Chicagoist's Guide To October: 20 Fun Things To Do This Month
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 29, 2017 6:33PM
Image via Bloody Mary Fest's website.
October means time for falling leaves and fun events like film fests, food fests and the Chicago Marathon.
BLOODY MARY FEST
October 1
It’s five straight hours of Bloody Mary madness at the annual Bloody Mary Fest at Theater on the Lake. Sample different bloodies, craft beer, mimosas and more along with sweet and savory brunch bites. Vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award. Tickets are $60.
Image via Chicago Book Expo's Facebook page.
CHICAGO BOOK EXPO
October 1
This free literary celebration takes place at Columbia College from noon to 5 p.m. The Chicago Book Expo focuses on the local community with more than 20 programs and workshops with local authors, plus 75 exhibitors selling books from local presses and literary organizations. They’re also teamed with the Chicago Architecture Biennial for the very first Chicago Architecture Book Festival.
INDIE SPIRITS EXPO
October 3
Sample boutique vodkas, gins, rums, tequilas, mezcals, whiskies and liqueurs from all around at the 2017 Chicago Indie Spirits Expo at The Hilton downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. The expo brings small, independent, family owned, distillers, importers, bottlers, distributors all in one place. Tickets are $45.
Image via Bodega Ramos' Facebook page.
LINCOLN PARK UNCORKED
October 5
Bodega Ramos, Burnt City Brewing, Delilah's, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater and many more neighborhood businesses get in on Lincoln Park Uncorked from 6 to 9 p.m. Bodega Ramos will provide the wine and local restaurants will provide paired bites as you stroll and sip down Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $40.
DANCING WITH THE GIORDANO STARS
October 5
Giordano Dance Chicago takes a page from the hit television show for their own annual "Dancing With The Giordano Stars" Ballroom Competition Benefit at Park West at 7 p.m. 14th Ward Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and Dr. Stacie McClane of the Chicago Plastic Surgery Center are among the local civic leaders competing while the evening’s judges include Judges include Chicago Tribune’s Candace Jordan, Michigan Avenue Magazine’s Dan Uslan and the Joffrey’s Ashley Wheater. Tickets start at $150.
Image via the City of Chicago's website.
WEST TOWN FOOD TRUCK SOCIAL + ART WALK
October 6-7
The West Town Food Truck Social and Art Walk become one down Chicago Avenue this weekend. Check out neighborhood retailers while sampling some of the best mobile kitchens around the city. Local record stores will provide the tunes for the lively festival. Free.
SOUTH SIDE FILM FESTIVAL
October 6-8
The South Side Film Fest kicks off on Friday at Studio Movie Grill, celebrating the south side’s ___ in movies. See films old and new at the three day festival including Love Jones, Cooley High and a trio of short films produced by South Side Natives.Tickets start at $16. Visit the festival website for the full schedule.
FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 6
When old VHS tapes get tossed where do they go? Well, to the Found Footage Festival, of course. The Music Box Theatre hosts Found Footage Festival: Volume 8 hosted by Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, whose credits include The Onion and the Late Show with David Letterman, at 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. This year’s gems include “The Law Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults” and exclusive selections from David Letterman's VHS Collection. Tickets are $15.
MUSIC BOX OF HORRORS
October 7
It’s the time of year for fear, and The Music Box will take you there with the 24 hour Horror Movie Marathon beginning at noon. This year’s marathon brings us exploits of zombified police run-ins, adolescent lycanthropy, dizzying dives and tributes to George Romero and Tobe Hooper. Director Mariano Baino will also appear live for a Q&A after his film Dark Waters. Tickets are $30 in advance. Visit the Music Box website for the full lineup.
WORLD DUMPLING FEST
October 7
Part of the citywide intercultural Inherit Chicago festival, World Dumpling Fest takes us around the city and around the world through filled dough treats. Enjoy dumplings from Chicago's best ethnic restaurants, including Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen, Ethiopian Diamond and Kamehachi. There will also be cultural performances, crafts and artwork. Admission is free. Buy advance food tickets here.
