Get ready for a full weekend as there are so many movies, concerts, festivals and markets going on to get you into the summer spirit. So start planning the next few days of fun in the sun and enjoy!
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 Dead Presidents! 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!
- 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! This month they'll be exhibiting Hit The Streets! : An All American Trash Skate deck Exhibit!
- 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
- 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 - 7/13 Titanique The Musical @ Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
- NOW - 6/7 ART on THE MART
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!
- 6/19 - 6/20 Skyline Sessions 2025 @ Navy Pier
- 6/26 - 6/29 Live on the Lake! 2025 @ Navy Pier
- 6/26 - 6/29 HomerFest @ Homer Glen
- 6/27 - 6/28 Grant Park Music Festival
- 6/27 - 6/29 Strawberry Fest
- 6/27 - 6/29 Pride North @ Glenwood & Morse
- 6/28 Wave Wall Wax @ Navy Pier
- 6/28 Summer Fireworks @ Navy Pier
- 6/28 Millennium Park Summer Workouts @ Millennium Park Wrigley Square
- 6/28 Craft Brews @ Lincoln Park Zoo
- 6/28 Taste of Marquette Park
- 6/28 Main Street Fair @ Evanston
- 6/28 Rhythm Fest @ Epiphany Center for the Arts
- 6/28 -6/29 Naperville Fine Art & Artisan Fair
- 6/29 - Chicago Pride Parade
THURSDAY, JUNE 26 (& BEYOND)
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 18 shows full of fun tribute bands and rock-focused bands. Then after the shows enjoy a musical fireworks display (except on Fridays)!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Head out and enjoy the shows!
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 (& BEYOND)
Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest @ 2555 N. Ashland Ave, Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am - 10pm
WHAT: A wide assortment of the perfect pairing
SO WHAT: Spend the weekend trying some incredible food and drinks over at the Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest! Try a variety of tequila-based drinks (there will be other tasty drinks as well) while you scarf down some delicious tacos from the best local vendors. There will also be live music throughout the event!
NOW WHAT: There is a $5 suggested donation for this fun and savory event!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JUNE 27 - JUNE 29 (& 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 at their website for showings this weekend and in the future!
- 6/27 Mufasa: The Lion King 8:45pm
- 6/27 Friday the 13th 11pm
- 6/28 Shrek 8:45pm
- 6/28 Halloween (the 1978 original!) 10:30pm
- 6/29 Grease 8:45pm
- 6/29 Scream (The Original!) 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, JUNE 28
Navy Pier Pride @ Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Noon – 10:25, All Ages
WHAT: Celebrate Pride weekend at the pier!
SO WHAT: Join Navy Pier for a big Pride celebration featuring a full day of live music, dancing, artistic performances, and activities throughout the Pier!! Head over to their event page for the full lineup!
NOW WHAT: This event is free!
Chicago Food Truck Festival @ 2300 S Indiana Ave, 11:00am – 7:00pm, All ages
WHAT: Chicago Food Truck Festival is ready for a full gathering of delicious food, introducing "The Summer of the Chicago Style Hotdog"
SO WHAT: Join the Chicago Food Truck Festival as they start up their 12th season with a nice variety of mobile chefs! Try a little bit of everything as you enjoy some fun games alongside a refreshing drink!
NOW WHAT: Admission is free with event reservation here!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JUNE 28 & 29
Back Lot Bash 2025 @ Cheetah Gym Parking Lot, 5238 N Clark St, Noon – 11:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Back Lot Bash puts the spotlight on the sapphic side of Pride for their 21st edition!
SO WHAT: Back Lot Bash is a celebration of LGBTQ+ women with great music from local and international acts that takes over the Cheetah Gym lot for two days! It’s a perfect time to jam out with some fun performances including Chloe Star, Whitney Peyton, The Fly Honeys, Travis Fiero, Rose Garcia, and more.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $24.35 for Saturday, $30.17 for Sunday, and $46.81 for both days!
Millennium Art Festival @ Michigan Avenue & E Lake St., 10:00am – 5:00pm
WHAT: Three days of great art in the middle of downtown
SO WHAT: Millennium Art Festival will have a wide range of artwork on display including paintings, ceramics, photography, and furniture from 110 juried artists! There will also be plenty of festival food, live music, face painting, a Kids Art Stop, and artist demonstrations throughout the fest!
NOW WHAT: It’s free!
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
- 6/26 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- 6/26 - New Constellations + Vinyl Palace @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 6/26 - New Constellations + Vinyl Palace @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 6/27 - Hey Riddle Riddle @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- 6/27 - Better Love EP Release Show + CalicoLoco + Sweet Bike @ Schubas
- 6/27 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Cowboy Picasso @ Schubas
- 6/21 -Buscabulla + Matt Louis @ Lincoln Hall
- 6/21 - Motel Breakfast + Fellow Kinsman + Hotel Burgundy @ Schubas
- 6/22 - U.S. Girls + Alive Girl @ Lincoln Hall
- 6/22 - Mundy + Emily Cavanagh @ Schubas
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 movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations,and it's ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like The Phoenician Scheme, Destination Ghibli: Celebrating 40 Years, The Films of Gene Hackman; midnight screenings of Night of the Creeps, Fright Night, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro; and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!
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! Take a look at some of their upcoming events below:
Check out their talk "Edward Burns Shares a Pint with Chicago" 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 bohola – Jimmy Keane and Pat Broaders; Rhys Jones, Joseph Decosimo & Nokosee Fields; The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee; Nathan Gourley, Laura Feddersen, and Brian Miller; T'Monde; Izaki Metropoulos, Sophia Metropoulos Laouto & Geroge Lawler; Gabe Carter, 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!
