The best things to do in Chicago today

As is Labor Day weekend tradition in Chicago, some of the biggest names in jazz will gather for a series of shows at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center during this annual festival. Visit the Chicago Jazz Festival webpage for the full lineup and schedule.

During the summer, spending more time indoors than absolutely necessary feels almost sacrilegious. The Music Box Theatre gets it—and fully embraces the season by inviting movie lovers into its charming outdoor garden. Grab a specialty cocktail (each one cleverly named after an iconic film) and settle in for a night of cinema under the stars. Highlights of this year’s lineup include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the 2003 remake, for the horror purists out there), Dirty Dancing and The Goonies.

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 Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 8:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

With its latest exhibition, the Chicago Botanic Garden showcases the patterns and prints that adorn the natural world. Through meticulously planted gardens and nature-inspired art installations, Patterned by Nature highlights the intersection between graphic design and horticulture. Exhibition highlights include colossal embroidered flowers by Raquel Rodrigo, a collection of upcycled fashion sourced from garden materials by Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fashion and a paisley patterned succulent garden. 

Mix, stir and shake your way toward speakeasy-worthy cocktails with hands-on guidance from the founders of Aged & Infused, a Chicago-based alcohol infusion kit company. During each workshop, you’ll build two cocktails from scratch using stunning barware plucked from the shop floor. Spirit tastings will be offered throughout the night, leaving time to sip and savor between recipes. If you’re not in the mood for a boozy night out, non-alcoholic substitutes are offered for each cocktail.

Each Thursday night from July through September, Argyle Street transforms 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.

The fifth annual ARC Music Festival is scheduled to take over Union Park during Labor Day weekend, celebrating Chicago's house music roots and welcoming an international lineup of dance music artists. Taking place across three days, the fest features acts like Richie Hawtin, Arielle Free, Felix Da Housecat, Jamie xx and Octo Octa. Catch sets at multiple stages spread throughout the park, enjoy food from local chefs and don't skip the ARC After Dark parties at venues like Smartbar and Radius.

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

You probably know young Frenchwoman Amélie’s story from the silver screen, and now you can see it in Chicago’s intimate Chopin Theater. Transport yourself to the streets of Paris with this musical that closely follows the film’s plot—Amélie seeking connection and joy through her wondrous imagination. The musical will unfold throughout the Chopin Downstairs Studio, transforming the lobby, bar, and café into set pieces.

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.

What happens when a grift lands you smack dab in the center-court spotlight during the Chicago Bulls’ legendary 1996 reign? BULL, a two-act comedy following unathletic schemers Scott and Bryce, sets out to answer exactly that. As the duo navigates a grand con and the chaos of unexpected fame, they struggle to hold their friendship together—all against the backdrop of one of the most iconic eras in Chicago sports history.

From seasoned comic book artists to casual zinesters, Galactic Bangers has a place for folks of all creative inclinations! Horror-themed coffee shop The Brewed will be serving up non-alcoholic bevvies to help you power through three hours of drinking and drawing. This is no silent affair, though—DJ Major Taylor will be spinning theme songs and scores from your favorite sci-fi films and tv shows all night long.

This one’s for the birders out there! Stop by the Newberry Library this August and September for a free guided tour of "Winging It: A Brief History of Humanity's Relationship with Birds,” an exhibit exploring the cultural and environmental resilience of birds across eras and civilizations. The tour ends in one of the library’s cozy reading rooms, where you can chat about what you’ve learned or dive into everything else the Newberry has to offer. (Spoiler alert: it’s a lot.)

Founded on the belief that anyone can build furniture with the right tools and training, the Little Craft School offers Chicagoans the chance to design and construct their own wooden masterpieces. While classes are usually offered in a group format, founding teachers Lesley Jackson and Daniel Rosa are flipping the script this summer with a special workshop-for-two format, available through the end of August. Participants will learn how to design, build and paint their own tables—walking away with a priceless, handcrafted addition to their home.