The best things to do in Chicago this week

Chicago SummerDance returns this year from June to September to offer multidisciplinary dance classes at parks across the city. Don't worry if you're not a seasoned dancer—all ages and skill levels are welcome at this annual dance series that lets you practice your jives, twirls and jumps. You can take lessons in everything from salsa and cumbia to swing and Afro dance. The season culminates with a three-day event in Grant Park, where you can watch performances from local dance troupes and show off some of the moves you've learned over the summer. For the full schedule, check the Chicago SummerDance site.

Check out Ravenswood’s best green spaces during the neighborhood’s annual garden crawl. Guests are invited to take their own self-guided tours or join a group tour to learn more from knowledgeable guides. Other scheduled programs include an intro to beekeeping workshop, a container gardening demonstration and a learn to bird tour. Afterwards, head to Platform 47 for happy hour drinks and live old-time bluegrass music from Rachel Kazez & Friends.

The inaugural iO Fest brings more than 70 comedy acts to Lincoln Park’s iO Theater for four days of improv, sketch and stand-up performances. Spread across four stages, the event features notable iO alumni, including Tim Meadows, Matt Walsh, Ryan Asher and Susan Messing, alongside mainstays like Improvised Shakespeare and Whirled News Tonight. Visit the official website for the full schedule.

Stroll through Lincoln Park Zoo and taste more than 50 varieties of wine at this annual summer event, where 20 wineries show off their latest creations. You'll be able to explore the zoo's gardens and animal habitats while you sip, or take in live music performances throughout the evening.

America’s largest cycling road race series comes to Fulton Market, sending cyclists around a .77-mile course at 25-30 miles per hour. Watch the action along Fulton and Lake Streets, between Racine and Sangamon, and check out an expo featuring local businesses and groups.

Join Maple & Ash for an open-air, wine-tasting event hosted by the Gold Coast steakhouse’s sommeliers. Guess will sample a variety of summer-friendly pours of rosé, bubbles and more—pulled from vineyards around the world—while enjoying oysters, mini lobster rolls and live beats spun by DJ Miss Meg. Tickets are priced at $165 per person.

Read & Run Chicago is partnering with the The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project (CRR19) and Lookingglass Theater for a special, one-of-a-kind running tour commemorating the 1919 Chicago Race Riot on the same day and in the same place the multi-day riots began over 100 years ago. Runners will stop at various locations in Bronzeville featured in Claire Hartfield’s book A Few Red Drops and learn more about the devastating and lasting impact the events had on the city. After the run concludes at Eugene Williams Memorial Marker, a free outdoor performance of Sunset 1919—an artistic ritual of music, movement, art and word commemorating the start of the riot—will take place.

Join the Shedd Aquarium for a fun evening of music, culture, cuisine and mesmerizing animals at Ritmo Del Mar. Guests can dance to the sounds of salsa, cumbia, merengue and Latin jazz with live performances by Projecto 7, Latin Swing Factor and more. Admission includes all aquarium exhibits and entertainment; food and beverages are available for purchase.

Join Top Chef contestants Soo Ahn and Kaleena Bliss for a family-style brunch at Gold Coast hotspot Adalina. The four-course menu features a welcome cocktail and dishes like hamachi crudo with heart of palm and pickled strawberry; roasted salmon with bok choy and crispy shallots; and kalbi-style beef cheeks with potato gnocchi. Tickets are priced at $100 per person.

Support local small businesses along Milwaukee Avenue at this day-long sip and shop event. Participating shops and restaurants, which have been affected by construction in the area, will offer a variety of lemonade beverages and treats while guests browse for goods. Environmental Encroachment will also play live tunes to set the mood. View the full list of participating businesses here.

J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel is brought to the stage in this new musical premiering at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Directed by Paul Hart, the creative re-imagining of Frodo and friends’ journey across Middle-earth will be an unforgettable experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Head to Pritzker Pavilion on select Mondays and Thursdays from July 1–August 8 for the seven-part Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which showcases a wide range of music from both emerging and well-established performers. Check the official website for the full list of artists and schedule.

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 Maggie Brown, The Aggregation featuring Justin Dillard, and Alexis Lombre, plus tons of others from the local community.

Escape the planet with exhibits about the first lunar missions, the solar system and more, plus immersive shows in the dome theater. 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.

Cinema/Chicago is offering free film screenings all summer long featuring stories set around the world. Each Wednesday will spotlight a woman-directed film from countries like Japan, Australia, Sweden, Argentina and more. Tickets are released at 10am every Monday. Check the website to see the full schedule and list of movies.

