The best things to do in Chicago this week

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the two-day El Grito Fest in Grant Park. Expect to enjoy food and drink offerings from vendors like Xurro, El Campeon, Carnitas Roldan and more, plus mariachi and folkloric dance performances, a Mexican mercadito showcasing local vendors, a kids carnival, art experiences and much more. This year's music lineup includes sets by Adriel Favela, Código FN, Mi Banda El Mexicano and more.

Take a stroll down Ravenswood Avenue to see art, pop-ups, activations and more at this local festival centered around the neighborhood's industrial corridor, showcasing more than 80 artists and local venues including Begyle Brewery, Nudgers Studio, Music House Chicago and more. This year—the festival's 24th—swing by the outdoor beer garden for local brews and food trucks, or listen to some live tunes across two stages.

Renegade Craft Fair returns just in time for the holiday shopping sprint, taking over Morgan MFG's industrial digs. Attendees will be able to shop the handmade wares of more than 170 vendor booths, selling everything from candles and screenprints to jewelry and pottery. The fair also boasts food and drink from local restaurants, so you won't have to go hungry (or thirsty) while you shop.

Revolution Brewing's annual Oktoberfest celebration takes shape just outside the brewery's Avondale taproom, where attendees are welcome to fill up on beer while enjoying German food, a lineup of live music, a stein-holding contest and more.

Honor the legacy of late country icon Dolly Parton at Clever Coyote's tribute night. Head to the 90s-inspired bar inside the Robey Hotel for Dolly-themed drinks, music and a chance to win tickets to Riot Fest. A portion of the night's proceeds will be donated to Parton's Imagination Library program.

Celebrate the arrival of fall in Lincoln Square at the Chicago German-American Oktoberfest, which sets up two gigantic tents in the neighborhood to serve liters of beer, stacks of pretzels and more German delicacies. The weekend also features a parade up Lincoln Avenue, live performances from four German bands and carnival games for the kids.

Find the perfect vintage piece for your collection at this Andersonville market, where you can shop antiques, home decor, jewelry, clothing and other trinkets from over 30 vendors on six different dates throughout the summer. Participating businesses include Antiqueandmod, J-Bird Clay, Scal's Vintage, The Paper Archive and many more.

If you want to watch people scarf down 10 glizzys in a matter of minutes—without sipping water—then head to Wieners Circle this weekend. The hot dog eating competition, hosted by event company 2 Girls 1 Windy City, will be separated into male- and female-identifying contestants for two rounds of speed eating starting at 2pm.

Sportsman's Club's Sunday 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. This year's lineup includes Bar Bambi, Pizz'amici, Milli by Metric, Kimski, Mister Tiger, Diego and more.

Gallagher Way hosts a free night market on most Thursdays through September in partnership with Common Goods, featuring dozens of local vintage vendors selling a mix of home goods, clothing, jewelry and more. Grab a glass of wine, browse the market and stick around to catch live music from a host of different artists.

One of the most unique events of the season is returning this year. The Midway 5K Run & Walk is back to support Special Children’s Charities fund programming for children and adults with disabilities across Chicago. Participants can run or walk the course, which takes place on the airfield at Midway Airport. The main event is followed by a race for kids aged 5-10.

Evanston Folk Festival returns to the lakefront for two days of country, roots and folk music. This year's lineup features acts like Trampled by Turtles, Indigo Girls, Josh Ritter and Mdou Moctar across three stages, alongside talks with Emily Saliers & Amy Ray of Indigo Girls and Ann Powers, Mark Guarino and more.

Get your heart rate up in a mat Pilates class on The St. Regis Chicago's luxe rooftop Terrace. After class, which includes a fitness mat that's yours to take home, guests can enjoy the sprawling 12,000-square-foot wellness floor, complete with an indoor pool, sundeck, sauna, steam room, fitness studios are more.

Explore Chicago's eerie past as you snake down the river aboard the First Lady Creepy Cruise. The 90-minute tour combines architectural history with stories of the city's shady past, from mob legends to ghost sightings, for a spooky evening on the water.

Every local thrifter worth one's salt knows that Vintage House Chicago is a treasure trove holding some of the city's best secondhand scores. The bimonthly vintage and handmade market showcases local makers and curators at rotating venues throughout the city. Each market features a new lineup, so you can plan on finding something new every time.

