How these listings work
We include mostly city events, with a few suburban highlights. One-of-a-kind events are listed by date. Unchanging summer-long events are listed each month by their first date. They are color-coded green for easy skimming. Many events start on Friday or Saturday and continue through the weekend, but we only list them opening day.
THU/1
Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Parks
Through Sep 14. 195 screenings in 150 city parks. Films begin at dusk. For a full schedule and locations, call (312)742-1134 or visit chicagoparkdistrict.com. Free.
Chicago SummerDance Festival
Thursdays-Sundays, through Sep 15. An hour of dance lessons led by professional instructors followed by live music and dancing. Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 South Michigan, (312)742-4007. 6pm-9:30pm; Sunday 4pm-7pm. Free.
Family Fun Festival
Every day through Sep. 2. Pop into the Family Fun Tent to entertain kids of all ages, with Wiggleworms music lessons from the Old Town School of Folk Music each day at 10am, a daily reading circle at 11am and concerts at 1pm, plus crafts and educational activities throughout the day. Chase Promenade North, Millennium Park near Michigan and Randolph. 10am-3pm. Free.
Grant Park Chorus: Songs of Praise and Devotion
Christopher Bell, chorus director and conductor, brings his chorus to the West Side. Featuring Parry: My soul there is a country, Miškinis: Dum Medium Silentium, Miškinis: Pater Noster, Miškinis: O Sacrum Convivium, Mawby: Alleluia, Christus resurrexit, Rachmaninoff: Three movements from “Vespers” Tormis: Two songs to words by Ernst Enno: “Early summer’s fairytale, Soundlessly somewhere”; Garrop: Sonnets of Desire, Longing, and Whimsy; Sametz: “I have had singing.” Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 West Jackson, 7pm. Free.
Live Lit on the Lake
Thursdays and Fridays at 9:30pm through August 9. Write Club’s Ian Belknap hosts a rotating lineup of Chicago’s literary all-stars. Theater on the Lake, 2401 North Lake Shore, (312)742-7994. Free.
Low-Line Market
Through Oct 17. A new market offering goods from local and regional farmers, sweets merchants and bread sellers, as well as ready-to-eat stuffs, taking place every Thursday at the auxiliary exit of the CTA Brown Line Southport Station. 4pm-8pm till Sep 5, then 4pm-7pm thereafter. lowlinemarket.com
Made in Chicago World Class Jazz: Victor Garcia’s Crossing Borders
Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
Theater on the Lake: Long Way Go Down by Jackalope Theatre
Through August 4. 2401 North Lake Shore, (312)742-7994. Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 6:30pm. $18.
FRI/2
Grant Park Music Festival: The Fiddler’s Child
Aug 2-3. The festival ducks indoors during Lollapalooza. Carlos Kalmar, conductor. Featuring Elgar: Nursery Suite; Janácek: “The Fiddler’s Child”; Carpenter: “Adventures in a Perambulator.” Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 East Randolph, (312)742-7638. 6:30pm Friday, 7:30pm Saturday. Free.
Lollapalooza
Aug 2-4. More than a quarter million people snapped up tickets to see headliners The Cure, Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Nine Inch Nails and hundreds more in record time. Grant Park. Sold out. lollapalooza.com
Pedal Oak Park
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:30am through Sep. 29. Experience all twenty-two of Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings on this two hour bicycle tour. Bring your own bike, or one will be provided for you at no additional charge. Greenline Wheels, 105 South Marion. GoWright.org. $35 for non-members. $30 for Preservation Trust members.
SAT/3
Edge Fest
Aug 3-4. aka “Chicago’s premiere Bacon Food Fest.” 5900 North Broadway at Thorndale, (773)665-4682. Saturday, noon-10pm. Sunday, noon-9pm. $5.
Green City Market
Outdoors every Wednesday and Saturday through Oct 26. Shop where the chefs do at this organic, local, sustainable-production-focused market. Located at the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton, (approximately 1790 N. Clark), (773)880-1266. 7am-1pm. Free.
Millennium Park Workouts
Saturday mornings, through Sep. 7. Start your weekend with free 45-minute exercise classes from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Tai Chi at 7am, Yoga at 8am, Pilates at 9am and Zumba at 10am. Great Lawn, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. Free.
Wrigleyville Summerfest
Aug 3-4. With food, drinks, live music and kids activities. 3300 N. Seminary. Saturday, noon-10pm. Sunday, noon-9pm. $5.