Steppenwolf concludes its 48th season with the world premiere of Little Bear Ridge Road, an intimate drama by MacArthur Fellow Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. The plot follows two estranged family members reuniting in rural Idaho to sort the mess left behind after a troubled father's passing. As the pair’s relationship begins anew, the two reluctant Fernsbys start to understand the joys and perils of letting someone else into your own story, even if only for a moment.

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 and Saturdays) 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.

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 The Princess Bride and Space Jam, 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.

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 for $33—check out the Gallagher Way website for more details. Gates open at 6pm for each screening and the movies start at 7:30pm.

Rooftop Cinema Club, the open-air theater perched atop The Emily Hotel, is back for another season. Guests can catch showings of hand-picked classics, cult films and recent releases while also enjoying sweeping views of the skyline and craft beverages. It’s the perfect summer cinema experience. Check the official website for the full schedule and lineup.

For classical music lovers who enjoy taking in a show set beneath Chicago's skyline, the annual Grant Park Music Festival is perennial favorite summer event. This year's series of classical concerts runs from June 12–August 17 with performances ranging from world premiere works and performances of symphonies by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich to an evening of classic Broadway arrangements and the annual Independence Day salute. Take a look at the complete schedule of events below and find more information on the Grant Park Music Festival website.

Based on the family-favorite board game, this immersive and interactive experience puts guests into the roles of beloved CLUE characters as they try to solve the murder of estate owner Boden "Boddy" Black. The mystery starts at Block 37, where detectives are greeted by the Butler before being sent on their way to gather clues from popular Chicago sites and shops. You’ll be tasked with finding long-lost antiques and figuring out who did it, where and with what.

The oldest music festival in North America plays host to more than 100 shows throughout summer, featuring big-name headliners like James Taylor, Violent Femmes, Ben Platt and Samara Joy. Check out the full schedule of artists coming to Highland Park this year and don't forget to pack a picnic.

Each Thursday night from July through September, Argyle Street turns into a marketplace featuring regional farmers, dishes from local restaurants and live performers. The fun takes place on the Argyle streetscape between Kenmore and Sheridan, welcoming visitors to enjoy an evening of food, shopping and entertainment.

Gallagher Way hosts a night market on most Thursdays through September, featuring more than 20 vintage vendors selling a mix of specialty foods, crafts and artisanal goods. Grab a glass of wine, browse the market to discover something new each week and stick around to catch live music from a host of different artists.

Looking for free concerts near Chicago? Hop on the Blue Line to Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park for Thursday night performances—with a few holiday and weekend dates sprinkled through the summer—from classic rock cover bands like Dancing Queen (ABBA), Ticket to the Moon (Electric Light Orchestra) and Elton Rohn (Elton John, obviously), complete with a fireworks show at the end of the night. Beverage tents will be located on site, but we won't fault you if you prefer to pre-game with a fishbowl-sized spiked punch from nearby Sugar Factory. For a full schedule of shows, visit the Parkway Bank Park website. 

Navy Pier, in partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago and The Vintage House Show Collective, presents a new exhibit exploring the history of the home-grown artists, clubs and labels that have built House music. The exhibit will be open and free to the public during all Pier operating hours through the end of October.

One of Chicago's most popular farmer's markets, Green City Market welcomes vendors selling regional produce to the south end of Lincoln Park (between Clark Street and Stockton Drive) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Amid the rows, you’ll find farm-fresh eggs from Michigan, cheese from Wisconsin and scrumptious pies baked by Chicago’s own Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

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.

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. It’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

The Museum of Science and Industry debuts a new exhibit dedicated to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

One of Navy Pier’s newest attractions transports guests to some of Chicago’s most epic places via exhilarating flights. The multi-sensory experience incorporates drone technologies with aerial shots and first-person views to showcase the city like never before. Guests will swoop, dip and turn in motion seats as they climb up skyscrapers, check out iconic landmarks, float through fireworks and more.

The largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition has come to Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie. Visitors will experience a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the famous ship. Marvel at hundreds of artifacts that survived the sinking, plus props and costumes featured in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic. Music from the era will play as patrons walk through detailed recreations of the ship’s interiors, including the grand staircase, while the Discovery Gallery will simulate what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic’s wreckage site.

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.

What’s better than a show at the Empty Bottle? A free show at the Empty Bottle. Every Monday, Chicago’s premier indie rock club hosts a free concert. Check the website for a schedule of upcoming performances and to RSVP.

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened over a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

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. Returning to in-person programming (attendees must be vaccinated and masked) after more than a year spent in the virtual realm, the company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever, 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.