CHICAGO — Summer is nearing an end, but Chicago isn’t slowing down.
Catch jets and parachuters thunder through the sky at the renowned Air & Water Show, indulge in sweet BBQ at Ribfest, immerse yourself in Latin American culture at Sangria Festival, celebrate 10 years of Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap mixtape, groove through a 2K race with house music tunes and so much more.
Here’s a roundup of 31 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Air & Water Show
10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Between Fullerton Avenue and Oak Street along the lakefront
Watch as military and civilian aircrafts fly through the sky and service members parachute down at the annual Air & Water Show. Spectators can watch the aerial demonstrations along the lakefront, with North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr., serving as the show’s center.
RELATED: The Chicago Air and Water Show Takes To The Sky This Weekend — Here’s Everything You Need To Know
Woof Fest
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Polish National Alliance, 6100 N. Cicero Ave.
Bring your pup or even adopt one at this fundraiser for local animal shelter Wright Way Rescue. There will be food, beer, a bounce house, live music, a doggy fashion show and more.
Peace In The Streets Summer Block Party
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday
St. Sabina Catholic Church, 1210 W. 78th Pl.
The Peace in the Streets Summer Block Party and Resource Fair is coming to Auburn Gresham this weekend with live music, free food, activities and more. There will also be a giveaway of 1,200 bookbags filled with school supplies.
House Music & Move It
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday
Washington Park – Grove 1, Russell Drive
Run, walk, bike or rollerblade through this House Music 2K event. The first 150 finishers will get shirts and medals. DJs Lil’ John, Lugo Rosado and Alicia and HUGO H. will be there spinning tunes. Register online.
Ribfest
5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
4000 N. Lincoln Ave.
The smells of BBQ will fill the streets of Northcenter this weekend for the 23rd annual Ribfest. Enjoy endless ribs, cold beer, two stages of live music, a kids’ area with games and inflatables and more. A $10 suggested donation benefits the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce. VIP passes are also available for purchase for $50-75. Buy yours here.
Jollof Festival
2-7 p.m. Saturday
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.
This is a day-long celebration of Jollof, a one-pot rice dish native to many countries in West Africa. Enjoy many variations of this dish and vote for your favorite in the “Jollof Wars.” Tickets for $25-55 are available online.
Abby Govindan Live in Chicago
8 p.m. Saturday
The Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.
New York-based comedian, writer and internet sensation Abby Govindan has performed across the world and opened for big names like Russell Peters and Hasan Minhaj. This weekend, she’s coming to Chicago for a one-hour solo show, part of a nationwide tour to show to cement her name outside of her online virality. Get your ticket for $25 online.
Back to School Block Party
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
4000 W. Crystal St.
There will be live entertainment, local vendors, food, a bouncy house and more at this back-to-school block party.
South Side Neighborhood Gospel Festival
3:30-8 p.m. Saturday
Ogden Park, 6400 S. Racine Ave.
Catch soulful and uplifting musical performances at this South Side gospel fest, with headliner James Fortune and 11 other artists and groups.
Englewood Back 2 School Parade
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Ogden Park, 6400 S. Racine Ave.
Community members can enjoy a parade with bands and dance teams plus inflatables, water slides, food and more at this 62nd annual celebration. There will also be book bag and school supply giveaways.
Back To School Skate Party
4-6 p.m. Saturday
The Rink, 1122 E. 87th St.
Skate the afternoon away and celebrate back-to-school season at this family-friendly skate party. Tickets are $15 for adults and include complementary skate rentals. Children get in free but must be accompanied by an adult.
Sangria Festival
Noon Sunday
This 7th annual fest is filled with sangria, Latin American food, music, art, entertainment and more. You can even enter a picnic contest. Sangria Festival also helps raise awareness and funds for community organizations, including San Lucas Church Hot Meals Program. Learn more about the fest here. Tickets start at $40 online.
The Great American Lobster Fest
1-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Sunday
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
Enjoy live lobster flown in from the East Coast, live music performances, craft shopping and more. There will also be fireworks Saturday night. Get tickets starting at $69 online.
Made By Women Market
1-4 p.m. Sunday
3535 N. Lincoln Ave.
Beauty spa Glamrūm is hosting a Made by Women Market at its Lakeview West location, featuring 11 women-owned businesses and female artisans from across the Chicagoland area. Shop from Chicago For Keeps, Mariahs Muse, Golden Root and more. There will also be treats to snack on and DJ Evie the Cool spinning tunes.
Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap 10-Year Anniversary Show
8 p.m. Saturday
United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.
Chance the Rapper is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his record-breaking mixtape Acid Rap with a show at the United Center, featuring rapper and record producer Saba. Get your tickets online. Chance is also honoring the Billboard-charting project with a pop-up exhibit and shop at the WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St, through Sunday.
EcoFest
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Welles (Gideon) Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
This annual environmental festival is all about sustainability and celebrating the planet. Meet like-minded neighbors, shop from sustainable vendors, meet with local nonprofits, community groups and elected officials and more. RSVP online.
