy!
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 Balfa Toujours, Donka & Nikolay Kolev, Juan Rivera, Henry Barnes & Conner Vlietstra, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Jerron Paxton; Tim Britton, John Williams and Katie Grennan!
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!
Masque of the Red Coronavirus! @ Black Button Eyes Productions, Any time on your computer or mobile device. For 18+.
WHAT: Written by Black Button Eyes Productions producing artistic director Ed Rutherford, this short satirical piece is available online free as a combined script-and-video experience.
SO WHAT: In addition to reading the play, you will see various Chicago artists act out portions of the script on video, recorded remotely. The event includes puppets, burlesque, original music, fire dancing and more in a brief, darkly comedic confection.
With the Red Coronavirus running rampant across the countryside and a vaccine still months away, what's a Prince to do? Lock himself in a secure bunker in an undisclosed location along with a cohort of his top donors, of course. To prevent him and his rich supporters from becoming bored, the Prince has also brought a few artists into the bunker to entertain the crowd. But as the hour grows later and the night grows weirder, it's clear that something else has also invaded the party.
NOW WHAT: Settle down for a great watch!