Say goodbye to May and Hello to June as we split the weekend between the months! As always there is just SO MUCH to do this weekend from amazing concerts at our favorite venues, great movies throughout the city, markets, art exhibitions, and so much more just waiting for you! Don't let these fantastic events pass you by, start planning your perfect weekend in Chicago!
Now, let's get on with your Chicago 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 Breaking the Bank: Solo Show by E.LEE & Friends! 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!
- 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! Heawebd over to see what new pieces of art they have in stocks and on display in their gallery space! This month they are showing the Tweedlebop Variety Show: New Works by Michael Fleming!
- 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
- Art on the Mart
- Wonderverse takes popular franchises like Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, and more and puts them together in this immersive venue! Enjoy tons of activities including escape rooms, virtual reality games, racing simulators, and more! Plus there are plenty of themed food and drinks for you to try.
- NOW- 11/30 Green City Market @ Lincoln Park on Saturdays and Wednesdays!
- NOW - 10/31 Chicago: Home of House Exhibit @ Navy Pier
- NOW - 10/27 Wicker Park Farmers Market on Sundays!
- NOW - 10/27 "007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond" @ Museum of Science and Industry
- NOW - 10/27 Wolff's Flea Market @ Allstate Arena on Sundays!
- NOW - 7/7 "Titanic: The Exhibition"
- NOW - 7/7 Rooftop Cinema Club Fulton Market @ The Emily Hotel
THIS WEEKEND!
- 5/30 Horsegirl, TV Buddha, Donkey Basketball @ Empty Bottle
- 5/31 Jeff Tweedy @ The Vic Theatre
- 5/31 An Evening With John Cusack @ Auditorium Theatre
- 5/31 Margarita Fest on the Beach @ Shore Club
- 5/31 Bark at the Ballpark @ Impact Field
- 5/31 - 6/30 Rhinofest @ Various Locations
- 6/1 Precocious Neophyte, Sunshy, Coral Grief, Golomb @ Sleeping Village
- 6/1 Italian Street Food Taste-Around @ Eataly Chicago
- 6/1 5K Fun Run @ Midwest Coast Brewing
- 6/1 Wizard Disco @ The Cauldron
- 6/1 - 6/2 Pullman Railroad Days @ Pullman Exhibit Hall
- 6/1 - 6/2 Rosemont Uncorked @ Parkway Bank Park
- 6/1 - 6/23 JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival @ Various Locations
- 6/1 - 9/1 Sportsman’s Club Summer BBQ Series
- 6/2 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Dumpstaphunk @ Outset
- 6/2 Run for the Zoo @ Lincoln Park Zoo
THURSDAY - SUNDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 2 (& BEYOND)
The Chicago House Music Festival @ Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St) Thursday 4pm-8pm, Friday 5:00pm-10:00pm; Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave) Saturday 1pm to 10pm, & Millennium Park Sunday 10am to 9pm
WHAT: The Chicago House Music Festival is back for another great year!
SO WHAT: The Chicago House Music Festival is splitting its time among a few venues this year! First on Thursday and Friday the conference will be at the Chicago Cultural Center with plenty of amazing conversations and panels going on. Then on Saturday Navy Pier will be home to the pre-party with some amazing DJs like CTRLZORA, DeeJay Alicia, Gene Hunt and tons more to keep you dancing all day long! Then Sunday is the main event with DJ Slugo, Farley Jackmaster Funk King of House Music, Wayne Williams and Alan King of the Chosen Few DJs and more ! Head over to their website for the full schedule!
NOW WHAT: Head out and enjoy some stellar House music this weekend!
Maifest 2024 @ 4521 N. Lincoln Ave. (Across from The Old Town School of Music) Thursday & Friday 5-10pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon - 10pm, All Ages
WHAT: Think Oktoberfest, but in May (well, June but close enough)
SO WHAT: Mayfest (Maifest in German) is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Maifest is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maypole (maibaum) decorated to show off the history and crafts of the local village or town. Expect lots of delicious food, live entertainment, and cultural activities to fill your weekend! Check out their schedule here!
NOW WHAT: Head out and enjoy the Maifest festivities!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MAY 31 - JUNE 2 (& BEYOND)
Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale @ Division between Damen & Leavitt; Friday 5:00pm -10:00pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon – 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Local vendors and restaurants between two amazing stages full of music.
SO WHAT: The Do Division Street Fest is back again, taking over Division Street from Damen to Leavitt. The wonderful festival features two live music stages, a family stage, and a wide variety of local vendors and food! Empty Bottle Presents and Subterranean have curated the stages, which will include performances from Divino Nino, Arm's Length, HOrsegirl, bnny, Susto, Free Range, Tobacco City, Avery Tare, and so many more! There will also be plenty of vendors, a Family Fun fest Section, DO Fashion show, and tons more!! Check out the full lineup and everything going on at the event at their event page!
NOW WHAT: There is a suggested $10 donation that will benefit the West Town Chamber of Commerce and local schools.
Lincoln Park Greek Fest @ St George Greek Orthodox Church, 2701 N. Sheffield Ave, Friday 5pm – 11pm, Saturday Noon – 11pm, Sunday Noon – 10pm, All Ages
WHAT: Take a trip to Lincoln Park as it throws its Greek Fest!
SO WHAT: St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lincoln Park, established in 1923 by Greek immigrants, is throwing a fun Greek festival! This fantastic fest will allow you to celebrate Greek traditions with authentic food, great modern and traditional Greek music, a beautiful craft fair, and dancing performances from some incredible dance troupes!