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts—a bridge connecting audiences to the vibrant colors and rich traditions of South Asian heritage—returns with the annual Mandala Makers Festival. This multidisciplinary platform, which supports a diverse array of South Asian performing artists, kicked off its season on April 15. The festivities continue through October, offering a continuous showcase of immersive music and dance events. Visit the Mandala Makers Festival website for a complete schedule of performances.

Originally established in the late 1800s, the Maxwell Street Market brought vendors, musicians and cooks to an open-air flea market where shoppers could find just about anything they wanted. The market introduced the Maxwell Street Polish sausage, provided a venue for rising Chicago blues musicians and was immortalized in a scene in The Blues Brothers. These days, the market sets up on Maxwell Street, between South Halsted Street and South Union Avenue on Sundays, where visitors will find vendors hawking their wares, an abundance of delicious Mexican food and occasional performances by local bands and dance troupes. 

From June through September, more than 90 movies will screen in parks across Chicago as part of the Park District's annual Movies in the Parks program. From recent blockbusters like Zootopia 2 and Freakier Friday to classics like Back to the Future and Jumangi, you're sure to find something good to watch (for free!) beneath the stars this summer. Screenings typically begin at 8:45pm, or dusk, each evening. Take a look at the full list of movies and participating parks.

The Whistler’s monthly lit series pops up on the second Wednesday of every month, bringing an evening of readings, workshopping and discussion to the Logan Square cocktail bar. Each show is followed by an installment of the Relax Attack Jazz Series, a free event with a constantly rotating bill.

Gallagher Way is showing free outdoor movies on select Wednesday nights through September. From family flicks like Zootopia 2 and High School Musical to classics like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Matilda, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or purchase a VIP or Premier ticket, which includes a reserved seat, snacks and other goodies.

The oldest music festival in North America plays host to more than 90 shows throughout summer, featuring big-name headliners like Paul Simon, Alabama Shakes and Chance the Rapper. Check out the full schedule of artists coming to Highland Park this year, and don't forget to pack a picnic.

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 for 30 minutes on Thursdays through Saturdays, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

Explore notable Impressionist Mary Cassatt's works in the first exhibit in more than 25 years dedicated solely to the American artist at the Art Institute. Known for her works depicting mothers with children and intimate caretaking scenes, Cassatt was the only American to join the French Impressionists. After Impressionism showcases paintings, pastels and prints from the time in her career when she began to take her art in a new direction.

This exhibition poses a devastatingly powerful question: What if Emmett Till had not been brutally lynched in Mississippi in 1955? Through photography, the exhibition imagines an alternate history in which Till lived—moving from images inspired by the last meal his mother packed before his trip south to meditations on the life he might have experienced, from the rise of the Chicago Bulls to the ongoing fight for civil rights.

From model to battlefield correspondent—and with many other titles in between—Lee Miller was a complex figure, and this year, the Art Institute of Chicago is showcasing works from her career in an expansive exhibit titled Lee Miller: Fearless. The first comprehensive survey of Miller's photographs in more than 25 years, Lee Miller: Fearless will feature nearly 150 works and will explore her life and approach to creativity, both behind and in front of the camera.

A Gen Z version of Grease takes the stage at the Apollo Theater this season. Vape! The Grease Parody is an Off-Broadway spoof of the iconic 1978 musical, complete with playful takes on the original storylines, modern references and, yes, vapes instead of cigarettes.

If dozens of vendors aren't enough of a draw for you to come to the lively Sunday market at this West Town neighborhood’s namesake park, maybe the weekly complimentary market programming—which includes free yoga, meditation and storytime for kids—will be. The market is also committed to sustainability, with plastic-free vendors and composting.

"Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem," designed by Studio Gang and led by world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang, explores solutions to prevent the estimated one billion annual bird-glass collisions in the U.S. Through a variety of architectural models, interactive media and local artifacts, the exhibition demonstrates how urban design can coexist harmoniously with nature. 

“Willem de Kooning Drawing” is the first exhibition to explore the full scope of the artist's drawing practice, framing it as the foundation of his boundary-breaking career. Featuring more than 200 artworks—including rarely seen drawings alongside paintings, sculptures and prints—this exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience seven decades of his graphic production while shedding light on his constant experimentation with various materials, tools and techniques.

Whether you’re parenting a pint-sized Pokémon devotee or a nostalgic millennial still clinging to a holographic Charizard card for its “possible resale value” (guilty), the Pokémon Fossil Museum is designed to surprise and delight. Making its U.S. debut at the Field Museum in spring 2026, the international exhibition invites visitors to compare Fossil Pokémon like Tyrantrum and Archeops with real-world fossils—including SUE the T. rex. Expect Pokémon models, real fossil excavation tools and immersive soundscapes throughout.

