13 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 11, 2017 4:29PM
Chicago Hot Dog Fest 2017 from Chicago History Museum on Vimeo.
Whether bugs, hot dogs or music is your thing, this weekend has a little something for everyone.
FRIDAY AUGUST 11
CHICAGO HOT DOG FEST: A whole festival dedicated to hot dogs? Yes, please. Chicago Hot Dog Fest takes place this weekend outside the Chicago History Museum and they’ll have encased meats from Downtown Dogs, Byron’s Hot Dogs, Chicago’s Dog House, Dog House Grill and many more. They’ll also have live music all day long with Sixteen Candles, Mike & Joe and a Prince Tribute by Robert Cornelius & Friends headlining. Admission is $5.
FESTIVAL CUBANO: This year’s Festival Cubano in Riis Park is chock full of cultural music, food, art and even the costume portion of the Miss Teen U.S. Latina Beauty Pageant. A celebration of freestyle and house music kicks off the weekend on Friday night with Cuban-American DJs Julian Jumpin' Perez and Nayobe, and notable musicians like sonero Michael Stuart and timba group David Calzado y la Charanga Habanera are among the fests other headliners. Admission starts at $15.
Image via Retro on Roscoe's Facebook page.
RETRO ON ROSCOE: The family-friendly street fest Retro on Roscoe features live bands and an Antique Car Show that fills the weekend. Come prepared to sing along with the familiar tunes of headliners Too White Crew, 16 Candles, Wedding Banned, Mr. Blotto, American English, Trippin’ Billies and The Boy Band Night. Entry is a $10 donation.
SAUCED NIGHT MARKET: House of Vans will play host to the SAUCED Summer Night Market from 5 to 11 p.m. More than 50 vendors from chefs to artisans and other local talent will come together for an evening of food, drink and live art. Entry is free with RSVP.
Image courtesy of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
BUGAPALOOZA: Get down and dirty with the bugs at Bugapalooza at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Interact with live critters, learn to pin an insect specimen, eat some delicious bug cooking and more at the event. Non-bug dinner will also be included. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids in advance.
MILLION TONGUES FESTIVAL: Explore underground folk, experimental and psychedelic, musical acts at the Million Tongues Festival at Empty Bottle for a two night event. Curated by Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) the fest returns from it’s early aughts heyday in honor of the club’s 25th Anniversary. The lineup includes alum who don’t often appear live including NARITA of legendary Japanese psychedelic punks High Rise and 1970s “fingerstyle guitar god” Mark Fosson. Tickets are $12 for each night. A two-day pass is $20.
SATURDAY AUGUST 12
BUD BILLIKEN PARADE: As if Chance the Rapper wasn’t busy enough, he’ll be the Grand Marshall (and passing out 30,000 free backpacks) at this Saturday’s Bud Billiken Parade. This year’s parade is “Honoring our Hometown Heroes” with local youth in bands, drill teams and floats. Parade steps off at 10 a.m. at King Drive and Oakwood with a party to follow at Washington Park.
MARKET DAYS: Northalsted Market Days is the other big event of the year in Boystown. The Midwest’s ”largest outdoor street fest” always has lively entertainment across two day and several stages and this year offers us Big Freedia, Tiffany, 10,000 Maniacs, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and more. Don’t miss the daily drag shows on the Hydrate Dance Stage. Admission is a $10 suggested donation.
BIT BASH: The interactive arts and videogames festival Bit Bash is back for it’s 4th year at Revel Fulton Market this Saturday. Check out vintage games, interactive games, indie games and more and meet gamer friends (new or experienced) at the fest. They’ll also have music performances, libations, and food trucks. Tickets are $30 in advance.
SHERIDAN PARK ART FESTIVAL: The 5th Annual Sheridan Park Art Festival will feature more than 30 local artists and musicians on Sunnyside Mall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday. Local food vendors will also be available, plus family-friendly activities like a sidewalk art contest.
Image courtesy of Thirsty Ears Festival.
THIRSTY EARS: Hear some amazing contemporary composers at the Thirsty Ears Festival in Ravenswood this weekend. It’s Chicago’s only classical music street fest, and there will be performances from the Grant Park Festival String Quartet, Crossing Borders Music and so many more. Admission is a $5 suggested donation benefitting Access Contemporary Music (ACM).
BIG DIG BEACH PARTY: The Big Dig North Avenue Beach Party will bring the fun to the lakefront this Saturday. The 9th annual party features the Big Dig Volleyball tournament for men, women and coed teams, plus beach games like giant Jenga and a live DJ. Tickets for the party are $20 in advance and include drink tickets. Registration is also open for the tournament.
SUNDAY AUGUST 13
Photo courtesy of World Roller Derby Week.
ROLLER DERBY BIRTHDAY PARTY: A free party kicks off World Roller Derby Week at Coliseum Park (the very spot the sport debuted in 1935) this Sunday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Watch roller skating demonstrations and pose for a photo with roller derby athletes in uniform. Other events for the week include multiple bouts and a blood drive. Visit the World Roller Derby Week website for the full schedule.