The best free things to do in June in Chicago

The city's annual celebration of gospel music welcomes national touring acts and up-and-coming local talent to Millennium Park for two days of uplifting songs and hymns.

Check out a complete list of all the movies screening in Chicago parks this summer, including showings of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Boss Baby and Coco as well as recent blockbusters Wonder Woman, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Black Panther.

For readers of independent comics and small press publications, there's no event more sweet than CAKE (short for the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo). Each year, the convention brings underground creators and fans to the Center on Halsted for two days of panels, workshops and shopping. If you've ever wanted to see what's possible with a pen, some paper, a stapler and a little imagination, this is one of the city's finest showcases of DIY ingenuity.

Each month, the Chicago Loop Alliance throws a party in an unexpected location downtown with the help of local artists and DJs. Guests can RSVP to receive a free drink when they arrive. To kick off the 2018 season, ACTIVATE brings the celebration to the Chicago Riverwalk (at Wabash and Upper Wacker) in June, setting up an event called "EVO's Bazaar." Attendees will enjoy art installations, music from futuristic jazz band MindSwimmer, a roving magician and a wall of free cotton candy.

Set a new high score at this arcade bar’s quarterly queer night. Guests can take advantage of free pinball (make sure you take a turn on the classic Star Wars and PIN·BOT tables), enjoy bar specials or bust a move in the back room with resident DJ Essential Logic.

After showcasing her charismatic flow on her debut album, 1992 Deluxe, rapper Princess Nokia decided to take a very different direction on her follow-up EP. A Girl Cried Red finds the New York emcee channeling the sounds and vocal styles of emo and pop-punk, adopting the elongated pronunciations of former Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge. Expect to hear both sides of Princess Nokia's persona when she headlines this free House of Vans concert.

Chicago honors its history as a destination for musicians by hosting the largest free blues festival in the world, bringing living legends and local 12-bar players to Millennium Park. This year, Pritzker Pavilion hosts headlining sets from Mavis Staples and Fantastic Negrito, as well as a tribute to blues harpist Little Walter and Chicago label Delmark Records. During the day, local acts perform on side stages, giving you plenty of time to snag a spot on the lawn.    

Artists working in figuration and portraiture are the focus of this group show, assembled by Kavi Gupta, which explores the ways in which images and representations of people can reveal more than just their physical appearances. The show features work by Firelei Baez, Alfred Conteh, Inka Essenhigh, Jeffrey Gibson, Titus Kaphar, Basil Kincaid and Devan Shimoyama.

Get your lit fix as the city's historic former bookmaking hub hosts the Midwest's biggest free outdoor ode to literature. Publishers, booksellers, literacy and cultural organizations advocate books and related merchandise in different languages and genres, while authors participate in panels and discussion. The kiddies can enjoy special activities at the Lil' Lit Park.

The annual clothing-optional bike ride takes over the streets of Chicago, attracting hundreds of scantily clad riders who help raise awareness about cyclists and positive body image. Check-in for the ride begins at 6pm in the West Loop and the ride usually runs from 8 to 11pm—for specific route details (typically announced the day of the event) check chicagonakedride.org. Remember to wipe down your Divvy seat the day after.

Dutch painter and illustrator Collin van der Sluijs presents his second solo show at Vertical Gallery, showcasing a series of large canvases that contrast detailed images of animals and people with dreamlike elements. The work displayed in "No Concessions" combines the refined techniques of classically trained painters with the expressive textural flourishes of a street artist.

Gallagher Way (the plaza formerly known as the Park at Wrigley) tapped their neighbors at the Music Box to program free outdoor screenings on Wednesday evenings when the Cubs are on the road. The theater selected a series of mostly family-friendly films (all PG-13 or less) beginning Wednesday, May 16 with A League of Their Own. Gates open at 6pm and screenings start at 7:30.

When summer begins, the party in Humboldt Park never seems to end. The neighborhood's celebration begins with this four-day Puerto Rican heritage festival, which brings tasty food, carnival rides and live Latin music to the park. On Saturday, June 16, the community-organized Puerto Rican People's Parade marches down Division Street from Western to Sacramento Avenue.

Moniquemeloche's new West Town gallery celebrates its opening with a show from painter Jeff Sonhouse, who uses his canvases to explore the ways in which African-American men are represented in Western culture. His surreal images are sometimes accompanied by steel wool and matchsticks that have been attached to the canvas, adding an additional dimension to his strange but arresting works. 

Danish punks Iceage balance ferocity and pop hooks on the group's latest album, Beyondless, introducing violins and horns into their driving arrangements. Reigning in some of the hardcore aggression turns out to be a good move for the band, smoothing away the rough edges of its sound and inviting unexpected collaborations, such as a rollicking duet with Sky Ferreira. Settle in for a raucous performance when Iceage curates a free evening of music at the House of Vans.

Chicago's LGBTQ community comes out to celebrate with a parade that attracts over one million attendees. You'll want to head to the parade route early to grab a spot before the procession starts rolling down Halsted and Broadway between Montrose and Diversey.

In 1989, acclaimed artist Keith Haring came to Chicago to create a gigantic 488-foot-long mural in collaboration with 500 Chicago Public School students. After remaining on display at Midway Airport for several years, 36 panels of the mural will return to the Loop, going on display alongside a selection of Haring's photographs, correspondence, designs and his now-iconic drawings.

At this polysexual Logan Square dance-off, party purveyor Kristen Kaza and DJ Audio Jack drop the needle on love-drenched classics by Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Prince and the queen of lovers' rock, Sade. Admission is always free and the Whistler's capacity is limited, so there's usually a line out the door. Arrive early if you want to start grooving on the crammed dance floor ASAP.

This all-inclusive LGBTQ night that started at Double Door’s Door No. 3 is now at Beauty Bar, featuring live music, drag performances and DJ sets. It's one of the most promising new alt-queer party outposts in town.