CHICAGO — Kick off summer and celebrate the last day of school with the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s outdoor picnic and festival with endless activities and workshops.
Families can also spend time outdoors at Lincoln Park Greek Fest and Ribfest in North Center. There are also outdoor art fairs in Hyde Park and Uptown.
The Chicago Blues Festival is back on this weekend with dozens of performers and artists in Grant Park.
You can also catch sunrise yoga, Día Del Niño celebrations, a South Side art and music festival and more.
Here’s a roundup of 27 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
All Weekend
Chicago Blues Festival
The Chicago Blues Festival is back on this weekend with dozens of performers and artists in Grant Park. Credit: Provided
Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St. (5-10:30 p.m. Thursday); Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. (Noon-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday)
Billed as “the largest FREE Blues festival in the world,” Chicago Blues Fest returns with a loaded lineup showcasing the city’s rich blues heritage as well as its next generation of artists. The weekend of events kicks off Thursday with a panel discussion and double-bill program at Ramova Theatre. The free show is open to anyone 18 and up on a first-come, first-served basis. Minors accompanied by their guardian will be admitted.
For a full schedule of the weekend’s Millennium Park performances — which take place across four stages — and information on accessing the event, click here.
Credit: Facebook
Pokémon Go Fest
Friday-Sunday
Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Loop
It’s been 10 years since Pokémon Go took the world by storm and the phenomenon is taking center stage at Grant Park this weekend as the Pokémon Go Fest returns. Participate in a day of exclusive gameplay, special skill-based zones for Trainers to up their skills and more.
Tickets are $33. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Ribfest returns to North Center June 6-7. Credit: Provided
Ribfest
Friday-Sunday
North Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road And Berteau Avenue, North Center
Ribfest is celebrating 26 summers in North Center as the annual BBQ street festival returns to the neighborhood. Pursue a variety of BBQ vendors as they compete for the title of “Best Ribs,” and also enjoy live entertainment, a kids zone and a lineup of live music.
There is a $10 suggested donation upon entry. Learn more here.
The Lincoln Park Greek Fest returns this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Lincoln Park Greek Fest
Friday-Sunday
2701 N. Sheffield Ave., Lincoln Park
Visit Greece without leaving Chicago as the Lincoln Park Greek Fest returns for another summer on North Sheffield Avenue. Indulge in authentic Greek food, participate in live traditional dancing and enjoy live music through it all.
There is a suggested $10 donation upon entry. Learn more here.
Credit: Provided
American Writers Festival
Saturday and Sunday
The American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave. and Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., Downtown
The American Writers Museum is partnering with the Chicago Public Library to bring the American Writers Festival Downtown. The two-day festival features more than 90 writers for author talks, podcast sessions, book signings and more for the ultimate gathering for readers, writers and story lovers of all ages.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
The 2025 57th Street Art Fair. Credit: Facebook
57th Street Art Fair
Saturday and Sunday
East 57th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood avenues, Hyde Park
Headed to Hyde Park for its 79th annual show, the 57th Street Art Fair will feature nearly 200 artists showcasing a variety of mediums, kids’ activities and live music programmed by Buddy Guy’s Legends. Food trucks will showcase delicious bites from all over the city.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Beyond Wonderland is returning to Northerly Island for a weekend EDM festival. Credit: Facebook
Beyond Wonderland Chicago
Saturday and Sunday
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive, Near South Side
Beyond Wonderland, the “Alice in Wonderland” themed electronic music festival is taking to Chicago for a weekend of all things EDM. Featuring headliners like Tiësto, Zedd and Zeds Dead, the festival will have four different stages and a lineup of more than 60 artists.
Tickets start at $139.98 for a one-day general admission pass. Learn more and browse ticket options here.
Credit: Facebook
Chicago Oddities & Curiosities Expo
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
McCormick Place Chicago Convention Center, 2301 S. King Drive., Near South Side
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo, the world’s largest traveling oddities event, is coming to Chicago this weekend for the lovers of the strange and unusual. Browse vendors and dealers offering taxidermy goods, creepy clothing, odd jewelry and all things weird. There’s also a schedule of workshops and classes from taxidermy to entomology.
