CHICAGO — There’s no shortage of festivities around the city this weekend: Chicagoans can ring in the Lunar New Year at Navy Pier, watch the Super Bowl at local bars, celebrate Swedish tradition at Fika Fest and so much more.
There’s also a folk music fest at the University of Chicago, a winter wine walk through Lakeview and a fair trade chocolate workshop in South Loop.
Here’s a roundup of 30 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Lunar New Year Celebration
Friday-Sunday
Gangnam Market, 1001 W. Chicago Ave.
In honor of the Lunar New Year, there will be celebrations and specials through the weekend at Asian American shopping hybrid Gangnam Market. Shoppers can try free food and drink samples from vendors, get traditional lucky red envelopes with discounts and watch authentic lion dance performances.
Chinese New Year At Jewel-Osco
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday
1340 S. Canal St.
Jewel-Osco shoppers can enjoy a lion dance performance, live traditional music, cultural activities from the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, demonstrations of authentic dishes and more. Learn more here.
Navy Pier Global Connections: Lunar New Year
1-5 p.m. Friday
Navy Pier Aon Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand Ave.
Ring in the Lunar New Year with family-friendly festivities at Navy Pier. There will be music and dance performances by local Asian organizations, including the Thai Cultural Arts Center, Philippine American Cultural Foundation, The Jade Chinese Ensemble and Yin He Dance, among many others. Attendees can also enjoy food, drinks and shopping from local vendors. Find a full schedule here. This event is free to attend.
Winter Wine Walk
5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Roscoe Street from Damen to Western; check-in at 2232 W. Roscoe St.
Taste more than 20 wines curated by local liquor stores and vendors while strolling through Lakeview. More than a dozen businesses are participating, including Birch Road Clubhouse, Ecodunia, Le Sud and Miller’s Tap Room. Tickets are $45 online and include commemorative tasting glasses, discounts and small bites.
‘Black By Popular Demand’
8 p.m. Friday
Up Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave.
After a sold-out run last year, “Black By Popular Demand: A Black Excellence Revue” returns to celebrate Black joy. This show is filled with warmth, songs, sketches and Second City’s signature improv. It runs 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 25. Tickets are $49 online.
Dungeons & Drag Queens
8-10 p.m. Friday
Color Club, 4146 N. Elston Ave.
Watch this Seattle fantasy comedy show live in Chicago this weekend as drag queens play Dungeons & Dragons on stage. Tickets are $30-$50 online.
Party At The Pantheon: A Modern Greek Stoner Comedy
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St.
See a cast of characters straight out of English class in this ancient classics-inspired comedy show. It follows Orpheus, who is “big mad” his girlfriend Eurydice died; his friend, Dionysus, who can throw a sick party; and Sisyphus, who’s trying to keep the two buds on speaking terms. There are two preview shows this weekend ahead of next week’s opening night. Tickets are $5-$10 online.
UChicago Folk Fest
8 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday
University of Chicago, Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.
Hear live musical performances from artists playing everything folk — from blues to bluegrass and Irish folk to old-time. Tickets are $30 for regular admission, $20 for seniors and $5 for students. Buy them here. There will also be free music, dance and folklore workshops 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
BIPOC Faces In Green Spaces
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday
Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, South Western Avenue and West 87th Street
Enjoy outdoor wellness activities and journaling for Wellness in the Woods, a free program with the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Read & Run Chicago
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
The Alarm statue along the Lakefront Trail near Wellington Ave.
This Read & Run meet-up is all about friendship. Along with a 4-mile jog at an easy pace, runners can hear and share poetry all about friends and companionship. Chicago-based poet Stephanie Sarabia will also perform live spoken word. The route ends at the American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., where all registered runners will have access to the museum space. Tickets are $25-$35 online.
Fika Fest
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St.
Celebrate “fika,” the Swedish practice of taking restful and social breaks, with a weekend-long fest in Andersonville. There will be a coffee and hot cocoa crawl along the Clark Street business corridor Saturday with stops at Kopi Cafe, Rattleback Records, The Understudy and more. Tickets are $25 online. Each ticket includes drinks and pastries at the stops and a commemorative mug. The fest’s popular puzzle exchange also returns Sunday. Neighbors can drop off and exchange puzzles for adults and kids. Find a full list of Fika Fest events and promotions here.
‘The New Bicycle’ Storytime
10:30 a.m. Saturday
57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th St.
South Loop-based author Darcy Day Zoells will read from her award-winning children’s book, “The New Bicycle.” In the story, the main character, Mari, journeys on her bicycle to overcome obstacles, find friends and discover places before returning home. RSVP online.
Mother Prepper Pop-Up
2-7 p.m. Saturday
Begyle Brewing, 1800 W. Cuyler Ave.
Chicago-based catering company Mother Prepper is bringing its Latin American fusion bites to a North Center brewery this weekend. Pair a pint with tacos at this perfect pop-up event for foodies.
Chocolate Making Workshop
3-5 p.m. Saturday
Roosevelt Collection, 150 W. Roosevelt Road
Make your own ethically sourced chocolate bars with local nonprofit Chicago Fair Trade and local business Lacuna Cacao. During this two-hour workshop, attendees will learn about what life is like for cocoa farmers in Nicaragua, how to transform cacao beans to bars and how to be a conscious chocolate consumer. The workshop will be held at the South Loop Farmers Market at the Roosevelt Collection shops. Tickets start at $69 per person, or $100 for a duo. Buy them here.