NOW WHAT: There is a suggested $10 donation, so just head over to Lincoln Park and enjoy all the activities.
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!
- 5/31 - Shrek - 8:45pm
- 5/31 - Us - 10:30pm
- 6/1 - Dune Part Two - 8:45pm
- 6/1 - Nightmare on Elm St. - 11:45pm
- 6/2 - Dune Part Two - 8:45pm
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $35 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience
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!
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $20! The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral will be continuing til February (and possibly beyond) over at their Patreon
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JUNE 1 & 2
Beyond Wonderland @ Huntington Bank Pavilion, 1300 S Linn White Dr., 2pm-11pm
WHAT: A electronic trip down the rabbit hole!
SO WHAT: It's the debut of Beyond Wonderland in Chicago! This electronic dnace music festival will take over the lakeside venue for two days of Alice in Wonderland themed madness highlighted but some incredible music. The lineup includes the likes of Diplo, Kaskade, Tiësto, Benny Benassi, Jai Wolf, and many more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $139.98 for single day passes, $229.98 for two day passes and go up for GA+ and VIP passes! Head over to their website for all the details!
57th Street Art Fair @ 57th & Hyde Park, Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm All Ages
WHAT: The 77th year of the 57th Street Art Fair, the Midwest’s oldest juried art fair
SO WHAT: The 57th Street Art Fair is back with an in-person celebration featuring 180 artists displaying and selling their incredible works of art in a variety of styles and media. Perfect for art lovers, the art fair features artists from around the country and an opportunity to speak with them about their process and more!. There will also be live music presented by Buddy Guy’s Legends and food from great food trucks including Robinson's No. 1 Ribs!
NOW WHAT: Admission is free! Get ready to see and buy some beautiful art at this great Hyde Park event!
Windy City Hot Dog Fest @ Six Corners, 4000 N Milwaukee Ave, Noon – 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Hot dogs, need we say more?
SO WHAT: Some of Chicagoland’s favorite hot dog spots will compete for who has the best dog at the inaugural Windy City Hot Dog Fest! You’ll get the chance to try some delicious hot dogs and enjoy some fun jams some great local and regional acts! There will also be a kids’ area, arts & crafts vendors and a top dog parade on Sunday.
NOW WHAT: Just head over, bring some cash for some dogs, and have a great time!
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Chicago Gospel Music Festival @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., 3:00pm – 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Celebrate Gospel music in the genre’s birthplace!
SO WHAT: The Chicago Gospel Music Festival will be presenting the top gospel artists in the country at Jay Pritzker Pavilion for an evening of beautiful music. The festival has always highlighted the diverse sounds of Gospel Music with a variety of styles from traditional choirs to contemporary urban gospel. Check out this year’s schedule here!
NOW WHAT: Admission is free! Head over to Millennium Park and enjoy this great festival
Summer Fireworks @ Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, 10:00pm – 10:10pm
WHAT: Enjoy the spectacle of fireworks all summer long
SO WHAT: Take a trip to Navy Pier and check out their dazzling display of fireworks! Each show features dramatic and popular music soundtracks with some special occasion soundtracks sprinkled throughout the season. It’s the first fireworks show of the year so kick off summer with this explosive tradition.
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Just make your way to Navy Pier, find a spot, and enjoy the show !
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
PorchFest Lakeview @ Between Grace to Wolfram and Ravenswood to Racine, Various Locations, 1:00pm – 5:00pm, All ages
WHAT: Some fun music out on the porch
SO WHAT: PorchFest Lakeview is a community-building festival featuring local musicians performing on front porches across 15 front porches throughout the afternoon! Lakeview residents volunteer their porches to host the concerts by local musicians throughout the afternoon. Head over to their event page for a full lineup of artists participating in the fest!
NOW WHAT: Register on Eventbrite to receive an event map with porch locations and showtimes sent via email the day before the program. Registration is $15 per person or $50 for a group of 4, and children 12 and under are free!
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. Their year may be over, but certainly be on the lookout for updates for next year's season as their website is constantly updated with new talks.
- 6/1 Preview: Projections of Panafrica @ Greenline Performing Arts Center
- 6/3 Reggie Watts @ Old Town School of Folk Music
- 6/4 Brad Mehldau: Performance and Conversation @ Old Town School of Folk Music
- 6/6 Jonathan Van Ness: Gorgeously Me @ Park West
- 6/8 Hip-Hop Is History with Questlove @ Thalia Hall
- 6/13 Jon Meacham: The Call to Serve @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- 9/29 aja monet @ Thalia Hall
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
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
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
- May 30 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- May 30 - serpentwithfeet The GRIP Tour + MiLES. + Khaliyah X@ Schubas
- May 31 -Eddie Pepitone Special Taping@ Lincoln Hall
- May 31- Another Michael + Tenci @ Schubas
- May 31 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Vince Patricola + Thomas Xu + Tommy Kladis @ Schubas
- May 31 - Eddie Pepitone Special Taping @ Lincoln Hall
- June 1 - Francis Of Delirium + Sharp Pins @ Schubas
- June 1 - Ceremony + SMUT + Stress Positions + UNIFLORA @ Lincoln Hall
- June 2 - Wesley School of Music Spring Recital @ Schubas
- June 2 - The Daily Beans LIVE + Renato Mariotti @ Schubas
- June 2 - Michael Marcagi + Lily Fitts@ Schubas SOLD OUT
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 theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is ready to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies like Solo, Babes, The Misfits, In a Violent Nature, Midnight screening of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theatres in the city!
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 The Price Sisters, Brian Conway, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, Ruby John, Sean "Mack" McDonald, and many 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!