Tickets are $15 and free for kids under 12. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Friday
A previous summer kickoff celebration at Griffin MSI. Credit: Provided
Kickoff To Summer Picnic
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Hyde Park
The Griffin MSI is celebrating warmer weather and longer days with a Kickoff to Summer picnic — a free outdoor event featuring games, bounce houses, face painting and more activities. Families can also board a historical CTA bus, explore STEAM activities hosted by Chicago Council on Science and Technology, plus grab free swag from the White Sox and more. Tickets are included in general admission to the museum.
Tickets start at $16.95 for adult Chicago residents and $9.95 for child Chicago residents. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Credit: Facebook
Jazz In the Court
Noon-2:30 p.m. Friday
5235 S. Harper Court, Hyde Park
Jazz and R&B singer Meagan McNeal is the latest artist performing in the Harper Court outdoor summer jazz series. Bring your own chair to enjoy an afternoon of free jazz sponsored by the University of Chicago. Performances continue on Fridays throughout the summer.
This is a free event. Learn more and RSVP here.
Credit: Instagram
From Memory To Movement: Emmett at 85 Exhibit Opening
6 p.m. Friday
Blanc Gallery, 4445 S. King Drive, Bronzeville
Blanc Gallery is collaborating with the Emmett Till and Mamie-Till Mobley Institute to bring a new exhibit to their South Side gallery to honor Emmett Till’s 85th birthday through art and collective memory. The exhibit will feature works from Chicago-bred artists as they reexamine Till’s story through sculpture, painting, photography and mixed media. If you can’t make the opening, the exhibit will run through July 26.
This is a free event. Learn more and RSVP here.
Credit: Instagram
Queer Quilting Exhibit
6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Lakeview
The Center on Halsted is welcoming a new exhibit to their second floor art gallery that displays the different approaches to queer quilting with a Friday night opening reception. Join artist Jack McLaughlin to officially welcome the exhibit to the space, which will run throughout the summer and features more than a dozen participating artists.
There is a $5 suggested donation. Learn more and RSVP here.
Saturday
There will be free yoga at the Horner Park Farmers Market. Credit: Facebook
Horner Park Famers Market Opening Day
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday
Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Horner Park
The Horner Park Farmers Market is returning to the North Side for the season with a community marketplace that brings together regional farmers, local bakers, specialty food makers and more. Every market includes live family-friendly music and free yoga at 10 a.m. The farmers market will run every Saturday morning until Oct. 10.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Instagram
Pilsen Canalport Cleanup & Afterparty
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
1966 S. Canalport Ave., Pilsen
Cleanup Club is headed to Pilsen Canalport for a morning cleanup followed by an afterparty at Skylark. The group will be meeting at the grassy patch next to the ramp at 1966 S. Canalport Ave., then cleaning up the ramps and underpasses in the “trashtastic” area. You can travel with other neighbors via bike bus, with different meet up spots in Bucktown, West Loop and South Loop.
There is a $10 suggested donation to support the costs of future cleanup events. Learn more and RSVP here.
Credit: Facebook
Ravenswood Sidewalk Sale
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Various locations, Ravenswood
The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is welcoming back the Ravenswood Sidewalk Sale for its third annual year to showcase local businesses all around the neighborhood. Enjoy shopping from a variety of businesses as they bring their merchandise out on the street for open-air shopping, while residents throughout the neighborhood also offer up one-of-a-kind finds out of their own homes.
This is a free event. Learn more about participating businesses here.
