TUE/2
Tuesdays on the Terrace
Weekly free outdoor jazz concerts paired with a pre-fixe menu from Puck’s Café available for $19. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, (312)280-2660. 5:30pm. Tuesdays through September. Free.
June 2: Fred Anderson
June 9: Julia Huff
June 16: Josh Berman
June 23: Fred Lonberg-Holm
June 30: Robert Irving III
July 7: Corey Wilkes
July 14: Kevin Nabors
July 21: Henry Johnson
July 28: Fred Anderson
August 4: Mike Reed
August 11: Maggie Brown
August 18: Jason Adasiewicz
August 25: Mike Jeffers
September 1: Green Mill Quartet
September 8: Steve Hashimoto
September 15: Corey Wilkes
September 22: World Music Festival
WED/3
Music Without Borders
Fourth annual free international music series brings traditional folk and pop artists from around the globe in a series of eight free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. For more information, visit millenniumpark.org. All concerts start at 6:30pm except where noted. Free.
June 3: Dulsori
June 18: Faiz Ali Faiz
June 21: Cimarron
June 25: Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan
July 2: Oumou Sangaré, 8pm
July 9: Lura and Chiwoniso
July 16: Najat Aatabou, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara
July 23: Novalima and Issa Bagayogo
FRI/5
Hyde Park Community Art Fair
Fine arts and crafts, in conjunction with the 57th Street Art Fair. 5700 S. Kimbark, (773)870-0395. 11am-7pm. Also June 6. Free.
SAT/6
Chalk Fest
Amateur and professional artists create sidewalk murals at the fifth annual fest. Performances by Jesse White Tumblers, a DJ, hip-hop dance troupe Culture Shock, Children’s Avenue with art and games and a Wiggleworms performance. Benefit for Art Therapy Connection hosted by the Women’s Board of Art Therapy Connection. Oz Park, 2021 N. Burling, (773)758-9556. 9:30am-3pm. Free.
62nd Annual 57th Street Art Fair
Chicago’s oldest juried art fair’ includes artists’ showcases of glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics and fiber. Alcohol free event and family friendly. 57th Street and Kenwood. (773)493-3247. 11am-6pm. Also June 7, 10am-5pm. Free.
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Twenty-fifth annual festival is fitting its top gospel acts into a two-day line-up. Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St, (312)744-3315. 11am-9:30pm. Through June 7. Free.
Chicago Caribbean JerkFest
The second annual festival celebrating Caribbean culture. Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. (773)907-4792. 11am-10pm. Suggested donation, $10 in advance and $15 at gate. Children 10 and under with an adult over 21 are free. Seniors 65 and over also free.
Metronome Celebration
Live rock, electro, punk and folk music as well as green products, food, drink and more. Milwaukee at Armitage and Western, 2000 N. Milwaukee. (773)934-6451. Noon-10pm. Through June 7. $5.
Printers Row Lit Fest
The renamed Printers Row Book Fair, the largest literary event in the Midwest, features new, used, specialty and antiquarian books for sale, author readings and signings, discussions, storytelling for kids and more. Dearborn Street between Congress and Polk. (312)527-8132. Also June 7, 10am. Free. Events at Harold Washington Library Center require advance registration: printersrowbookfair.org.
MON/8
Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays
A new cuting-edge indie rock/pop series in Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion on select Mondays. For more information, visit millenniumpark.org. Free.
June 8: Special Headliner and Allá, 6:30pm
June 22: The Sea and Cake and Dirty Projectors, 6:30pm
June 29: The Feelies and Icy Demons, 7:30pm
August 10: Rokia Traoré and Shearwater, 6:30pm
August 17: Otto and NOMO, 6:30pm
August 24: Red Red Meat and Rural Alberta Advantage, 6:30pm
WED/10
Grant Park Music Festival
Free classical music concerts conducted by Carlos Kalmar played by the Grant Park Orchestra begin tonight. Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph. (312)742-7638. 6:30pm. Various dates through August 15, see grantparkmusicfestival.com for details.
THU/11
Chicago SummerDance Festival
You are the dancing queen at this eleven-week-long festival. Work your feet with salsa, swing, afrobeat, reggae, funk and klezmer. Each event includes an hour of professional dance instruction on the outdoor floor followed by two hours of live music. Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan. (312)742-4007. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through August 23. Free.
