We're halfway through July and a stacked lineup of summer festivals continues to beckon you away from your air-conditioned living room. Want to hear some sweet tunes this weekend? Hit up one of our top picks at Pitchfork, a three-day celebration of indie rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. Need a place to take the kids? The Southport Art Fest, BenFest and Celebrate Clark Street are all lively affairs with activities for the little ones. There's also still plenty to eat and drink at Taste of River North and the Chicago Craft Beer Festival. Whatever you choose to do, let us help guide you to the best festivals happening this weekend in Chicago.
You want to check out a summer food fest without the gigantic crowds
Head to Taste of River North, a chill alternative in the serene Ward Park with food from tasty River North spots like Farmhouse and BlackFinn Ameripub and music from Waters, Sixteen Candles and more. OK, so maybe it's not totally chill, but you're bound to have a less frenetic experience than last weekend's feeding frenzy in Grant Park.
You'd like to take in '90s alt-rock, Canadian electro and hard-hitting hip-hop in a single afternoon
Pitchfork Music Festival has some of the best music acts to visit Chicago this summer. With a lineup that features alt-rock queens Sleater-Kinney, hip-hop rule-breakers Run the Jewels and Chicago favorites Wilco and Chance the Rapper, the fest attracts tens of thousands of fans. There's also candy for the eyes: Some of the best style shows up in Union Park this weekend, from hipster plaid to hippie floral rompers.
You're looking for the perfect place to bring the whole family while hoping to hit the jackpot
If you're on the lookout for family-friendly fare, BenFest is one of your best bets this summer, with three days of great local cuisine, fun bands and plenty of kid-friendly activities. Make sure you enter the cash raffle, because if you're really lucky, you could walk away with $10,000.
You're a gallery-hopper who wants to visit the cozy Southport Corridor
Chicago is home to a multitude of talented artists and plenty of galleries that showcase their work, so it's only proper that the city's creative community hits the streets for festival season. The Southport Art Festival showcases some of the Chicago art scene's best offerings during this two-day event.
You're looking for an eclectic and culturally rich street fest
Celebrate Clark Street stands out with music and dance acts from around the world, food from Senegal and Greece (among many other far-flung locales) and extras like circus shows and dance lessons. Located in Rogers Park, Celebrate Clark Street has some great stuff for kids too, like face-painting and a swing set drum kit.
You want to celebrate high-quality beers brewed with your buds
Not long ago, Budweiser debuted the commercial "Brewed the Hard Way," taking a stab at the craft beer community and its "peach pumpkin ales." Unfortunately for Bud, the ad was poorly received, as both brewers and lovers of craft beer alike came out to defend their precious, hoppy suds. Stand proudly with your microbrew tribe at Chicago Craft Beer Festival, a celebration of local, regional and national craft breweries making taste buds sing.
You want to book it back to Chinatown and eat some Szechuan dishes
Looking for an excuse to visit this oft-overlooked spot in the city? Maybe you just live there? Luckily, there's Chinatown Summer Fair, an ethnically rich celebration of Eastern culture in a neighborhood known for authentic eats. Be sure to catch the revered Lion Dance Procession, a classical Chinese dance performance, or sit in on a martial arts demonstration.