FREE Chicago Blues Festival, Jun 5–8
Grant Park, Jackson Blvd at Columbus Dr. 11am–9:30pm.
The Blues Fest hits the quarter-century mark and celebrates with special anniversary performances. James Cotton, Johnny Winter with Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine, and Eddy Clearwater headline.

* MODchicago presents Our Way of Thinking Weekender, Jun 5–7
Delilah’s, 2271 N Lincoln Ave at Diversey Pkwy (Thu); Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake St between Ada and Loomis Sts (Fri); The Note, 1565 N Milwaukee Ave at Damen Ave (Sat). Thu, Fri 9pm–2am; Sat 9pm–5am. Thu free, Fri $15, Sat $17.
Make like a mod and scooter your way to this music and culture bender. Ample entertainment includes DJs, bands, and a garage sale and record swap.

* Great Wisconsin Cheese Fest, Jun 6–8
Doyle Park, 100 Van Buren St, Little Chute, WI. Fri 5pm–midnight, Sat 10am–midnight, Sun 11am–5pm; $5, kids 12 and under $3.
Be a cheesehead for a day and head up to Wisconsin for a cheese curd–eating competition, a cheesecake-baking contest, cheese-carving demos, a free cheese tasting and the Big Cheese Parade.

Jeff Fest, Jun 6–8
Milwaukee Ave at Higgins Rd. Fri 5–11pm; Sat 1–11pm; Sun 1–9pm; $5.
Jefferson Park’s annual neighborhood fest features food, games, arts and crafts, and live entertainment including “Slow Ride” rockers Foghat.

American Players Theater, Jun 7–Oct 5
5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green, WI. $36–$58.

FREE Chalk Festival, Jun 7
Oz Park, 2021 N Burling St between Armitage and Dickens Aves. 9:30am–3:30pm.
See artists transform a stained and gum-gooed patch of sidewalk into a stunning likeness of the Mona Lisa or a classic Rembrandt. Have a go at creating your own sidewalk mural for a donation to Art Therapy Connection, the festival organizer.

Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival, Jun 7–8
1000 Lake-Cook Rd, Glencoe. Sat noon–8pm, Sun noon–6pm; $30, $25 in advance, $10 designated driver ticket.
At this classier than average fest, you can taste from several wines, nibble on cuisine from Osteria di Tramonto and Nick’s Fishmarket, and glide across the dance floor to live bands.

* FREE Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair, Jun 7–8
Dearborn St between Congress Pkwy and Polk St. 10am–6pm.
Before that fair food slathers your hands in barbecue sauce, stop by Printers Row to pick up some bargain books. Author readings and signings take place in tents and surrounding buildings.

FREE Fiesta Back of the Yards, Jun 7–8
47th St between Ashland and Damen Ave. Sat 10am–10pm, Sun noon–10pm.
This family-friendly Latino heritage bash features pony rides, bands, folk dancers, craft vendors, carnival rides and more.

FREE 57th Street Art Fair, Jun 7–8
57th St between Kimbark and Kenwood Aves. Sat 11am–6pm; Sun 10am–5pm.
As art fairs go, this is one of the Midwest’s oldest (it’s been around for 60-plus years), biggest and best. Pick up jewelry, paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics and more.

Ribfest Chicago, Jun 7–8
Lincoln Ave at Irving Park Rd. Noon–10pm; $5.
Smoky, tangy ribs sizzle over the pits at this annual North Center neighborhood festival where you can sample slabs grilled by restaurants from around Chicago and feast your eyes on more than 20 bands.

* Grant Park Music Festival, Jun 11–Aug 16
Millennium Park, Michigan Ave between Monroe and Randolph Sts. Wednesdays, Fridays 6:30pm; Saturdays 7:30pm; general seating free, one-night-only passes $10.
Three days a week, the classical music of Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and esteemed solo guests fills Millennium Park.

FREE Chicago Festa Pasta Vino, Jun 12–15
Oakley Ave between 24th and 25th Sts. Thu, Fri 5–11pm; Sat noon–11pm; Sun noon–9pm.
The lost era of the Rat Pack meets all things Italian-American in the Heart of Italy neighborhood. Dozens of nostalgia-inducing crooners take the stage over four days, and fresh-cooked pasta abounds.

* FREE SummerDance, Jun 12–Aug 24
Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S Michigan Ave at Harrison St. Thu, Fri, Sat 6–9:30pm; Sun 4–7pm.
Organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, this series of outdoor dances features a variety of global sounds—Latin, country, funk and ballroom—each week. Each concert is kicked off by a dance lesson, so you can master a world of tricky steps.