FRI/12
Chicago Blues Festival
The twenty-sixth annual fest runs three days this year instead of four. Tons of blues musicians performing on five stages. Grant Park, 300 S. Columbus. (312)744-3315. Noon-9:30pm. Through June 14. Free.
Fiesta Back of the Yards 2009
Live music, dance, carnival rides, food and beverage vendors. 1600 W. 47th. (773)247-5100. 5pm-10pm. Also June 13, 10am-10pm and June 14 Noon-10pm. Free. $1-$3 for carnival rides.
Ribfest Chicago
The annual event lengthens to three days, featuring finer-licking BBQ fare from local restaurants as well as live music. Lincoln and Irving Park. (773)525-3609. 5pm-10pm. Through June 14, Noon-10pm. $5 suggested donation.
SAT/13
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Click your wooden clogs for this celebration of Andersonville’s Swedish heritage. Local restaurants provide food and beer. Arts and crafts vendors as well as a pet parade and live music included. Foster and Clark, (773)665-4682. 11am-10pm. Also June 14, 11am-10pm. $5 donation.
Old Town Art Fair
The oldest juried outdoor art fair boasts 260 artists showing paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more. Food and beer vendors available, as well as live music, a raffle, children’s area and a garden walk. Main gate entry at Lincoln and Wisconsin, 1763 N. North Park. (312)337-1938. 10am-6pm. Also June 14. $7 suggested donation, free for kids 12 and under.
Wells Street Art Festival
Check out photography, drawings, sculpture and glass from artists ranging across the nation at this 35-year-old fest. Live music from Beatles tribute band American English, along with other acts. Food and drink vendors available. 1300 N. Wells. (773)868-3010. 10am-10pm. Also June 14. $7-$10 donation.
MON/15
Edible Audio Picnic
Millennium Park’s new Monday lunchtime series features cutting-edge rock bands, sound artists, DJs and more. Mondays at noon. For more information, visit millenniumpark.org. Free.
June 15: Pit Er Pat
June 22: Soul / Funk Record Party
June 29: Black Moth Super Rainbow
July 6: Experimental Sound Studio
July 20: Reggae Dub Sound Clash
July 27: Chicago Hip-Hop and It Don’t Stop
August 3: Third Coast International Audio Festival
August 10: Daedelus
August 17: Emily Wells
August 24: Dark Party and Caural & K-Kruz
WED/17
Just For Laughs Festival
TBS cable television network brings in a five-day comedy festival including the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, David Alan Grier, Lisa Lampanelli and more to venues around the city. Through June 21.
Theater on the Lake
Eight Chicago theater companies reprise productions from the 2008-2009 season. Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore, (312)742-PLAY. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm. $17.50 per show or $110 for all eight shows.
June 17-21: “Jon”
June 24-28: “Once Upon a Time (of the Secret Language of Birds)”
July 1-5: “Improvised Shakespeare”
July 8-12: “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night”
July 15-19: “These Shining Lives”
July 22-26: “Fun O’Clock: A Very Special ‘That’s Weird, Grandma’”
July 29- Aug 2: “Juno and the Paycock”
FRI/19
Burnham Pavilions
The centerpiece of the Burnham Plan Centennial opens in Millennium Park, Chase Promenade South, with temporary pavilions created by leading architects Zaha Hadid of London and Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Amsterdam. According to the City, “one pavilion is a curvilinear fabric form; the other’s floating roof offers surprising views of the Chicago skyline.” Through October 31. Free.
Chicago Peace Fest
Make a difference by attending this festival hosted by Unity for a Change. Beat it out with live music, drum circles, activist booths and food. 1700 N. Stockton. (708)795-1146. Noon-9pm. Through June 21. Free.
Close Up 2 Smooth Jazz Festival
Listen to a selection of jazz at this third annual music festival. Food, wine and beer available for purchase, as well as kid-friendly activities and an art show. Federal Plaza Square, 416 S. Clark. (312)385-1111. Noon-10pm. Through June 21.
Festa Pasta Vino
Embrace and celebrate Italian culture by binging on delicious carbs at this festival featuring food and wine from South Oakley avenue restaurants. Work off some of the food by engaging in the entertainment stage. 24th Street and Oakley, (847)795-1800. Through June 21. Free.