This first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago explores the visual, political and spiritual histories of dancehall and reggaetón through contemporary art. Once grassroots scenes, both genres have become globally influential movements tied closely to sexual and political liberation. The show features works by more than 35 artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Edra Soto, supakid and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Intuit Art Museum joins the national Handwork 2026 celebration with an exhibition investigating Henry Darger’s relationship to traditional American paper crafts. Drawing on research by art historian Dr. Mary Trent, the exhibition demonstrates how Darger adapted common practices—such as making paper dolls and scrapbooks—into a complex, mixed-media narrative style. By showcasing Darger’s source materials alongside his final works, the exhibition highlights how he reclaimed these institutionalized hobbies to express the interior lives and struggles of the marginalized.

Escape the planet with exhibits about the first lunar missions, the solar system and more, plus immersive shows in the dome theater. Stationed just a stone's throw away from the Adler, the Doane Observatory is also home to the largest public telescope in the area and gathers 7,000 times more light than the human eye. Every Wednesday, the Adler stays open late from 4pm-10pm so that folks can visit after work or school. And best of all, admission is free on those nights for Illinois residents.

This immersive exhibition recreates the Secret Annex where Anne Frank, her family and four others hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Chicago is only the second U.S. city—and the first in the Midwest—to host the experience, which includes rarely seen artifacts from Frank’s life. Visitors can walk through the reconstructed hiding place while learning about Anne’s childhood, the rise of Nazi Germany and the Frank family’s years in Amsterdam. The exhibition offers a powerful look at the risks, courage and daily realities of those who lived in hiding. Admission is free on Friday, June 12 in honor of what would have been Anne's 97th birthday. Guests can also enjoy the exhibit for free with the purchase of a general admission ticket for the rest of the weekend.

Find your flow with the whole family in the cozy confines of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum at a Brain to Belly Kids Yoga session! This creative class flows through several fun poses, each one complementing the month's children's story. Children (ages two to eight) and their grown-ups will enjoy moving, breathing and connecting together while bringing the story's plot to life. Bonus: Your ticket includes full access to all museum exhibits, so stick around after class!

Ready to explore Chicago's amazing architecture while floating on the river? The Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise takes place aboard a Chicago’s First Lady boat, transporting guests on a 90-minute tour that traverses three branches of the Chicago River and explores the stories behind more than 50 buildings that make up the city's iconic skyline. 

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels—you just need to bring your own mat and arrive properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

As the Driehaus Museum’s first artist-in-residence, Brendan Fernandes will transform the Murphy Auditorium into a dynamic site for sculpture, movement and sound. Inspired by the Judson Dance Theater, Fernandes’ Scores for the Murphy Auditorium will unfold as an episodic residency throughout 2026, with performances and public programs announced over time.

Just when you thought the state's largest mall couldn't surprise you anymore, Woodfield Mall announces WONDRA, a sprawling new immersive experience. Inside, you’ll wander through enchanted meadows that respond to the sound of your voice, stumble across bioluminescent landscapes and drift into crystal caves and celestial gardens that blur the line between digital spectacle and raw wonder. Every corner is crafted to ignite curiosity and inspire a sense of awe, whether you’re a kid seeing it all for the first time or an adult who forgot what it feels like to play.

You’ve probably seen a Shakespeare play before, but never like this. Five professional actors come together for each performance of Drunk Shakespeare. The twist? One of them has had five shots before the show and is trying to stay on track while the other four actors do their best to hold the performance together.

Located inside The Den, a 1920s greystone-turned-hotel in Lakeview, the Blind Wolf Speakeasy is an intimate, approachable bar, event venue and home to a free weekly comedy show. Blind Wolf Comedy hosts a rotating roster of Chicago comics each Wednesday at 8pm, as well as open mic nights on Thursdays at 7:30pm. There's no cost to attend, but you can reserve a seat through their Instagram page.

For more than 30 years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

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.

Every Wednesday, the Old Town School of Folk Music hosts a showcase of world music and dance. Featuring both local and touring talent, you're sure to hear something new and exciting at this long-running series. Before the show, be sure to peruse the Old Town School of Folk Music Store, where you can rent instruments, learn about lessons and peruse a wide selection of books.