14 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 8, 2017 6:05PM
Seun Kuti plays World Music Fest this weekend. Photo by Romain Rigal.
Spirits, street fests, movies and more fill up our calendars this weekend!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8
WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL: The 19th Annual World Music Festival Chicago comes to Millennium Park and a variety of venues Sept. 8 to 24. The lineup includes a number of styles celebrating the city’s diverse culture, including Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music and FELABRATION! Featuring Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his band Egypt 80. Visit the festival website for a full schedule of performances.
WÜRST MUSIC AND BEER FEST: The Würst Music and Beer Fest kinda came out of the blue, and we’re all for it! Three-day passes are only $25 for the fest at Randolph and Ogden, with a music lineup that includes Murder By Death, The Anniversary, Diarrhea Planet and many more. There are also food and drink packages for purchase with “GutenBucks.”
AFTER HOURS COMEDY LAB: The Museum of Science and Industry + The Second City = Laughter. Step into The Second City Comedy Lab at the next MSI After Hours, the adults-only evening event featuring cocktails, snacks, music and after-hours access to museum exhibits. 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Image courtesy of Festival de La Villita.
LITTLE VILLAGE FEST: “Festival de La Villita” in Little Village celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain with authentic food, music, carnival rides and a parade. The neighborhood festival has been going for 28 years, with local restaurants and vendors taking part. Sunday’s 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade steps off at Noon at Albany and ends at the fest on Kostner. Free.
THROWBACK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Head on up to the northwest side Gladstone Park for the 2nd annual Throwback Music Festival this weekend. The Gin Blossoms are one of the headliners for the fest crossing decades and generations. Break out the retro attire for the "Miss Throwback Pin-up Contest" on Sunday, plus a pet parade and vintage car show. Admission is a $5 gate donation benefiting the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce's scholarship program.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9
Image via Bourbon and Barbecue Fest's website.
BOURBON + BARBECUE FEST: The all new Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Fest introduces Southern hospitality to the Roscoe Village neighborhood. Performers on the two music stages over two days include local alt-country rockers The Waco Brothers and country music singer/songwriter Keith Anderson. The festive tunes will pair perfectly with your afternoon barrel-aged bourbon tastings and meats from Aussum Aussie Australian BBQ, Luella's Southern Kitchen, Robinson's Ribs and Bill's Grill. Admission is a $5 gate donation benefitting the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce.
LAKEVIEW EAST FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: More than 150 juried artists will bring paintings, sculpture, photography and more to the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts this Saturday and Sunday. In addition to all that are, they’ll have live music, family fun children’s areas and wine, beer and food booths. Admission is a $5 donation.
Image courtesy of Music Box Theatre.
LABYRINTH QUOTE-ALONG: You know all the words, so sing them loud with the Music Box Theatre’s Labyrinth Quote-Along at 2 and 7 p.m. Dance magic dance with David Bowie’s pants magic pants as the 1986 film is presented with animated subtitles thanks to a collaboration with Alamo Drafthouse and Birth.Movies.Death. Costumes encouraged, and tickets come with a prop bag for extra fun.Tickets are $15.
BEARS BLOCK PARTY: Football season is here! Celebrate with Miller Light and a tailgate-style block party in Logan Square from noon to 10 p.m. Come for the food and beer, stay for the activities like Field Goal Kick, Football Toss and Arm Chair QB Challenge. There will be live music, too, from local rockers Saves the Day, Lucky Boys Confusion, The Kickback and more. Free.
RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR: The maker’s oasis Renegade Craft Fair is back on the straightaway of Division Street in Wicker Park this Saturday and Sunday. Shop more than 400 independent vendors selling jewelry, apparel, home decor and more while DJs from Lumpen Radio, Reckless Records and CHIRP play the tunes.
THE ROAST OF GEORGE WENDT: If you’ve got the cash, you’ll probably want to find your way to The Second City’s Mainstage for "I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt" at 7 p.m. Celebrities and Second City alum abound at the event, hosted by Roastmaster (and SNL veteran) Jason Sudeikis including Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Julia Sweeney (SNL), David Rasche (Veep), Jeff Tweedy (Grammy-winning Wilco frontman) and the list goes on. Tickets start at $500, with the majority of that money benefiting Gilda’s Club Chicago and The Second City Alumni Fund.
FLOW FEST: If you’re up for some acroyoga, dance and circus arts this weekend, head to Ping Tom Park for MidWest Flow Fest. The free performing arts fest will feature performances and activities and vendors. There are also workshop passes for purchase.
FEW + BLOODSHOT: FEW Spirits teams up with local label Bloodshot Records for their third collaboration, the release of White Lightning Whisky. They're throwing a release party Saturday afternoon at the FEW distillery, with music from The Waco Brothers, Sanctified Grumblers, and The Lawrence Peters Outfit, along with tasty treats from the Bruges Brothers food truck.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10
FERRARI FEST: Italian Village celebrates 90 years in Chicago in conjunction with their annual Ferrari Fest this Sunday. More than 60 Ferrari automobiles will line Monroe Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while the restaurant offers specials on signature menu items and cake. Free to the public with a suggested donation of $30 to benefit the charities Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Inspiration Cafe.