14 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 23, 2017 6:33PM
Gaga, food fests, street fests and more...this weekend is packed with fun.
FRIDAY AUGUST 25
GAGA OOH LA LA: Lady Gaga is the latest artist to hold a concert at Wrigley Field, bringing her Joanne World Tour to the Friendly Confines on Friday night. A look through the tour's setlist shows, unsurprisingly, the shows pul heavily from the recently released, more "rock oriented" Joanne, but there's plenty of pure pop hits from her earlier albums including gems pulled from The Fame (and The Fame Monster) and Born This Way. Little Monsters will not be disappointed.
LOGAN SQUARE FOOD TRUCK SOCIAL: Food trucks come together for the Logan Square Food Truck Social this weekend. Produced by Optimum Events and Empty Bottle Presents, the event will feature 24 trucks of “sought after mobile eats” each day, plus local retailers and live music. Admission is a $5 suggested donation.
Greektown photo by Mike Lyons
TASTE OF GREEKTOWN: Sample cuisine of the Mediterranean at the 28th annual Taste of Greektown this weekend. Bites from neighborhood eateries will star along with Greek bands, kids' activities and a gyros eating contest.
CAH LIVE: Card Against Humanity returns for another live show, this time hosted by artist Matthew Hoffman, on Friday at The Greenhouse Theater Center Downstairs Mainstage. Hoffman is the man behind the "You Are Beautiful Project" so perhaps he's hosting in an effort to help inject a little compassion into a game that can ofttimes be hilariously ruthless. All proceeds from the show will also go to benefit Designs For Dignity.
SATURDAY AUGUST 26
Photo courtesy of Randolph Street Market.
RANDOLPH STREET MARKET: The enormous Randolph Street Antique Market is back in the historic West Loop/Fulton Market District this weekend with a "Back to Cool" theme. Shop antique, vintage and modern goods including home décor, furniture, jewelry, accessories, art, custom-made gifts from 300+ vendors.And don’t forget about the jam sessions, petting zoo, fancy foods and prosecco and wine tastings. Tickets are $10.
BEVERLY BREWS FEST: Beverly is where the beers are this Saturday. The Beverly Brews Fest at Beverly Arts Center will feature samplings from 20 craft breweries, including Open Outcry, Horse Thief Hollow, Blue Island Beer Company, Flossmoor Station and Argus Brewery. There will also be live music from the winners of the first annual BAC Battle of the Bands. $50 VIP tickets begin at 6pm and $35 general admission is 7 to 10 p.m.
MIDNIGHT CIRCUS IN THE PARKS KICK OFF: The 11th annual Midnight Circus in the Parks tour kicks off this weekend with an all new family friendly production at Gately Park. The circus, which strives to "create community, raise funds, and rebuild parks,” will pitch its big top tent in eight different parks each weekend through mid-October. Tickets start at $5. Visit their website for the full tour schedule.
SIX CORNERS DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Six Corners Portage Park hosts some “old-time entertainment with a modern spin” with a Drive-in Movie event in the parking lot of 3930 N. Milwaukee Ave. The feature film: The Sandlot. Broadcast sound through your car radio or walk-in with lawn chairs or blankets for seating. 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 per car, $15 for pedestrian adults and $5 for pedestrian children.
BUCKTOWN ARTS FEST: The Bucktown Arts Fest takes place this weekend in at Holstein Park and features many local artists selling wares and two stages of music. Don’t miss the very first “Barktown” Dog Parade on Sunday, and be on the lookout for Wicker Park Bucktown Summer Sidewalk Sales all weekend.
A LONG AWAITED RETURN: Milk At Midnight almost never plays any longer, and that's a shame since the band's mix of psychedelic aggression, often spurred by barbed lyricism, is really needed today. It's nearing a decade since their last album Less Love More Acid, so we're really hoping Saturday's show at LiveWire means there's some new music in the band's future (or making an appearance that night)! Either way, it's been a few years since the band last played so this could be your only chance to see them for another two or three years.
VILLAPALOOZA: Little Village hosts their own music festival this weekend, for free! Villapalooza hosts nationally acclaimed artists and local legends on three stages, plus local vendors with artisans, food and drink.
SUNDAY AUGUST 27
Image courtesy of Do312's Flickr.
SEVEN DEADLY CHICAGO SINS: Do312 is turning 7 this weekend and they’re throwing you a birthday party. The 7 Deadly Chicago Sins will be on full display at the East Room parking lot, including Sloth (Xena the Two-Toed Sloth), Wrath (a dunk tank run by Alex White of White Mystery where you'll have a chance to soak our own Tankboy for a good cause), Gluttony: (Chicago hot dog creation station) and Greed (a wind tunnel filled with Chicago concert and festival tickets). Admission is free though many of the attractions will be raising money for a variety of charitable causes. RSVP here for a free beverage.
BELLYQ BBQ: bellyQ’s Backyard BBQ Series continues this weekend with a laid back gathering on the lawn at 1 p.m. Chef Bill Kim teams up with a different local chef for each event, and this time it’s Chef Christopher McCoy of Haymarket Pub & Brewery. It’s also the restaurant’s 5th Anniversary, so the BBQ doubles as a birthday bash. Tickets are $45.
ART + THEATER @ THE PARK: Check out some of what the local Lakeview art and theater community has to offer at the Park at Wrigley this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event features performances for all ages from comedy groups like ComedySportz, Laugh Factory, Storytown Children’s Improv and more.