(Courtesy of the Morton Arboretum)
1. Voyage
The Morton Arboretum’s Destination Asia Festival celebrates the diverse cultures of Asia through food, music and dance. The festival kicks off Friday night with a Japanese lantern display and continues through the weekend with martial arts demonstrations, improv performances, food trucks, a Bonsai exhibit and more.
Details: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53 in Lisle. Included with timed arboretum entry. $17 for adults; $15 for seniors; $12 for children 2-17; children under 2 are free; free for members. / MAP
Looking for more events? Lollapalooza, Jeff Fest, the Wilmette Art Fair and Wheaton Brew & Seltzer Fest all return this weekend. Check out those and more of the season’s upcoming festivals in our 2023 Chicago Summer Festival Guide.
2. Geek out
Named for the Leaky Cauldron of “Harry Potter” fame, LeakyCon is a three-day convention devoted to magical franchises. You’ll find performances, panels, photo ops, meetups, cosplay and more. Special guests include Elijah Wood, Tom Felton and Sean Astin.
Details: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday to Sunday at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin Luther King Dr. $79-625 / MAP
3. Go wild
Saturday Night at the Zoo allows visitors to explore all the Lincoln Park Zoo has to offer with a cocktail, beer, wine or seltzer in hand. The 21+ evening features a DJ, live music, karaoke and lawn games.
Details: 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St. $25-35 / MAP
4. Celebrate
The seventh annual North Lawndale Arts Festival showcases local artists in multiple mediums. Catch live performances, snack on treats from local food vendors, go for a swim and play miniature golf.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at Douglass Park Cultural and Community Center, 1401 S. Sacramento Ave. Free / MAP
5. Listen
Thirsty Ears Festival, Chicago’s only classical music street festival, is back for the eighth year with food trucks, craft beer, kid-friendly activities, and of course, live musical performances.
Details: 2-10 p.m. Saturday, 1-9 p.m. Sunday along Wilson Avenue between Hermitage and Ravenswood avenues. $15 suggested donation / MAP
(Courtesy of Thirsty Ears Festival)
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.