SUN/4
Second City’s Old Town Neighborhood Tour
Sundays at 10:30am and Wednesdays at 4pm through Oct 30. This walking tour both entertains and informs by highlighting the architecture, history and development of Old Town as well as various Second City alumni haunts and the stories that go with them. Tour begins at the Second City Theatre, 1616 North Wells, (312)337-3992. $15.
TUE/6
Rush Hour Concerts: Schubertiade: Franz Schubert’s “The Shepherd on the Rock”
Maire O’Brien, soprano; Larry Combs, clarinet; Kuang-Hao Huang, piano; Mark Riggleman, piano. St. James Cathedral, 65 East Huron. 5:15pm, reception with artists, 5:45pm, half-hour concert. Free. rushhour.org
Streeterville Farmer’s Market
Through October 29. European-style outdoor market. Museum of Contemporary Art Plaza, 220 East Chicago. 7am-3pm. Free.
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Victor Garcia
Live jazz on the MCA’s garden lawn plus Summer Studios art making for families. Lawn chairs available for rental for $5. Hotdogs and burgers from the grill, and locally grown cuisine from the MCA Farmer’s Market. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago. 5:30pm-8pm, (312)397-4034 for dinner reservations. $25 dinner buffet. Free to attend.
WED/7
Grant Park Music Festival: Concerto for Saxophones
Carlos Kalmar, conductor; James Carter, saxophones. Featuring Piazzolla: “Milongón Festival,” Ginastera: “Pampeana No. 3,” Sierra: Concerto for Saxophones, Villa-Lobos: “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7.” Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, (312)742-7638. 6:30pm. Free.
THU/8
Made in Chicago World Class Jazz: Jeff Parker-Nels Cline Quartet: The Turning Point
Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
FRI/9
Grant Park Music Festival: Schubert: Mass in E Flat Major
Aug 9-10. Carlos Kalmar, conductor; Christopher Bell, chorus director; artists from The Lyric Opera’s Patrick G. And Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Also featuring Messiaen: “Les offrandes oubliées” and MacMillan: “Confessions of Isobel Gowdie.” Grant Park Music Festival, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, (312)742-7638. Friday at 6:30pm and Saturday at 7:30pm. Free.
Ginza Holiday Festival
Aug 9-11. The fifty-eighth annual festival, a large Japanese cultural celebration, includes stage performances, drumming, martial arts performances, and many more showcases. Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 West Menomonee, (312)943-7801. Friday, 5:30-9pm. Saturday, 11:30am-9:30pm. Sunday, 11:30am-6pm. Adults $6; Seniors/Students $5; under 12 years free. ginzachicago.com
Theater on the Lake: The Chi-Town Clown Revue featuring Honeybuns by Chicago Physical Theater
Through August 11. 2401 North Lake Shore, (312)742-7994. Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 6:30pm. $18.
SAT/10
Bud Billiken Parade
Robert S. Abbott started this parade in 1929 in appreciation of paper boys. Celebrities, entertainers, state bands, drill teams, car clubs, and many more activities at the picnic after the parade. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, from 35th to 55th. 10am-6pm. Free.
Northalsted Market Days
Aug 10-11. More than 100,000 folks are expected over two days, with more than 400 food, arts and craft vendors. Special events include a performance by Olivia Newton John. 3656 North Halsted, (773) 584-6631. Saturday and Sunday 11am-10pm. $8.
Retro on Roscoe
Aug 10-11. Three main music stages plus an antique car show. Roscoe Village, 2000-2300 West Roscoe, Noon-6pm. $10.
Tour of Forest Glen
Architectural and historic bike tour of Chicago’s neighborhoods, led by Lee Diamond. At Indian Road Woods Forest Preserve on Central by Indian Road. 11am. $10. bigshouldersrealty.com
SUN/11
Ecuador Parade
Floats, Andean music and dancing celebrate Ecuadorian independence. On Montrose from California to Kimball. Noon. Free.