Scottish Festival and Highland Games
Blow your bagpipes at the twenty-third annual Scottish celebration hosted by the Illinois Saint Andrew Society. Plenty of pipe playing, athletic competitions and regional fare, as well as a car show, Highland dancers and live Celtic music to twirl your kilt. Oak Brook Polo Grounds, 700 Oak Brook. (708)447-5092. 4pm-8pm. Also June 20, 8am-9pm. $8-$17.
St. Josaphat Festival
Have fun in the sun at this fest, featuring live music, food and beer, sports games and kid activities. St. Josaphat Church, 2311 N. Southport. (773)327-8955. 6pm-10pm. Also June 20 Noon-10pm and June 21 Noon-4pm. $5-$10 suggested donation.
Taste of Greece on LaSalle Street
Opa! Commemorate the Greek culture of Chicago with food and drink, Greek dancing, a silent auction, a souvenir shop, games and tours of the church. Featuring live music by the John Linardakis Band. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1017 N. LaSalle. (312)664-5485. 4pm-11pm. Through June 21, Noon-11pm. $2.
Taste of Randolph Street
This six-block party for all things food features menus from nearby restaurants, including de cero, La Luce, La Sardine, Macello, Marche, Red Light, Sushi Wabi, Veerasway and more. Benefits go to the West Loop Community Organization. Randolph and Peoria streets, 900 W. Randolph. (312)458-9401. 5pm-11pm. Through June 21, 2pm-11pm and 2pm-10pm. $10 suggested donation.
SAT/20
BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest
Hosted by and benefiting the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce. Food, drink and artist vendors included along with live music and two stages. Marty Casey and Lovehammers, Jon McLaughlin and Michael McDermott are scheduled to play. Belmont and Hoyne. (773)868-3010. Noon-10pm. Through June 21. $5 donation.
Chicago Summerfest
Lincoln Park gets its party on with this fest benefiting the Festival Foundation. Including live music, food, beer, arts and crafts, a fine art show and kids’ activities. Clark and Armitage, 2000 N. Clark. (773)665-4682. Noon-10pm. Also June 21, 11am-9pm. $5 donation.
Custer’s Last Stand
Get artsy at Evanston’s largest and oldest outdoor event hosted by the Evanston Festival Theatre Inc. More than 350 stands featuring arts, antiques and more, also with food and beer vendors, theater shows, live music, kid’s entertainment and Native American culture showcases. Chicago and Main, Evanston, (847)328-2204. 10am-9pm. Also June 21. $1 donation benefits the Evanston Arts Depot.
Fiesta Puetrorriquenas/Puerto Rican Day Parade
The parade celebrating Puerto Rican culture is in its forty-forth year. The parade begins at Columbus and Balbo Drives and moves through Columbus and Monroe with floats, salsa and folk dancers and reggaeton music. (773)292-1414. Noon. Free.
WED/24
Chicago Arabesque
Arabian nights! Celebrate all things Arabic at this cultural celebration, featuring arts, shopping, cuisine, live music, dancing and other performances. Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington. 10am-3pm. Through June 26, also June 27 11am-7pm. Free.
FRI/26
Chicago Pride Fest
This festival is in its seventh year, presented by the GLBT community two days before the Pride Parade. Includes live music, DJs, arts and crafts, food vendors and much more. 3700 N. Halsted. (773)868-3010. 3pm-10pm. Also June 27, 11am-10pm. $5 suggested donation.
Taste of Chicago
The huge food festival comes back with food from more than seventy restaurants, live music, cooking demos, wine and more. Big-name headliners playing at the Taste include Counting Crows, Augustana, Ne-Yo and Barenaked Ladies. Grant Park, 300 S. Columbus. (312)744-3315. 11am-9pm. Through July 5. Free, $5 per strips of twelve food and drink tickets.
SAT/27
Fountain Square Arts Festival
More than 200 artists display their work at this six-block art festival. Includes food vendors, live music and kids’ arts and crafts. Fountain Square, 1700 Sherman, Evanston, (773)868-3010. 10am-6pm. Through June 28. $5 donation benefits the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.
SUN/28
Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade
This fortieth annual parade features floats, parties, picnics, politicians and bands. The parade starts on Halsted and Belmont and proceeds North on Halsted to Broadway, south on Broadway to Diversey and east to Cannon. (773)348-8243. Noon. Free.
