Attendees of a street festival walk and talk.
Photograph: Michael Courier
Photograph: Michael Courier

The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

Find the best things to do in Chicago this weekend with our guide to concerts, exhibitions, festivals and more.

Shannon Shreibak
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We’re probably not alone in saying that the weekend is always on our minds here at Time Out Chicago HQ. Like you (probably), we spend the workweek daydreaming about the next restaurant to obsess over and obsessively updating our concert calendars. Whether you’re museum-hopping, plotting a day trip to escape the city, or ready to ghost your original plans for something spontaneous, you’ll find plenty of ways to make the most of your weekend in Chicago.

Every week, we curate a Chicago weekend itinerary packed with the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine. This weekend, festivals are popping up all over Chicagoland: 79th Street Renaissance Festival returns to Auburn Gresham with Chaka Khan headlining, Taste of Chicago takes over Grant Park, Renegade Craft Fair pops up in Wicker Park and much more. If you’re still recovering from Labor Day weekend festivities, work it out at Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend. For those preparing for back-to-school season, Time Out Market has you covered with musical story time and a donut decorating class.

RECOMMENDED: Discover the 50 best things to do in Chicago right now

Time Out Market Chicago

Best events in Chicago this weekend

  • Things to do
  • Loop

Sundays on State—which shuts down a strip of State Street spanning from Jackson to Randolph Streets for activations, performances, food and shopping—brings thousands of visitors downtown to check out everything from outdoor dining and browsing opportunities to pop-up karaoke and barre fitness classes. The event returns on two Sundays this year by popular demand. For a full schedule of vendors and events, check out Chicago Loop Alliance's website.

  • Things to do
  • Hyde Park

Get ready to unleash your inner Nancy Drew: Escape the Museum is returning to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Participants will journey through a world of mystery, where each exhibit holds clues that lead closer to victory—and the honor of being crowned a member of the Guild of Alchemists. Designed for ages eight and up, the puzzles are engaging for the whole family, while also making this a perfect outing for couples and large groups. 

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  • Sports and fitness
  • Yoga & Pilates
  • Streeterville
  • Recommended

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 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levelsyou just need to bring your own mat and arrived 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.

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  • Things to do
  • West Loop

As if you needed an excuse to spend golden hour at Time Out Market's rooftop bar—we're hosting a very special happy hour until the cold snap arrives. Sip on vibrant spritz drink specials crafted for summer lounging, complete with a live DJ spinning feel-good vibes all evening long. Whether you're here to dance, chill or just toast to the moment, this is your chance to savor the season.

  • Comedy
  • Uptown
  • Recommended

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.

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