FREE Elmfest, Jun 13–15
York Rd and Addison Ave, Elmhurst. Fri noon–11pm; Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–5:30pm.
Music, theater, dance and a carnival take over Elmhurst.

Naper Days, Jun 13–15
Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St, Naperville. Fri 5–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–5:30pm; $5, kids 8 and under free.
The western suburb’s weekend festival includes food sampling at Taste of Naperville and a performance by ’90s rockers the Gin Blossoms.

* Andersonville Midsommarfest, Jun 14–15
5200–5450 N Clark St. 11am–10pm; $5.
Andersonville celebrates its Swede side at this summer solstice festival. In addition to traditional family entertainment—Nordic dancers, singers and food selections—the fest shows off the hood’s lesbian hangouts.

* FREE Testicle Festival, Jun 14
Sportsman’s Club, 111 N Capitol Ave, Mount Sterling. 3pm–midnight.
Mount Sterling residents are on the ball at this fest. They’ve prepared a night of live music, games and all the pork, beef, turkey, lamb, and buffalo testicles you can eat. If you think you’re a tough nut, round out the night as a participant in the testicle eating contest.

Wrigleyville SummerFest, Jun 14
Seminary Ave between School and Roscoe Sts. 11am–10pm, $5.
This fest stands out from the fray with a plethora of fun for the wee ones (pony rides, climbing wall, crafts, face painting), and games (cornhole and Guitar Hero tourneys) for the big kids.

FREE City Wilds Festival, Jun 14–15
North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N Pulaski Rd. 10am–3pm.
Get your hands dirty in nature activities, or learn about plants and animals that are native to Chicago.

Old Town Art Fair, Jun 14–15
Between Menomonee and Wisconsin Sts, from Lincoln Park W to Sedgwick St. 10am–6pm; $7, kids 12 and under free.
Old Town’s juried outdoor art fair rivals Hyde Park’s for endurance: This year marks its 59th incarnation.

FREE St. George Greek Festival, Jun 14–15
2701 N Sheffield St at Schubert Ave. Sat 4pm–10pm, Sun noon–11pm.

Wells Street Art Festival, Jun 14–15
Wells St between North Ave and Division St. 10am–10pm, $7–10.
More than 300 artisans convene in Old Town. Nightly entertainment includes A Flock of Seagulls.

Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival, Jun 15
Morton Grove Forest Preserve, 6300 W Oakton St, Morton Grove. Sun 11am–6pm, $5.
Every two years, this international festival gathers Jewish artisans, musicians, dancers and storytellers together to forge a community, create an educational experience and give Jews and goyim a good time.

Halsted Tastes Better, Jun 16
Halsted St between Belmont and Addison Sts. 6–9pm; $30, advance $25.
This event rounds up the tasty eats on North Halsted and serves them with live music and a waitperson’s race.

FREE Shades of Riverview, Jun 19–22
Lane Tech High School parking lot, 2501 W Addison Ave at Western Ave. Thu and Fri 5–11pm, Sat and Sun 1–11pm.
Carnival rides and cotton candy raise funds for the Lane Tech Alumni Association.

Close Up 2 Smooth Jazz Festival, Jun 20–22
Pritzker’s Park, 1 W Van Buren St at State St. Noon–10pm, $5.
For three days, the Loop fills with the sounds of jazz musicians, including Stanley Jordan, Nick Colionne, Corey Wilkes and Michael Ross.

FREE Long Grove Strawberry Fest, Jun 20–22
Old McHenry Rd at Robert Parker Coffin Rd, Long Grove. 10am–6pm.
Juicy red fruit from farm stands lines historic Long Grove. Not only will the sidewalks crawl with strawberry booths, but restaurant menus also will feature strawberry items.

Scottish Festival and Highland Games, Jun 20–21
Oak Brook Polo Grounds, 31st St and York Rd, Oak Brook. Fri 4–10pm; Sat 8am–10pm. Fri: $8, ages 3–12 $3; Sat: $13, ages 3–12 $6.
These annual games celebrate Scottish culture with traditional heavy sports; a ceilidh, Scottish celebration of traditional and contemporary Celtic music and dance; children’s activities; and eating contests.

