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16 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 5, 2016 3:54PM

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Chicaog Hot Dog Fest begins Friday. Photo courtesy of Chicago History Museum.

It's all fun, food and fests this weekend in Chicago. Here are some of our favorite events.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5

HOT DOG FEST: Chicago loves food, but we may love hot dogs more than anything else. After all, we do have our own dog and our own rules involving what toppings can and cannot touch our franks. Celebrate at the 4th Annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest all weekend at the Chicago History Museum. A bunch of encased meat vendors will be on site including Byron's Hot Dogs, Chubby Wieners, Fatso's Last Stand and more. They’ve also got a lineup of bands and beers to wash em down with. Free.

ART ALLEY: The Loop Alliance art and music series ACTIVATE continues with a theme of “SEE” in Couch Place Alley. View the alley walls in a new way as artists transform them into canvases. There are also deals available at nearby bars, restaurants, retailers and cultural institutions. RSVP in advance for one free beer or wine. Free.


SATURDAY AUGUST 6

EDGEFEST: Edgewater gets their own fest this weekend, aptly called EdgeFest. Support neighborhood artisans, musicians, and restaurants with two days of local fun, food and bands. Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press and Trippin Billies top the musical lineup. Entry is a $5 gate donation benefiting Edgewater Chamber of Commerce.

TASTE OF LINCOLN: Eat to your tummy’s content at the 33rd annual Taste of Lincoln Avenue. Restaurants of the neighborhood will have booths set up, plus wine tastings each afternoon from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Let’s not forget about the tunes, too! Gin Blossoms, G Love & Special Sauce and Aaron Carter all mark a stacked lineup. There’s also fun for the kids at the family friendly fest. Tickets for the wine tastings are $30, and admission is a suggested gate donation of $10 benefiting Wrightwood Neighbors Association.

1,000 MILE MARCH: While we have come a long way in the fight for equality, recent events emphasize that we still have a long way to go. Recreate part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic 1966 march into Marquette Park with other community members beginning at 9 a.m. Registration is $10.

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Photo via Deschutes Brewery's Facebook page.

DESCHUTES STREET PUB: Deschutes Brewery Street Pub hits the Logan Square neighborhood for a one-day block party from 2 to 10 p.m. There will be more than 50 taps ready at this family friendly event, along with live music from local artists Bailiff, Chicago Afrobeat Project and Railway Gamblers. Entry is free and 100 percent of their beer proceeds from the event go back into the community. VIP passes are available for $30.

RECORD STORE CRAWL: Go on the ultimate record store crawl complete with a bus tour from stop to stop. The band Sleep On It will perform live for participants and they’ll have gift bags, giveaways and more, plus discounts at Reckless, Laurie’s Planet of Sound and other stops. Tickets start at $29.95.

SHE'S CRAFTY: It’s the fourth annual celebration of Adam "MCA" Yauch and the legacy of the Beastie Boys at Lincoln Hall Saturday at 8 p.m. All-female Beastie Boys cover band She’s Crafty will headline the evening, plus a bunch of other local bands and DJs and a performance from the Modet Dance Collective. Tickets are $15 in advance and proceeds benefit the Brandon C. Gromada Head & Neck Cancer Foundation.

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Photo via Taco & Tamale Festivale's Facebook page.

TACO + TAMALE FESTIVALE: Celebrate two of our favorite food groups at the Tacos & Tamales Festivale in Pilsen this weekend. The street fest is based on the traditional Mexican Tianguis market, with local vendors who have everything from food to art. Live music will be going all day from traditional bands early, to latin rock at night. Entry is a $5 suggested donation benefiting the Frida Kahlo Community Organization.

PICNIC CONTEST: Let’s be honest, when there’s a lawn event, you’re there with the most elaborate picnic spread from wines and cheeses to blankets and chairs. Bring your skills to Millennium Park this weekend for the 5th annual Grant Park Music Festival Picnic contest. This year’s theme is “A Picnic in the Cosmos” and the winner gets a $100 Macy’s gift card to Macy's and more perks. Register here.

SOUTH LOOP BEER + CIDER FEST: Check out the South Loop’s craft beer scene at the new South Loop Beer & Cider Festival taking place in Women’s Park and Garden from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Zydeco Voodoo will provide the live entertainment for the afternoon session, and tours will also be available of the Clarke House Museum. Tickets start at $49.

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Photo via bucktown.org website.

BUCKTOWN GARDEN WALK: See the beautiful gardens as neighbors open their yards to walkers at the 12th annual Bucktown Tree & Garden Walk. It’s $10 donation for a guidebook, plus Club Lucky will have live music and outdoor festivities both days from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

WRIGLEYVILLE SUMMERFEST: Well-known coverbands Too White Crew and Haribangers Ball headline Wrigleyville Summerfest at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Saturday and Sunday. They’ve also got a kids’ zone for the little ones. All proceeds go to Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Lakeview Pantry and Resurrection Lutheran Church.

SUNDAY AUGUST 7

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Can this cat read your mind? Photo via Harmony House's Facebook page.

PET PSYCHIC FAIR: Yes, you read that right. Get a 15 minute reading from a trusty psychic at Harmony House for Cats’ Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Bring a photo of your pet, and ask those nagging questions about your future, or about loved ones (furry or not) who have passed. The fair will also have treats (for pets and humans) and a Whiskers Raffle. Free admission, $20 for readings.

MADE IN CHICAGO MARKET: The Reader’s Made in Chicago Market takes over Plumbers Hall this Sunday with vendors selling everything from beauty, apparel and housewares to food and drink, and jewelry. The spotlight is on local businesses and manufacturers. Free.

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Photo via Lurie Garden's website.

URBAN GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS: Take your shot at Urban Landscape Photography with a class at Lurie Garden this Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Professional photographer Warren Perlstein will guide you through camera basics, shooting Millennium park beauties like the garden and Cloud Gate and then offer critiques on photos. Free, but registration is required here.