12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Labor Day Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 1, 2017 3:44PM
Image courtesy of AVP.
It's Labor Day weekend and that means summer's last hurrah. We've got beach volleyball, music fests, a cat-themed art show and more to make the most of the long weekend!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1
AVP BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Watch the pros spike and serve for free when the AVP Beach Volleyball Gold Series tour hits Oak Street Beach this weekend. General admission viewing is free and seating is first come first served. For an elevated view with shade and food, Club AVP VIP tickets are for sale.
JAZZ FEST: The Chicago Jazz Festival is a Labor Day-weekend tradition in the city, this being the event’s 39th year downtown. Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center will play host to performances from local musician Jon Faddis, pianist Jason Moran, The Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans and more, plus tributes to legends Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk and Ella Fitzgerald. Admission to all Jazz Fest events is free. Visit the event website for the full schedule.
NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL: North Coast Music Festival returns to Union Park from Sept. 1 - 3, bringing back its unique mixture of electronic (Deadmau5) and organic (Lettuce) dance music with a few outliers (Ween!) that still manage to fit the weekend's vibe. Tickets are available through the NCMF website.
TASTE OF POLONIA: Get your pierogi on at Taste of Polonia this Friday through Monday in Jefferson Park. They’ve got four stages with live music going and a variety of Polish food and beer from locales like Alex’s Deli, Smakowski Deli and Home Bakery & Dumpling House. Tickets start at $5.
Image via The Great American Lobster Fest's website.
GREAT AMERICAN LOBSTER FEST: Eat lobster, more lobster and even vegan treats at The Great American Lobster Fest this weekend on Navy Pier. The largest lobster and seafood festival in the midwest will have live music performances, family friendly activities, unique craft shopping and of course food. Vendors will be serving up food from land and sea, including vegetarian options. Tickets start at $10.
BIKES + BITES + BREWS: North Mayfair invites you to explore the Northwest Side neighborhood during Bikes, Bites & Brews this weekend. The bicycle- and family-friendly event will kick off with a ride through the new extension of the North Branch Trail at 10 a.m. on Saturday. They’ll also be showing off some of the neighborhood’s eateries and breweries, including Begyle Brewing Company, Lake Effect Brewing Company, Old Irving Brewing Company and others.
"Meowsters of the Universe" by Chris Gallevo. Courtesy of Toy de Jour.
KITTY CAT ATTACK: Show your love for celebrity cats of all breeds at Logan Square shop Toy de Jour's next group art show, Kitty Cat Attack. See artist interpretations ranging from Garfield to Toonces, and Felix to Salem, and even public figures as felines. The opening night party from 6 to 10 p.m. will have food, drink and “red dots for people to chase.” Free.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2
BACK-LOT BBQ: Party on the backlot with music from Chromeo and Steve Lawler at the ESTATE grounds on Elston on Saturday and Sunday. The Paradigm Back-Lot BBQ runs from noon to 10 p.m. with food, drinks, house, funk and everything in between. Tickets start at $20.
FRIENDS OF SHIRILLA: Greg Shirilla has been holding down the bar at The Continental pretty much since the joint opened, and not once has he judged you for all your terrible late-night decisions. So, you probably owe him. Shirilla took a three-story fall in June while working another job, and broke his wrist and two vertebrae. While he returned to work in a head-spinningly brief amount of time, his medical bills have proved to be substantial, and many folks have been trying to figure out how to help him defray those costs. You'll have a chance to pitch in this Saturday afternoon when The Continental hosts a silent auction and BBQ.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3
LAURIE’S PLANET OF SOUND TURNS 20: It’s Laurie’s planet, we’re just living on it. Music lovers in the city will know Laurie’s Planet of Sound, the Lincoln Square record store that’s been there for 20 years. 20 YEARS! To celebrate, they’re throwing a 20th Anniversary Party at Davis Theater. Get tickets (only available at the store) for the special double feature of Head and Record City and then stick around for the after-party next door at Carbon Arc.
BRING THE NOISE: Living Colour are hard-rock legends, and you should grab any chance you have to see them live, since they still put on a vicious show. So imagine our surprise to see them booked in the usually more, shall we say genteel, confines of City Winery this Sunday. Expect the heat coming off the stage to evaporate all the wine in the lines. The band plays two sets, so you don't have an excuse to not get your face melted off.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER4: LABOR DAY
NORTH COAST CLOSING PARTY: When the North Coast music has silenced but you’re still raring to go, close out the weekend with Porn & Chicken at The Mid. They’re throwing the official North Coast Music Festival Closing Party, starting at 10 p.m. with Chicago’s Most Wanted, Trap vs Juke and a “special guest”. Tickets are $10.