TUE/13
Rush Hour Concerts: Celebrating the Britten Centennial
Music by Benjamin Britten and Frank Bridge including Britten’s “Lachrymae: Reflections on a Song of Dowland,” for viola and piano, Op. 48. Anthony Devroye, viola; Daniel Schlosberg, piano. St. James Cathedral, 65 East Huron. 5:15pm, reception with artists, 5:45pm, half-hour concert. Free. rushhour.org
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Julia Huff
Live jazz on the MCA’s garden lawn plus Summer Studios art making for families. Lawn chairs available for rental for $5. Hotdogs and burgers from the grill, and locally grown cuisine from the MCA Farmer’s Market. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago. 5:30pm-8pm, (312)397-4034 for dinner reservations. $25 dinner buffet. Free to attend.
WED/14
Grant Park Music Festival: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2
Carlos Kalmar, conductor; Valentina Lisitsa, piano. Also featuring Shchedrin: “The Naughty Limericks” and Borodin: Symphony No. 2. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, (312)742-7638. 6:30pm. Free.
THU/15
Made in Chicago World Class Jazz: Dana Hall: The Andrew Hill Project with Black Fire
Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
FRI/16
Grant Park Music Festival Closing Night: The Rite of Spring
Aug 16-17. Carlos Kalmar, conductor; Donald Nally, guest chorus director. Also featuring Adams: “Black Gondola” and Adams: “Harmonium.” Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, (312)742-7638. 6:30pm, Friday, 7:30pm Saturday.
Edison Park Fest
Aug 16-18. Food, music, games, a parade, craft fair, dog show, other entertainment shows, and even live animals. Around Monument Park in Edison Park.
Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival
Aug 16-18. Hundreds of artists and open studios, with three outdoor stages. Glenwood between Lunt and Farwell, 6950 North Glenwood, (773)761-4477. Friday, 6pm-10pm, Saturday and Sunday, noon-9pm.
India Independence Day Parade
Devon from Western to California. 11:30am. Free.
SAT/17
Air and Water Show
Aug 17-18. The largest free show of its kind in the US. North Avenue Beach. 10am-3pm both days. Free.
Tour of Jefferson Park
Architectural and historic bike tour of Chicago’s neighborhoods, led by Lee Diamond. At Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long. 11am. $10. bigshouldersrealty.com
TUE/20
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Tatsu Aoki
Live jazz on the MCA’s garden lawn plus Summer Studios art making for families. Lawn chairs available for rental for $5. Hotdogs and burgers from the grill, and locally grown cuisine from the MCA Farmer’s Market. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago. 5:30pm-8pm, (312)397-4034 for dinner reservations. $25 dinner buffet. Free to attend.
Rush Hour Concerts: Music by Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt and Owen Clay Condon and Third Coast Percussion. St. James Cathedral, 65 East Huron. 5:15pm, reception with artists, 5:45pm, half-hour concert. Free. rushhour.org
WED/21
Chicago Dancing Festival
Aug 21-24. Chicago’s singular four-day free showcase of world-class dance at various venues, culminating at Millennium Park. chicagodancingfestival.com
THU/22
Made in Chicago World Class Jazz: Tale of the Tiger
Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
SUN/25
Chicago Triathlon
9,000 athletes compete in one of the world’s largest triathlons. chicagotriathlon.com
TUE/27
Rush Hour Concerts: Ernest Chausson: Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, Op. 21 Third Coast Percussion. St. James Cathedral, 65 East Huron. 5:15pm, reception with artists, 5:45pm, half-hour concert. Free. rushhour.org
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Dee Alexander
Live jazz on the MCA’s garden lawn plus Summer Studios art making for families. Lawn chairs available for rental for $5. Hotdogs and burgers from the grill, and locally grown cuisine from the MCA Farmer’s Market. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago. 5:30pm-8pm, (312)397-4034 for dinner reservations. $25 dinner buffet. Free to attend.
WED/28
Loops and Variations: eighth blackbird with Glenn Kotche + Lesley Flanigan
New music meets electronica. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
THU/29
Chicago Jazz Festival
Aug 29-Sep 1. Four-day festival celebrates its 35th year with performances in the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) and Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph. Free.
Made in Chicago World Class Jazz: Jack DeJohnette: Special Legends Edition Chicago- Opening night of the Chicago Jazz Festival
Millennium Park, near Michigan and Randolph, (312)742-1168. 6:30pm. Free.
FRI/30
North Coast Music Festival
Aug 30-Sep 1 Wu-Tang Clan, Afrojack and Big Gigantic headline this self-described “Summer’s Last Stand.” Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. Friday, 3pm-10pm, Saturday & Sunday, noon-10pm. Three-day pass, $135 + fees. northcoastfestival.com