Credit: Facebook
Uptown Art Walk
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
1265 W. Wilson Ave., Uptown
120 local artists and makers will be taking to W. Wilson Ave. for the Uptown Art Walk. Browse the artists work, enjoy live acoustic music all day long, and bring the kids along to enjoy the family and kids zone with craft activities. The Uptown Art Walk is also partnering with various neighborhood businesses, meaning you can enjoy early openings, food specials and more from your Uptown favorites.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Facebook
Cicero Public Library Maker Market
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Cicero Public Library, 5225 W. Cermak Road, Cicero
The Cicero Public Library will be transforming into a makers market featuring local artists as they showcase their one-of-a-kind goods. Shop jewelry, prints, fragrances and more.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Instagram
Festival Del Niño
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Harrison Park, 1852 W. 19th St., Pilsen
The National Museum of Mexican Art is celebrating Día Del Niño with an all-day festival in Harrison Park. In the day that honors and celebrates children and childhood, the festival will include art activities, carnival games and entertainment especially for children.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Instagram
Liv More Series: Collective Abundance
1-4 p.m. Saturday
Avalon Park, 1215 E. 83rd St., Chatham
Head to Avalon Park for a free afternoon celebration with live music, art, performances, food vendors and more. Hosted by Chicago artists Phenom and youth artists from Emcee Skool, the event is focused on community engagement with activities like an open mic session, live poetry and more for people of all ages to engage with creative expression on Chicago’s South Side.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Facebook
Día Del Niño Celebration
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday
Blackhawk Park, 2313 N. Lavergne Ave., Cragin
Celebrate Día Del Niño, the national celebration of children, in Blackhawk Park. The celebration will include an afternoon full of activities like bounce houses, face painting, dance classes and free books. Plus, the neighborhood will be welcoming back the pool to Blackhawk Park, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:45 p.m.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Montrose Harbor Guided Meditation
2 p.m. Saturday
Montrose Harbor, 601 W. Montrose Ave., Uptown
Dive into a summertime guided meditation at Montrose Harbor as Megan Whitney leads a group through a 30 minute session. Meet Whitney just past the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, near the lamppost MHD 389 with your own towel or yoga mat.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Sunday
Sunrise Yoga
10-11 a.m. Sunday
31st Street Beach, 3100 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Douglas
Kick off Sunday morning with sunrise yoga on 31st Street Beach. Enjoy the calm sounds of Lake Michigan and a guided yoga session focused on centering and re-energizing.
Tickets are $9.95. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Credit: Facebook
The Great Bake Walk
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday
Various locations, Lincoln Square
Sweet treat lovers can explore Lincoln Square’s lively bakery scene with this Great Bake Walk. Entering its second year, this crawl will take you to a variety of local bakeries where you will receive a baked good for an afternoon of cookies, donuts, breads and more.
You can select from a lineup of routes, each of which will take you to seven different businesses. Plus, you can upgrade your ticket to include two beverage spots to grab craft beer, Bloody Marys and more.
Tickets start at $43.19. Purchase tickets and learn more here.
Credit: Facebook
Art Of Pride
Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., Hyde Park
Returning for its fifth year, the Art of Pride is a celebration of queer joy and radical imagination. Bringing together a wide lineup of LGBTQ+ artists, performers, makers and community organizers, the afternoon event includes film screenings, live DJ performances and more to honor Chicago’s queer legacy.
This is a free event. Learn more and RSVP here.
Credit: Instagram
Punk Rock Craft Market
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Reeds Local, 3017 W. Belmont Ave., Logan Square
Punk lovers can shop a craft market focused on all things punk rock. Featuring vendors like Raging Opposum Press, Post Cards from Hell and more, the market will offer chainmaille jewelry, leather work, prints and more, all made by locals. Plus, score the $4 beer-shot combo at Reeds to complete your local shopping day.
This is a free event. Learn more here.
Credit: Facebook
Hegewisch Walking Tour
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Hegewisch Metra/South Shore Metropolitan Rail, 13730 S. Brainard Ave., Hegewisch
Chicago for Chicagoans is taking to the Far South Side neighborhood of Hegewisch for the return of their 2.5-hour walking tour. Led by resident Emily O’Keefe-Davenport, the tour will take Chicagoans through the neighborhood full of historic homes, churches, small business and more. Close out the day as the walking tour ends at Old Time Tap, a classic Chicago dive bar.
Tickets are priced on a sliding scale with a suggested donation of $10-20. Learn more and RSVP here.
Walk Bloomingdale Trail and learn more about trail’s trees and plants. Credit: Facebook
Trees Of The Trail Tree Walk
4 p.m. Sunday
Bloomingdale Trail, N. Milwaukee Ave. and N. Leavitt St.
Curious about the trees and plants that make Bloomingdale Trail an urban green corridor? Join local tree keeper Nandika Gervais on a one-hour guided tree walk down the trail and learn more about the plant species that call the space home.
There is a suggested $20 donation to attend. Learn more and find tickets here.
