Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (July 17-19, 2026) including the best events and activities.
{If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here.)
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Best Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are the best weekend events in Chicago:
West Fest Chicago – July 17-19, 2026 – Live music, local food and vendors, Kid Fest, Pet Fest, community programming, and family-friendly fun on Chicago Avenue between Wood and Damen.
Roscoe Village Burger Fest – July 17-19, 2026
Ravenswood on Tap – July 18-19, 2026 – Annual beer and music fest highlighting Malt Row, one of the most prolific craft brewing communities in the country.
Tacos y Tamales Festival (Pilsen) – July 17-19, 2026
Colombian Fest – July 17-19, 2026, 3-10pm
Taste of River North – July 17-18, 2026
Renegade Craft Fair – July 18-19, 2026
Sheffield Garden Walk – July 18-19, 2026
Horner Brew Fest – Friday, July 17, 2026, 6-10pm
Vinhausa at Soldier Field – Friday, July 17, 2026, 6-9pm – Yoga and house music.
Volleywood (at North Avenue Beach) – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11am-7pm – Beachfront music fest.
Silver Room Sound System Block Party at the Salt Shed – Saturday, July 18, 2026, noon-10pm
Jarvis Square Music & Art Festival (Rogers Park) – Saturday, July 18, 2026
Summer Wine Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo (21+) – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 7–10pm
Dearborn Garden Walk (Near North Side) – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 12-5pm
5th Annual Wild Mile Block Party – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 3-8pm | Free
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Hyde Park Summer Sidewalk Sale – July 16-18, 2026, 9:30am–6:30pm | Free
Chicago Vintage Festival – July 17-19, 2026
Illinois Vintage Fest – July 18-19, 2026, 11am–6pm | Free
Armitage & Halsted Sidewalk Sale – July 18-19, 2026, 11am-5pm
Pilsen Art & Food Festival – July 19-21, 2026, 10am–6:30pm | Free
Legendary Late Hours at the Field Museum – Friday, July 17, 2026, 5-9pm
Kilbourn Park Summer Concert Series – Friday, July 17, 2026, 6-8pm | Free – Weekly concert series every Friday in July.
Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour – Friday, July 17, 2026, 6pm | Free
Bridgeport Third Friday Art Walk – Friday, July 17, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Zoo Ball at Lincoln Park Zoo (21+) – Friday, July 17, 2026, 6:30pm
Millennium Park Free Summer Workout – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 8-11:45am | Free
NewberryFest: 250 Years of the United States – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10am-2pm | Free
Avondale Garage Sale – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10am–4pm | Free
Summer Soundwalks in the Park at Jackson Park – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11am-12pm | Free
Bevapalooza – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11am–6pm | Free
Challenge Mania at City Winery – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 12pm
From The ‘Go Fest at DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 12–7pm
FuelFest at SeatGeek Stadium (Bridgeview) – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 1-8pm
Norwood Park Summer Solstice Wine Stroll – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2–5pm
PBS Spice Road Live at South Asia Institute – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 7–9pm
Barre3 in the Park (Mary Bartelme Park) – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 9:30-10:30am | Free
Maxwell Street Market – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 10am–3pm | Free Admission
Free Day at the American Writers Museum – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 10am-5pm | Free
La Vintage Pilsen – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 11am–5pm | Free
Summer Sunday at Navy Pier – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 12-5pm | Free – New summer series with free live music, interactive workshops, games and activities for all ages.
Trinket Fest – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 12–8pm
Sunset Pilates at Oak Street Beach – Sunday, July 19, 2026, 6:30-7:30pm | Free
SUFFS at CIBC Theatre – Through July 19, 2026
Iceboy! at the Goodman Theatre – Through August 16, 2026
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW – Through September 6, 2026
More Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
In addition to the weekend events listed above, below are more of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Attend a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some of the concerts taking place this weekend include:
Tribute to Adele
A Tribute to Taylor Swift
The Lord of the Rings
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
Step into history at Titanic: A Voyage Through Time an extraordinary virtual reality (VR) journey into history’s most famous ship. Dive to the wreckage as it rests today, then travel back to 1912 to experience the Titanic as a passenger. Walk the Grand Staircase, meet the people who shaped its story, and witness history firsthand in this immersive adventure.
When: Through September 27, 2026
Where: 108 West Germania Place, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is an immersive adventure that lets you and your friends become heroes, fighting spiders, creepers, and skeletons on your quest to rescue villagers from a zombie attack. Explore eight interactive Minecraft rooms and gather resources for your quest in these interactive biomes. Practice your Minecrafting skills with a handheld Orb to chop down trees, collect resources, and fight mobs.
Where: 9900 Berwyn Ave, in the Pearl District, Rosemont, IL 60018
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
AirOtic Soirée
AirOtic Soirée is a bold, sensual and provocative cabaret-circus experience blending high-level acrobatics, seductive choreography and visual artistry. After sold-out runs across the U.S. and Europe, it is returning to Chicago for a full summer run. 21+ with valid ID.
When: Through August 29, 2026
Where: Experience 868, 868 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition is a limited time unique exhibition that explores the profound relationship between art and emotions through the captivating medium of inflatable art. This exhibition, first presented in London in December 2023, is committed to the work of emotions, transforming artworks into mirrors to explore the profound relationship between art and emotions, action, and reaction. This is manifested tangibly through Inflatable Art, which offers itself as a medium to express the most intimate nuances of human feelings. Through a mix of interactive installations, emotional projections, and performance art, EmotionAir aims to transport visitors on an unprecedented sensory journey.
When: Extended through September 7, 2026
Where: The Fields Studios – Gate 1, 2828 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60641
Cost: Timed-entry tickets are required. Click here to purchase tickets.
Watch a Drunk Shakespeare Play
Join The Drunk Shakespeare Society for an unforgettable evening of Shakespearean revelry. Set within a speakeasy, five actors attempt to perform a Shakespearean play after one of them downs multiple shots of various alcohols. Every show is different depending on who is drinking and what they’re drinking. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
Where: The Lounge At The Lion, 182 North Wabash Avenue
Cost: Prices start at $29 per person. Click here to purchase tickets.
Take a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop
Grab some spray paint and unleash your inner street artist at a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop. This interactive spray paint workshop will teach you the ins and outs of working with spray paint and other elements of graffiti and street art as you create your own painted mural.
Where: Studio W.I.P. – Uptown, 1047 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Cost: $45 per person for adults. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wondra: Immerse yourself in the magic of nature
Looking for a fun activity for kids? Head to the suburbs for Wondra, where each space invites curious minds to discover hidden details, dazzling colors, and natural awe-scapes that spark imagination and evoke wonder. Experience nature’s wonders in a whole new light with this immersive journey.
Where: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to see prices and purchase tickets in advance.
As you can see there are many things to do in #Chicago this weekend. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are looking for things to do during the week, you can find more things to do in Chicago this week here and the best things to do in Chicago in July here.
