Forecast calls for a little rain and not too unreasonably warm temps, so let's make it a good one with some excellent events! There are tons of markets, festivals (tis the season), concerts, movies and so much more ready to entertain!
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!
- 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
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!
- 7/11 Fresh Fest @ Navy Pier
- 7/12 idobi Radio Summer School with Charlotte Sands, Taylor Acorn, Rain City Drive, Arrows in Action, If Not For Me, Beauty School Dropout, Huddy @ The Vic Check out our interview with Beauty School Drop out here!
- 7/12 Kids’ Fest @Thornton
- 7/12 Forge Fest @ Lemont
- 7/12 Jazz Up Music Festival @ Glen Ellyn
- 7/12 Naperville Ale Fest
- 7/12 Summer Mela @ Near South Side
- 7/12-7/13: Southport Art Fest @ Lakeview
- 7/12-7/13: Barrio Arts Festival @ Humboldt Park
- 7/13: Maxwell Street Market @ Near West Side
- 7/13: Bastille Day @ Navy Pier
- 7/13: Wild Mile Block Party @ Near North Side
- 7/13: Water Street Fine Art & Fine Craft Fair @ Naperville
THURSDAY, JULY 3 (& 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!
SATURDAY, JULY 12 (& BEYOND)
The 35th 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, and Wayne Williams. There will also be sets from special guests David Morales, Danny Krivit, DJ Ameer Brooks, Ladies of Skyy, Ann Nesby, and more
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $80 for this amazing outdoor fest! Kids 12 and under are free to enter!
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
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JULY 11 - JULY 12 (& BEYOND)
Square Roots Festival 2025 @ 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 Calexico, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Mekons, Alejandro Escovedo, The Lone Below, and Heartless Bastards! Plus there will be plenty of local acts like Tobacco City, Minor Moon, 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.
32nd African/Caribbean International Festival of Life @ Washington Park, 5531 S. King Dr., Noon – 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic festival that puts the spotlight on African/Caribbean culture
SO WHAT: The African/Caribbean International Festival of Love is bringing a little bit of everything to Washington Park for four days of fun! Enjoy wonderful Afro-Caribbean food, games, crafts and amazing music from the likes of Jah Vinci, Elephant Man, Rupee, Richie Stevens, and many more.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now!! Children under the age of 12 are free to enter!
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
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 Kane Brown, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Bailey Zimmerman, Dylan Gosset Riley Green, Megan Maroney, Koe Wetzel, and more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets for Saturday/Sunday and 4-Day Passes are sold out but the other days are still available!
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!
- 7/10 Mean Girls (the orginal!) 8:45pm
- 7/10 Night of the Living Dead (The Original) 10:45pm
- 7/11 Shrek 8:45pm
- 7/11 Friday the 13th 10:45pm
- 7/12 The Notebook 8:45pm
- 7/12 Scream (The Original!) 11pm
- 7/13 Ferris Bueller's Day Off 8:45pm
- 7/13 Texas Chainsaw Massacre 10:45pm
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
- July 10 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- July 10 - Nick Wagen Album Release Show + Surf Cowboy @ Schubas
- July 11- Modern Cults Album Release Show + Julia Steiner (of Ratboys) + Cherryburn + Anthony Rossi @ Schubas
- July 11 -Josh Spinner Live Concert Film + Liam Taylor + Danny McDermed @ Lincoln Hall
- July 11 -Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Clark Street Jams + Dave Maze + Josh Zeitler @ Schubas
- July 12 - Heartless Bastards + Sun Queen @ Lincoln Hall
- July 12 - The Orchard + Glass-Beagle + Marble Teeth @ Schubas
- July 12 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Louie Kason + Dad Shoes @ Schubas
- July 13 - Schubas Garden Party @ Schubas
- July 13 - Vintage Karaoke Night with The Brothers Sinatr@ Schubas
- July 13 - Hi Ho Record Release Show + Violets + American Standard @ 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, In the Mood for Love, Kill the Jockey, Hal & Harper (featuring a post-film conversation with Cooper Raiff and a solo musical performance by Lomelda), No Country for Old Men, Looney Tunes on 35mm, Austin Powers: Intl. Man of Mystery (The film will be preceded by a live performance - Dr. Evil vs. Cinema: Live From The Evil Lair Directed by Matt Carr) 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!
