The best August 2025 events in Chicago

The Shedd Aquarium's weekly summer concert series presents a rotating lineup of jazz bands on its scenic lakeside terrace, where attendees can dance, have a drink and get a great view of the Navy Pier fireworks. Guests also get access to the Shedd's exhibitions, meaning that you can gaze at the creatures that inhabit the Caribbean Reef, snap a picture of a cute sea otter or touch a sea star.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. Running Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 8:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

Wrigley Field-adjacent plaza Gallagher Way is once again showing free outdoor movie screenings this summer. Admission is free and attendees are welcome to bring their own food, enjoy on-site concessions or snag a meal from nearby restaurants like Big Star and Smoke Daddy. VIP seating is also available—check out the Gallagher Way website for more details. Gates open at 6pm for each screening and the movies start at 7:30pm. May 21: Hook June 4: Twisters June 11: The Parent Trap June 25: Inside Out 2 July 9: Wicked July 16: Top Gun: Maverick July 30: The Little Mermaid August 13: Moana 2 August 27: Crazy Rich Asians September 10: Space Jam September 17: Remember the Titans

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

During the summer, one of the best aerial displays you'll find in Chicago originates from Navy Pier. The Chicago attraction hosts twice-weekly fireworks shows (on Wednesdays at 9pm and Saturdays at 10pm) from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, with stunning views available from across the pier's public spaces. Of course, you can also take in the show from nearby beaches or while cruising along the Lakefront Trail.

Take a car-free ride along DuSable Lake Shore Drive during this annual biking event, which closes down the lakeside thoroughfare to vehicle traffic and allows cyclists to ride through a 30-mile route dotted with rest stops, water and snacks. You'll have to wake up early (the course opens at 6:30am) and enter through one of designated entry points along the road—but the novelty of biking on a stretch of pavement that is decidedly not bike-friendly is worth the hassle. Plus, proceeds from the event support the Active Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit organization that working to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists throughout Chicago.

From June through September this year, dozens of movies will screen in parks all over Chicago as part of the city's annual Movies in the Parks program. From recent blockbusters like Barbie and Wonka to classics like Black Panther and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, you're sure to find good something to watch (for free!) beneath the stars this summer. Screenings typically begin at 8:30pm, or dusk, each evening. Take a look at the full list of movies and participating parks.

Sportsman's Club's backyard BBQ series is back for another glorious year, bringing local restaurants to the bar's patio to cook a meal that's usually paired with a beverage. For the uninitiated, the takeovers are first-come, first-served, with the featured chef holding court over the bar's grill and menu. Food is priced a la carte. Check out the full lineup below and start planning your Sunday afternoons accordingly. Starts at 4pm. May 18 - KasamaMay 25 - Rootstock June 1 - Pizz'amiciJune 8 - Mi Tocaya AntojeriaJune 15 - Bacchanal (New Orleans)June 22 - Gibsons ItaliaJune 29 - PerillaJuly 6 - ObelixJuly 13 - AvecJuly 20 - MirraJuly 27 - Brasero & El CheAugust 3 - HawkmoorAugust 10 - ProxiAugust 17 - Joe Flamm & Day Off GroupAugust 24 - Shaws Crab HouseAugust 31 - Lula CafeSeptember 7 - Tripping Billy Z

This annual fest and conference celebrating the iconic dance music genre born in Chicago brings a full day of DJ sets to Millennium Park. Acts this year include Ralphi Rosario, Specter, Psycho B, Shaun J. Wright and more. The live music will be preceded by an open house and panel discussions, and the festival will wrap up with a chill-down session along the Riverwalk. For a full list of programming, visit the DCASE Chicago House Music Festival and Conference website.

Tuesdays on the Terrace returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art's Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden this summer for free weekly concerts. This year's series again expands beyond jazz to include house, Guatamalan marimba, electro-pop and more. Grab a cocktail or a glass of wine from a bar on the museum's upper terrace and hear tunes from artists like Corey Wilkes, Tromblau & Friends, plus tons of others from the local community.