It's another fantastic weekend in August! So start planning your weekend with some incredible concerts, festivals, movies, and so much more! Plus don't forget to check out our roundup of Live Lit events including Poems While You Wait at Retro on Roscoe!
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 "REGULARS"A Solo Show by PITR! 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! 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
- 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 - 10/13 Mercury Canine Cruise
- NOW - 9/2 "Titanic: The Exhibition"
- NOW - 9/2 Rooftop Cinema Club Fulton Market @ The Emily Hotel
- NOW- 9/1 Sportsman’s Club Summer BBQ Series
- NOW - 9/15 Ravinia Festival
- NOW - 8/21 Millennium Park Summer Workouts (Saturdays)
THIS WEEKEND!
- 8/16 - 8/18 Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival
- 8/16 - 8/18 International Gem & Jewelry Show @ Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center
- 8/16 - 8/18 Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition @ Chicago Botanic Garden
- 8/17 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestra World Tour @ Symphony Center
- 8/17 Dim Sum & Drag @ Furama Restaurant
- 8/17 KOCO Fest @ Mandrake Park
- 8/17 BON Fest @ NEWCITY
- 8/18, 9/22 Andersonville Vintage Market
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 - AUGUST 18 (& BEYOND)
Fan Expo Chicago 2024 @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont, Friday & Saturday 10:00am – 7:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm , All Ages
WHAT: Another year of FanExpo!
SO WHAT: Fan Expo is three days of everything you ever wanted to know about nerd culture and geek stuff. There will be plenty of guests signing autographs, panels featuring interesting talks on the ins and outs of every creative process, and a constant parade of cosplayers walking the convention floor.
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $99 for all four days of the convention! Single day tickets are also available starting at $12 for ages 6-12, $38 for ages 13-17, and $48 for adults!
Glenwood Ave. Arts Fest @ Glenwood Ave Arts District, N Glenwood Ave & W Morse Ave, Friday 6:00pm -10:00pm, Saturday 11:00am – 9:00pm, Sunday 11:00am – 7:00pm
WHAT: Art, music, food, and more in Rogers Park!
SO WHAT: The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest is a free arts festival featuring over 100+ artists, open studios, and live entertainment on two outdoor stages. Attendees can view and purchase these artists’ wonderful artworks directly from the creators. Enjoy all the performances and art demonstrations alongside some tasty street food and craft beer! Music performances include Glyders, Impulsive Hearts, Tamarie T and Thee Elektra Kumpany, Sones De México Ensemble, Bashiri Asad, Whiskey For Jesus, Totally Cashed and more!
NOW WHAT: It’s free!
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
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 & 17 (& BEYOND)
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!
- 8/16 - Barbie - 8pm
- 8/16 - Us - 10:30pm
- 8/17- Grease -8pm
- 8/17 -Nightmare on Elm St. - 11pm
- 8/22 - Shrek - 8:00pm
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $35 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
Oak Park Micro Brew Review @ Downtown Oak Park, 100 N Marion St, Oak Park, 2:00pm – 6:00pm
WHAT: Brews, bites and tunes at the largest zero-waste craft beer fest in the Midwest!
SO WHAT: This awesome Micro Brew Review features unique and inventive brews from dozens of Illinois craft breweries for you to try! Additionally there will be plenty of live music and small plates from local restaurants available!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $55 for the main tasting event! There are also tickets that give you VIP access ($100) and early entry ($80)! Enjoy a great beer festival and help raise funds for Seven Generations Ahead, an environmental nonprofit working to promote healthy and sustainable communities.
Wave Wall Wax & Summer Fireworks @ Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, 5:30pm – 10:10pm
WHAT: Enjoy the spectacle of fireworks and great music 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. Plus before the fireworks the fantastic Wave Wall Wax event will be dishing out some incredible tunes!
- August 17 | 5:30PM-10PM
- Axsent, DJ Lego & Charlie Glitch
- August 24 | 1PM-10PM (LatiNxt)
- August 31 | 5:30PM-10PM
- Ron Carroll & Ariana DJ
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Just make your way to Navy Pier, find a spot, and enjoy the show !
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 17 & 18
Sangria Festival Chicago @ Humboldt Park, 3021 W. Division St., Noon – 10:00pm
WHAT: The perfect chance to sample some amazing sangrias!
SO WHAT: Sangria Festival Chicago is back for another year of sangria festivities! In addition to all the appetizing food and delicious drinks, there will be music throughout the day, samba and flamenco shows, a Paint and Sip Lounge, and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $25 per day and go up with whatever add-on you’d like to partake in this weekend! The festival as always is helping to raise awareness and funds for community organizations including Humboldt Park’s San Lucas Church Hot Meals Program for their fight against hunger in our neighborhoods.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
PorchFest Roscoe Village @ Between Addison and Wellington and from Ravenswood to Western, Various Locations, 1:00pm – 5:00pm, All ages
WHAT: Some fun music out on the porch
SO WHAT: PorchFest Roscoe Village is a community-building festival featuring local musicians performing on front porches across 10+ 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 $40 for a group of 4, ans children 12 and under are 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 theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is currently undergoing some great renovations, but they are always ready to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies like Didi, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, MUBI FEST Chicago, and more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theatres 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. Check out what's going this weekend at these great venues
- August 15 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- August 15 - Cherry Ferrari + Mariah Colon @ Schubas
- August 15 - Victony The Stubborn Tour + Piwa @ Lincoln Hall
- August 16 - The Juju Exchange + Nova Zaii @ Schubas
- August 16- Meet Me Upstairs Presents: ted dB + feral + Alex Julian Leeds @ Schubas
- August 16 - Wrestle League @ Lincoln Hall
- August 17 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Flow State + Ali Najdi + DJ Chia Pudding @ Schubas
- August 17 - Laur Elle + Lyncs + Susie McCollum @ Schubas
- August 17 - Skeptics' Guide To The Universe @ Lincoln Hall
- August 17 - Skeptics' Guide To The Universe @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- August 17 - TisaKorean The Silly Show + Your Stepdad + thirteendegrees @ Schubas
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
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.
- 9/3 Jesmyn Ward: Let Us Descend @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
- 9/15 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Pre-event Member Reception @ Harris Theater for Music and Dance
- 9/16 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Lovely One @ Harris Theater for Music and Dance
- 9/17 Abra Berens and Greta Johnsen: From Seed to Market to Plate @ Chop Shop
- 9/26 The Interview Show: Edward Burns + Elizabeth Moen @ FitzGerald's
- 9/29 aja monet @ Thalia Hall
- 10/5 Anna Marie Tendler: Men Have Called Her Crazy @ UIC Dorin Forum
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
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!