Hummingbird Fest
9 a.m.-12:40 p.m. Saturday
Meet at the Humboldt Park Boat House and Parking Lot, 1440 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Black, Indigenous and People of Color-identifying Chicago birders are taking a trip to the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center for hummingbird fest. There is a short loop trail, hummingbird garden, indoor learning center and other facilities. A bus will pick up birders from Humboldt Park at 9 a.m. and drive back at noon. It is about a 40-minute drive. Attendees are encouraged to pack a lunch or snacks for the bus ride.
EEEEEATSCON
Noon-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.
EEEEEATSCON is a two-day food experience built like a music festival — except with restaurants as the headliners. It was created to be more than just tasting-sized portions and cooking demonstrations. The fest features a curated lineup of local restaurants and imports from across the country, live music performances and panels from industry pioneers. Tickets are $25 online.
KOCO Fest & Peace at the Park
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday
Mandrake (Henry Brown) Park, 3858 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Come together with neighbors of all ages for a day of community, music, food and games. There will be karaoke, pickleball, live entertainment, bounce houses and more. This event honors Karl Jackson and Lawrence Ratliff, two influential leaders who have shaped the neighborhood.
Summer BrewBQ 2023
2-7 p.m. Saturday
CHAOS Brewhouse, 2417 W. Hubbard Ave.
Chicago’s premier home brewing club is hosting 15 regional brew clubs for a day of craft beers, barbecue and live music. Over 80 small-batch beers will be available to sample. The event is open to those 21 and older and is free, though donations are accepted at the door.
Austin Art Walk
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Throughout Austin
Front Porch Arts Center is hosting the first-ever Austin Art Walk this Saturday that is free and open to the public. The event will feature and art-and-play activity for kids, a photo and quilt exhibition, a film discussion and screening and an artist talk.
Pilsen Walking Tour
10 a.m.-noon Sunday
18th St. Pink Line Station, 1710 W. 18th St.
Chicago for Chicagoans, a nonprofit “pay-what-you-can” tour service created by and for Chicagoans, is touring Pilsen this weekend. The group’s founder Patti Swanson will take walkers through the neighborhood’s infancy as a Slavic melting pot, its 1960s transformation into a Latinx area, its struggles with gentrification, the incredible work of nonprofits and community advocates and more. The tour ends at the cash-only Mi Corazón Cafe for beverages or a meal. Tickets are free, but a $10-20 donation is appreciated.
Back-To-School Celebration
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Mahalia Jackson Court, 1 E. 79th St.
Grab school supplies and enjoy food trucks, games and music at this back-to-school celebration. Register online.
West Side Housing Fair
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, 3601 W. Chicago Ave.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago is hosting a day filled with workshops for renters and homeowners, raffle giveaways, line dancing, a live choir, refreshments and more. This event is free and open to the public. Register online.
North Lawndale National Honeybee Day
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
North Lawndale Employment Network, 1111 S. Homan Ave.
Celebrate National Honeybee Day with food, music, face painting, children’s acivities, a scavenger hunt and pollinator seed kit giveaways. Attendees can also enjoy a green space installation and build bee boxes.
August Herb Walk
2-4 p.m. Saturday
South Chicago Farm, 9000 S. Mackinaw Ave.
Take a walk through South Chicago Farm with Black- and women-led nonprofit Urban Growers Collective and learn all about growing and working with herbs. Tickets are $20 online, but cost should not be a barrier. Reach out to programming@urbangrowerscollective.org for sliding scale or free options.
froSkate Sundial Block Party
3-8 p.m. Thursday
4310 S. Lake Park Ave.
froSkate is hosting a skate clinic with giveaways and live performances by Noname, Navy Blue and Alex Vaughn. Admission is free with a book donation to Noname’s book club.
froSkate Summer Lovin’
4-8 p.m. Sunday
948 W. Fulton Market
Dance away the summer blues and Sunday scaries at this froSkate Summer Lovin’ jam with a live DJ and legendary Chicago house music figures. Plus, shop froSkate merch and check out an art installation. RSVP online.
Summers Finest Pop Up Shop
2-7 p.m. Sunday
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery, 9030 S. Hermitage Ave.
Shop Black-owned businesses, network and enjoy entertainment at this pop-up shop with Buy Black Kick Back.
LoveFest 2023 Health Summit
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Pl.
Hear from community experts at a panel discussion focusing on mental health, safety and substance abuse awareness. Plus, there will be fireside chats and a cash prize Poetry Slam.
August Hookah Nights
8 p.m.- 1 a.m. Friday-Sunday
Milieu by DPS, 2134 W. 18th St.
Unwind with friends at this three-day hookah extravaganza and indulge in unlimited flavors. Tickets are $20 per night online, $25 at the door or $55 for a three-night package. Buy them online.
PLUS: Four Picks From Our Partners At
WNDR After Dark: Celebration of House Music
6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday
WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St.
Celebrate house music with an immersive art experience at WNDR Museum.
SERUM: Sasha
10 p.m. Friday
PRYSM, 1543 N. Kingsbury St.
Catch the weekly event series at PRYSM this Friday with Sasha.
Dim Sum & Drag: K-Pop Edition
11:30 a.m. Saturday
Furama, 4936 N. Broadway St.
Enjoy Dim Sum & Drag with a special K-pop edition this weekend.
Shake Shack Pickle Ball Club
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
Join a day-long immersive pickleball experience in Chicago’s Maggie Daley Park.
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