Ukiyo-e Japanese Woodblock Printing
3-6 p.m. Saturday
Japanese Culture Center, 2940 N. Lincoln Ave., Unit 2
Learn the art of ukiyo-e — a genre of Japanese printmaking —with multidisciplinary artist and scholar Mami Takahashi. This two-part workshop kicks off Saturday and concludes next weekend. Participants will curve a simple design to two postcard-sized blocks and learn various techniques so they can explore the art outside of class. Tickets for the two-day workshop are $150 online.
South Asia Institute Film Screening: ‘Indus Blues’
3:30-5 p.m. Saturday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
The South Asia Institute is launching a bimonthly film series showcasing feature films and documentaries by South Asian filmmakers. It starts off this weekend with award-winning documentary “Indus Blues” and a Q&A with director Jawad Sharif. The film explores Pakistan’s dying folk and classical music scene and the challenges musicians face in keeping the craft alive. Tickets are $5 online.
Chilly Jilly’s Spectacular Family Sideshow
4 and 6 p.m. Saturday
Sideshow Gelato, 4819 N. Western Ave.
Watch as magicians perform “amazing feats of stupidity” — from breaking cinder blocks on one’s chest to swallowing a sword to making water disappear above your head. Tickets are $5-$25 online, and guests are encouraged to tip performers.
Let’s Jazz Up Gala
6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday
651 W. Washington Blvd.
The French Heritage Society’s Chicago chapter is hosting its fifth annual gala this weekend. Dress up like a Nouvelle Vague artist for a lively jazz soirée reminiscent of mid-century Parisian clubs. There will also be French-inspired bites, beverages and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $200 per person online.
Pops Ensemble Winter Concert 2024: What A Wonderful World
7-9 p.m. Saturday
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive
This winter concert is all about this “wonderful world” — from marine life “Under the Sea” to the Jurassic period and Yukiko Nishimura’s “Ancient Flower.” The show is performed by Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble, a family of orchestras and bands for members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community, plus special guest drag queen Ari Gato. Tickets are $10 online.
Chicago Samba
8 p.m. Saturday-12:30 a.m. Sunday
Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave.
Midwest-based music ensemble Chicago Samba is playing authentic Brazilian sounds this weekend, from sambas to bossa nova to Brazilian jazz. Don your best Carnival costumes and move your feet to this percussive jam session. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 the day of. Buy them here.
Big Game Brunch
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, 2024 N. Halsted St.
No matter who you’re cheering for, score big at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba with brunch and beverages. Diners who sport their favorite team’s jersey can score a gift card that matches the value of their meal, redeemable at a future visit.
Super Sunday Funday
Noon Sunday
Begyle Brewing, 1800 W. Cuyler Ave.
Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with happy hour, 10 rounds of free-to-play bingo and eats from El Zorro Tacos, then catch the big game on screen at 5 p.m.
Classic Italian Sauces Cooking Demonstration
Noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday
Eataly Chicago, 43 E. Ohio St.
Learn what it takes to make a great yet simple pasta sauce at this Eataly workshop. In this 101 workshop, attendees will learn about the ingredients and techniques needed to recreate classic Italian sauces at home. Tickets are $75 online.
Logan Square Classical Guitar Concert
1 p.m. Sunday
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, 2614 N. Kedzie Ave.
A free monthly concert series returns to a Logan Square church this weekend with a classical guitar concert. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for Logan Square Mutual Aid, including household items like dish soap, paper towels and shampoo, and food items like pasta, lentils and dried fruit.
Sura Dupart and The Sidepocket Experience
2 p.m. Sunday
Woodlawn Tap, 1172 E. 55th St.
Chicago artist Sura Dupart will perform healing melodies alongside fellow musicians and a dancer. His music is inspired by drumming practices and traditions from Africa, the diaspora and the South Side.
‘A Journey of Generations’ Blues Concert
2-3:30 p.m. Sunday
Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.
Celebrate West Side blues with aspiring young musicians, singers and blues artists at this free event.
The Great Boutelli: Amazing Kids’ Magic Show
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Sideshow Gelato, 4819 N. Western Ave.
The Great Boutelli will produce doves out of thin air and perform other magical acts at this family-friendly show. Afterward, attendees can stick around and learn tricks with Boutelli using the Sideshow Gelato Magic Kit. Admission tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door or $25 for the additional magic kit and after-show lesson. Buy them online here.
Big Bowl Game Party
5 p.m. Sunday
Damen Tavern, 701 N. Damen Ave.
Don’t want to watch the Super Bowl alone? Join neighbors for drinks and pizza while watching the big game on big screens. Tickets start at $30 online and include a drink, pizza and a raffle entry each. This watch party is hosted with the West Town Social Club.
Mushroom Pottery Class
5-7 p.m. Sunday
Color Cocktail Factory, 917 W. 18th St.
Learn how to make your own ceramic mushroom and bowl at this BYOB workshop. No prior experience with clay or ceramics is necessary. Tickets are $15 online.
Super Bowl Extravaganza
5:30-10 p.m. Sunday
Leona’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 3877 N. Elston Ave.
Cheer for your favorite team at the Super Bowl with neighbors, food and drinks at this Old Irving Park pizzeria. Tickets are $40 online.
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