Photo by Benjy Lipsman
BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON
October 8
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the biggest marathons in the country, and special as participants get to run through our iconic skyline. Even if you’re not running the 26.2 miles yourself, you can join the cheering crowds all along the route, including as well as the “runner reunite area” in Butler Field. See the marathon website for special spectator information.
CIFF
October 12-26
The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival takes us on adventures all over the world with more than 150 films from Argentina, Brazil, China, Lebanon, Slovakia, and the United States (including two films from Chicago-based filmmakers). Marshall will kick things off on opening night with filmmakers and actor Josh Gad scheduled to be in attendance. All of the films will be screened at AMC River East. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule and ticket information.
LATINO MUSIC FESTIVAL
October 12-November 19
The 12th Chicago Latino Music Festival kicks off with a free performance on Thursday from Peruvian born and Chicago-based guitarist Luis Rafael Vivanco at Instituto Cervantes at 7 p.m. The month-long festival features many free concerts from colonial classical music to new contemporary works including Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Axiom Brass, Chicago Composers Orchestra and more.
Billy Branch. Photo courtesy of UChicago's Logan Center.
LOGAN CENTER BLUESFEST
October 13-15
The 1st Annual Logan Center Bluesfest will honor South Side roots of the blues this weekend. The UChicago festival includes concerts, workshops, film, food, and conversations with local and national musicians and artists. Performances include Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio and a “Bringing the Blues Back to the South Side” showcase hosted by Billy Branch. Visit the website for the full schedule of events.
Image via Rare and Wild Beer Fest's event page.
RARE AND WILD BEER FEST
October 14
Rub shoulders with 67-million-year-old year old fossils and a “private suite haver” at the Rare and Wild Beer Fest at The Field Museum at 8 p.m. The evening will feature more than 60 breweries with rare, barrel aged, funky, sour and often inaccessible beers. Tickets are $50 and are only available in advance.
Edgewater Beach Apartments. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.
OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO
October 14-15
Open House Chicago is a favorite event for locals and visitors alike as the event grants access to many hidden spaces in the city for just 48 hours. For free. The event features more than 200 locations in neighborhoods across the city. The Aon Center? Sure. The pink Edgewater Beach Apartments? Yep. Fourth Presbyterian Church? You got it. For a full list of locations, visit the Open House website.
IDEAS WEEK
October 16-22
IDEAS WEEK: Chicago Ideas Week 2017 includes a wide range of speakers including David Miliband, Jennifer Garner, and Aasif Mandvi. The whole week’s program includes 150 events on topics ranging from life's big questions to financial technology; foreign affairs to the future of football. Most tickets are in the range of $15. Visit the Ideas Week website for ticket and schedule information.
Oregon Ballet Theatre's Blaine Truitt Covert in Giselle. Photo by Ansa Deguchi.
GISELLE
October 18-29
Joffrey Ballet opens the season with Giselle, but not just any old version of the classic Romantic era ballet. Lola de Ávila, former Associate Director of the San Francisco Ballet School, has elevated this classic tale of passion beyond the grave to new heights it it’s Chicago Premiere, set to to the original Adolphe Adam score. Tickets start at $34.
Image via Arts in the Dark's website.
ARTS IN THE DARK PARADE
October 21
The magical Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade celebrates the city’s diverse arts community. The family friendly parade steps off at Columbus and Balbo right at dusk with floats, costumes and performances. Don’t forget about the pre-parade activities at Buckingham Fountain and the house party afterward at the Bean. Free.
NORTHALSTED HALLOWEEN PARADE
October 31
No one does Halloween like Boystown. Come check out the over the top costumes and enthusiasm at the 17th annual Northalsted Halloween Parade stepping off at 7:30 p.m. Stick around for the costume contest winners in theme, group, scariest and drag. Free.