Weezer's Rivers Cuomo performs. (Tankboy / Flickr)
1. Rock
Punk rock, alternative and indie tunes will fill the air as Riot Fest takes over Douglas Park, with more than 80 bands performing over three days. After much anticipation, organizers released the fest’s daily lineup and said previously announced headliner Blink 182 would not be performing due to health-related issues with drummer Travis Barker. Weezer, Run the Jewels and Taking Back Sunday will fill in for Blink 182 at Riot Fest with Weezer headlining Friday and Run the Jewels headlining Sunday. Singer, songwriter Beck headlines Saturday.
Details: Gates open at 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday at Douglas Park, Ogden Avenue and Sacramento Drive. $65 single day / MAP
Find more summer festivals in our 2018 guide
2. Chow down
Taco lovers, get your fill at Sam Adams’ Lakeview Taco Fest, where 15 vendors serve up tortillas filled with chicken, tequila shrimp, duck, smoked pork, black beans and more. Wash it down with a cold one: Sam Adams will have at least a dozen seasonal beers on tap. Watch Mexican wrestlers go head-to-head (5 p.m. daily) and enjoy mariachi music and tribute bands on a pair of stages.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Southport Avenue between Addison and Roscoe Streets. $10 suggested donation / MAP
(Courtesy of Special Events Management)
3. Immerse
Hospitality, culture and heritage shine at the 15th annual Chicago Turkish Festival. Sample authentic Turkish dishes, pastries, coffees, ice cream, beer and wine straight from Turkish vineyards. Enjoy Turkish music, folk dances, demonstrations and a fashion show by Ankara Fashion Institute. Mingle with renowned Turkish artists as they showcase their wares.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. Free / MAP
(Courtesy of Chicago Turkish Festival)
4. Mingle
Get cooking tips, tricks and recipes from 20 chefs, including Sarah Grueneberg, Rick Bayless and Stephanie Izard at Fulton Market Harvest Fest. In addition to cooking demos, the three-day event features live music and a bevy of food and drink vendors. Special events include dinners, and cooking and tasting classes – available at an additional cost. Bring the little ones to kids’ alley for boat races, Bozo buckets, ring toss, pumpkin painting and more.
Details: 5:30-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday along Fulton Market Street between Halsted and Peoria Streets. $10 suggested donation / MAP
5. Flutter
Surround yourself with winged creatures at the Monarch Butterfly Festival, where you can stroll through a butterfly tent, make your own scarecrow and get your face painted. Story time, children’s crafts, an arts and crafts fair, and visits with animals round things out. Bonus: Hazel the sloth will make two appearances at the festival (1 p.m. and 2 p.m.) to raise awareness and funds to support the care of two baby sloths at Wildlife Discovery Center and sloth conservation efforts in South America.
Details: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights. $7 / MAP
(Yolanda / Pixabay)
6. Explore
Discover the creations of more than 300 artists as you stroll along the eponymous North Side street at the annual Ravenswood Artwalk. At the center of the event is the RAW Street Fest. Held in conjunction with the artwalk, the fest features two stages of live music, a craft beer garden, food trucks, kids’ activity corner and more than 50 exhibitors.
Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Ravenswood Avenue between Irving Park Road and Leland Avenue. $5 suggested donation / MAP
(Courtesy of Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce)
7. Stretch
Begin your weekend mindfully at Yoga Festival, where you can participate in a trio of yoga classes taught by local yogis. Be sure to bring your own yoga mat and towel. Bottled water will be provided. Chat with fellow yogis at the Mindful Market Mingle (11 a.m.-noon) while enjoying free beverages and snacks from wellness sponsors.
Details: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Navy Pier Polk Bros. Park, 600 E. Grand Ave. Free, but registration is requested / MAP
(Credit: James Richards IV, distractyourface.com)
8. Pour
Tap into a celebration of craft brews at Oaktoberfest, where you can sample microbrews from local and national breweries. (Don’t worry winos: a selection of vino is available, too.) Young visitors can also have a cold one at the Kids Root Beer Garden, where they can enjoy root beer floats and games.
Details: 4-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday at Marion Street and North Boulevard, Oak Park. Free / MAP
(StockSnap / Pixabay)
9. Camp
Spend the night under the stars at the Family Campout at Emily Oaks. Pitch a tent, roast marshmallows, sing around a campfire and participate in fun nighttime activities. Tents, cooking supplies and food are provided. (Note: A rain date is scheduled for Saturday.)
Details: 6 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday at Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St. Skokie. $26 for Skokie residents; $33 for nonresidents / MAP
(Free-Photos / Pixabay)
10. Observe
Hundreds of Chicago vocalists and musicians will gather on stage for the world premiere of Quantum Englewood: A Journey Through 100 Years of South Side Musical History. The 90-minute piece, commissioned by the Old Town School of Folk Music and written by Chicago artists Ernest Dawkins and Rahul Sharma, is the culmination of a two-year learning process. The piece seeks to uncover the unheralded traditions behind contemporary urban music and instruct an intergenerational corps of musicians in these roots and genres.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday at Lindblom Academy Auditorium, 6130 S. Wolcott Ave. Free, but registration is requested / MAP
Events listed are subject to change. We recommend double-checking times and locations before you head out the door. Want to share your upcoming events with us for consideration in a future roundup? Send us an email.
