If you’ve always wanted to camp out in the middle of the city (instead of just being rudely awoken by the cops after “falling asleep” in Grant Park post-Lolla), this is the weekend for you. If you’d rather stick indoors, there’s a boatload of cultural celebrations on tap in addition to America’s largest African American parade in Bronzeville and the Midwest’s largest outdoor street fest in Boystown. Oh, and did we mention Jay-Z and Beyonce are in town? Here’s everything you need to do in Chicago this weekend.
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Friday
Aug 10
Northerly Island
One of the coolest nights of the year is back as this lakeside urban campout returns to Northerly Island featuring Goose Island beers, camp-themed eats from local restos, nature prairie walks, and a s’mores-equipped campfire followed by sunrise yoga and brunch with beermosas the next morning.
Cost: $95-$150
Cost: $95-$150
Friday
Aug 10
Soldier Field
Touring together for the first time since 2014, music’s royal couple invade Chicago as part of their OTR II tour in support of their recently released megahit collaborative album Everything Is Love.
Cost: $291
Cost: $291
Friday - Sunday
Aug 10-12
Stockton & LaSalle
Feast on a fine assortment of unique takes on Chicago’s most famous encased meat as you listen to live bands and maybe even learn a little history at the Chicago History Museum, located steps from the fest.
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Friday - Sunday
Aug 10-12
Roscoe & Damen
This August street festival staple is all about the good old days with an antique car and motorcycle show, live cover bands playing old-school hits, and food and drink from the Roscoe Village neighborhood.
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Friday - Sunday
Aug 10-12
Midwest Buddhist Temple
Devour chicken teriyaki, sushi, and sake at this celebration of Japanese culture with live performances and demos including aikido, taiko drumming, folkloric dance, and judo.
Cost: $5 donation
Cost: $5 donation
Friday - Sunday
Aug 10-12
Riis Park
The Midwest’s largest celebration of Cuban culture takes over Riis Park with Latin bands and DJs, live boxing, hand-rolled cigars, dominos, classic cars, and music and dance demos.
Cost: $15-$250
Cost: $15-$250
Saturday
Aug 11
Martin Luther King Drive & Oakwood Blvd to 55th & Elsworth
The 89th annual edition of America’s largest and oldest African American parade cuts a raucous path through Bronzeville with post-parade festival including music and zumba in the park, food trucks, and mini job fair.
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
Saturday
Aug 11
Montrose Harbor
A charity 5K to fight local hunger is all the more worthwhile when there are donuts involved, both at the end of the race and throughout the course. So we hear.
Cost: $45-$50
Cost: $45-$50
Saturday - Sunday
Aug 11-12
Halsted between Belmont and Addison
The Midwest’s largest outdoor street fest takes over Boystown with live bands on five stages including Betty Who, a drag show, a gay men’s chorus, and plenty of dudes in Speedos.
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Saturday - Sunday
Aug 11-12
Cermak & Morgan
This criminally underrated house music festival sets up shop in Pilsen with leading luminaries in the local house scene spinning wax alongside live art demos, local food trucks, and a heavy arsenal of Corona and Lagunitas brew.
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
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