* Taste of Randolph Street, Jun 20–22
Randolph St between Peoria St and Racine Ave. Fri 5–11pm; Sat 2–11pm, Sun 2–10pm; $10.
Several posh area restaurants will sell bite-size samples of their cuisine. While you’re nibbling, tune into the band lineup—it’s always one of the summer’s freshest.

Chicago Summerfest in Lincoln Park, Jun 21–22
2000 N Clark St at Armitage Ave. Sat noon–10pm; Sun noon–9pm; $5.

Custer’s Last Stand Festival of the Arts, Jun 21–22
Chicago Ave and Main St, Evanston. 10am–9pm, $1. Evanston brings in 350 artists and cuisine from 30 restaurants.

Pizza Fest, Jun 21–22
Racine at Fullerton Ave. Sat noon–10pm; Sun noon–8pm; $5.
Nosh on a $1 sampler, get a whole pie or watch a professionally judged contest that pins a ribbon on the area’s best pizza.

FREE Chicago Arabesque, Jun 25–28
Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn Sts. Wed–Fri 10am–3pm; Sat 10am–5pm.
Explore the Arab world through its art, cuisine, culture, music and dance while leaving religion and politics out of the mix.

Chicago Salsa Festival, Jun 26–29
Grant Park, Jackson Blvd at Columbus Dr, and other locations; Fri, Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 11am–4pm; $10–25.
Become a dancing queen for the weekend with four days of live music and dance performances and 30 dance workshops led by some choice instructors.

FREE Downers Grove Heritage Festival, Jun 26–29
Main St at Curtiss St, Downers Grove. Thu 6–10pm; Fri, Sat 10am–10:30pm; Sun noon–10pm.
You can meet the mayor, spend time in the beer garden or play bingo at this suburban fest.

* Milwaukee Summerfest, Jun 26–Jul 6
200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI. Noon–midnight; $15, weekdays noon–4pm $8, seniors and kids 3–10 $3, kids 2 and under free, advance $14, two-day pass $23.
The megaconcert that dubs itself “the world’s largest music festival” features a multitude of little bands and vastly different headliners including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Stevie Wonder, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Rush.

Cans Music Fest, Jun 27, 28
Cans Bar & Canteen, 1640 N Damen Ave at Concord Pl. Fri 4pm, Sat 3pm; $5.
Vanilla Ice and C&C Music Factory headline.

* Jammin’ at the Zoo, Jun 27–Aug 22
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N Cannon Dr between Lake Shore Dr and Fullerton Pkwy. 7–10:30pm, $21–$28.
This concert series features a lineup of mostly ’90s alternative bands on Jun 27, Jul 25, and Aug 22.

* FREE Taste of Chicago, Jun 27–Jul 6
Columbus Dr between Monroe and Balbo Drs; and Jackson and Congress Drs from Michigan Ave to Lake Shore Dr. 11am–9pm; Jul 3,4 11am–9:30pm; Jul 6 11am–8pm.
Scores of restaurants from around the city offer tastes of their top dishes. A strip of tickets costs $8 at the festival. Shell out one to four tickets for snack-size “Taste portions” or a few more for an entrée. The band lineup has finally snagged some big-name performers including Chaka Kahn, Joss Stone, Fantasia and Stevie Wonder.

Chicago Pride Fest, Jun 28
Halsted St at Waveland Ave. 11am–9pm, $5.
Chicago’s biggest preparade party unfurls over ten hours. Sponsored by the Northalsted Area Merchants Association, stages will feature many flavors of queer entertainment. The Chicago Pride Parade kicks off Jun 29 at noon on Halsted St at Belmont Ave.

BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest, Jun 28–29
2000 W Belmont Ave at Damen Ave. Noon–10pm; $5.

Fountain Square Art Festival, Jun 28–29
Sherman Ave at Church St. Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–6pm; $5.

Girl Blast, Jun 29
Ann Sather parking lot, 929 W Belmont Ave between Wilton and Sheffield Aves. 1–10pm. $12.
Girls coming into Boystown for pride weekend can celebrate at this dance party, which comes complete with burgers, beer and tunes.

Cornerstone Festival, Jun 30–Jul 5
23325 N Cornerstone Rd, Marietta. Performances 1pm–1am, seminars 9am–4pm. Festival pass: $135–$155, kids 6–11 $50–$70, kids 5 and under free, family $275–$375 (includes camping).
You can finally jam at a weekend summer concert and not fear missing church. About a four-hour drive west of Chicago, this nonstop Christian-music fest features every ilk of Jesus-loving band, from alternative pop to hardcore head-banging.