The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

When it comes to street festivals, the annual Wicker Park Fest is usually one of the season's largest (and most crowded) events, attracting thousands of people to a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue that's crowded with bars, chain restaurants, boutiques and shoe stores. Jam out to live music—you'll also find plenty of food from local vendors, well-stocked beer tents, sales at surrounding shops and a dedicated kids area.

One of the largest Latino fests in the Midwest returns to the heart of Pilsen, bringing a carnival, delicious food from local vendors and a lineup of traditional music to the neighborhood's streets. The four-day event takes place along a stretch of Cermak Road (between Ashalnd and Morgan) and can draw as many at one million people every year—we recommend showing up early before the crowds stream in during the evening.

Local restaurants bring their most famous dishes outside for three days of tastings at this Lincoln Park street festival. You'll find loads of vendors lining Lincoln Avenue, including area businesses and eateries, as well as one main music stage and a kids carnival area stocked with activities, face painting, games and more. Don't forget to try the fest's whiskey tasting, which offer 16 samples of Midwestern spirits curated by Delilah's.

Chinatown celebrates the arrival of summer at this annual event—featuring food, art and music—which became a two-day fest beginning in 2021. The festival opens with a traditional lion dance procession and continues with performances (including a K-pop breakdance competition), kung fu demonstrations, arts and craft exhibits and cuisine from Chinatown restaurants. 

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.

The annual Bantu Fest prides itself on bringing people, cuisine and culture from more than 30 different countries together for a two-celebration of Chicago's (and the world's) diversity. When you're not sampling tantalizing dishes from around the globe, you can take in sets from local musicians and enjoy the sights during a summer afternoon on Midway Plaisance.

GhanaFest is back to celebrate the rich history and culture of the West African country. The 36th annual event will feature a village with vendors in fashion, arts and crafts, as well as a variety of Ghanaian eats, live music and performances, a parade of local chieftains and queen mothers, and more.

Make the short trip across state lines to downtown Whiting, Indiana to chow down on Eastern European dumplings and gawk at residents who don pierogi costumes. You can compete in the Pierogi Toss, enter an eating contest, participate in a parade or boogie down in the polka competition, all in honor of the little pierogi.

Get the summer bod you desire at this two-day festival that bills itself as the “Lollapalooza of Fitness.” Some of Chicago’s best workout studios and instructors (such as solidcore, Ritual Hot Yoga, Rumble, Barry’s and many more) will come together in one location in River North for unparalleled, immersive classes outside. This year’s headliners include Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin, former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije and celebrity trainer Kim Strother.

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.

Spin classes and weight lifting can wait for the winter. This summer, jump start your weekend with free cardio kickboxing, yoga, pilates and Zumba classes on Millennium Park’s Great Lawn every Saturday from May through August.

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.

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.

Chicago’s annual food festival, the Taste of Chicago, returns this September. But before the main event goes down at Grant Park, the Taste will hold a series of day-long fests throughout the summer at local parks around the city. Head to Marquette Park on July 27 to try bites from a variety of restaurants and food trucks, including Tandoor Char House, Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, Rainbow Cone and more. There will also be live music and free dance classes courtesy of Chicago SummerDance.

This annual celebration of Japanese culture, hosted by the Midwest Buddhist Temple, returns for another year. The fundraising event will offer crafts made by Wawa—master artisans from Japan—plus performances by Minyo folk dancers, taiko drumming and martial arts demonstrations. You'll also be able to try Ginza Holiday's most beloved recipes, including its famous chicken teriyaki.

Stan's Donuts sponsors this family-friendly race, which challenges runners to complete the course while consuming lots of treats along the way. With doughnut stations positioned at every mile of the course, you'll probably be full by the time you cross the finish line and claim your pastry-shaped medal and cold brew. The race takes place along a section of the Lakefront Trail near Soldier Field.

Mosey around Clark Street and shop goods from 40 Andersonville businesses—including Alamo Shoes, Transit Tees, Women & Children First, the Swedish American Museum and more—at this annual sidewalk sale. You can also catch live music and other art performances sprinkled throughout the mile-long stretch.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mercury Cruises’ beloved Canine Cruise is back for another season. Bring your four-legged BFF for a 90-minute ride across the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, featuring lively narration on the city's rich history and architectural marvels with dog-friendly highlights, such as dog parks, fire hydrants and dining hotspots. The tour offers unparalleled views of the city’s skyline and countless photo ops both for dogs and owners alike.

Chicago DJs take over the Wave Wall at Navy Pier every Saturday through August to play free, live sets of house and dance music. The outdoor series features names like Steve Miggedy Maestro, Zeetus Lapetus, Gabriel “Rican” Rodriguez, Oliver Fade, Ron Carroll and more.

Catch live outdoor jazz performances on the first Friday of every month this summer as part of Jazz in the Court, a free concert series hosted at Harper Court in Hyde Park. Performers this year include Hurricane Reggae Band (June 7), Tony Carpenter (July 5), Thaddeus Tukes (August 2) and Corey Wilkes (September 6).

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.

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.

Brookfield Zoo celebrates its 90th anniversary with a series of summer concerts. Set against the park’s beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife, the shows will be headlined by The Fray (June 22), Barenaked Ladies (July 12) and Gin Blossoms (July 27). In addition, several of the zoo’s animal habitats will be open until 7 pm on the night of the performances, and guests can take rides on the carousel and Ferris wheel, or purchase bites from food trucks. Proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit the care of the animals, educational programming and global conservation efforts.

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.

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.

Sportsman's Club's backyard BBQ series is back for another 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 here and start planning your Sunday afternoons accordingly.

The South Side Jazz Coalition hosts a series of free monthly jazz performances every summer on the steps of St. Moses the Black Parish in Greater Grand Crossing. Bring a lawn chair, some snacks and prepare to hear some top-notch music from the Chicago jazz community—plus, every performance ends with a jam session. 

Enjoy outdoor live music all summer long at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. The free series will feature local, regional and national acts performing countless genres and musical styles every weekend. Check the official Navy Pier website for the full schedule.

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.

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.

If you can withstand the roar of O'Hare traffic and incoming 747s (plus, you know, the trek on Chicago's most horrible freeway), you'll find some of the best deals in greater Chicagoland at this flea market outside Allstate Arena. Pick up odd trinkets or bulk candy and potato chips, plus clothing, housewares, furniture, jewelry and collectibles. Boasting over 700 sellers, this flea market is a favorite of vintage buyers themselves, so you know there are some great finds to be had at the fraction of city prices. Bring your best bargaining skills.

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.

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.

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.

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 levels—you 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.

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. 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.