Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (June 12-14, 2026) including the best events and activities.
{If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here including fun things to do in Chicago for Father’s Day here.)
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.
Best Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are the best weekend events in Chicago:
Wells Street Art Festival – June 13-14, 2026
Old Town Art Fair – June 13-14, 2026
Puerto Rican Festival – June 11-14, 2026
Lincoln Square Greek Fest – June 12-14, 2026 | Free
Andersonville Midsommarfest – June 12-14, 2026
Windy City Boat & Yacht Show – June 12–14, 2026
Broadway Unhinged: The Musical Showdown at The Den Theatre – June 12-14, 2026
The Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival – June 12-14, 2026
Grant Park Music Festival Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 – June 12, 6:30pm & June 13, 2026, 7:30pm | Free
Thai Festival – June 13-14, 2026
Summer Nature Fest at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Friday, June 12, 2026, 4-8pm – Live music, nature walks, and more.
Art Battle at SPIN – Friday, June 12, 2026, 7-10pm
Red Bull Spin Off at 12 St Beach – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10am-3:30pm – Watch teams of two create custom-made bicycles and attempt to cross the finish line on a floating race track.
Ridge Park Art Fair & Uprising Solstice Market – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11am-5pm
Faire in the Field (Uptown) – Saturday, June 13, 2026, noon-6pm | Free – Pop-up renaissance faire in Clarendon Park featuring one main-stage, several acts, vendors and kids activities.
’90s Night at the Zoo – Adults Only Evening at Lincoln Park Zoo – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 6:30-10pm – 21+ evening brings 90s-themed karaoke, photo booths, and fun to Lincoln Park Zoo.
Chicago’s Theatre of Magic at the Palmer House – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 4:30pm & 7:30pm
Pride Night at the Shedd Aquarium (21+) – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 6-10:30pm – High-energy DJs and an ocean-themed drag showcase.
Vintage Sheffield: Sip & Shop at Barcocina – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 11am-7pm | Free
Jefferson Park America 250 Parade – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2pm | Free
City-Wide Symphony Orchestra Concert at Jefferson Park – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 3-4:30pm | Free
Legends Chicago Festival at Butler Field – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 11am-9pm – Vegan feast headlined by Busta Rhymes, 2 Chainz & more.
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Rise Pilates Club Summer Series at Oak Street Beach – Friday, June 12, 2026, 6-8am | Free
Chi Food Truck Fest – Friday, June 12, 2026, 11am-3pm
BAPA Porch Concert Series – Friday, June 12, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm | Free
Family Fun Fur-iday at Lincoln Park Zoo – Friday, June 12, 2026, 6–9pm
Young Composers Initiative Finale Concert – Friday, June 12, 2026, 7pm | Free (reservations required)
Summer Concert at Ravenswood Manor Park – Friday, June 12, 2026, 7-9pm | Free
Rufus Du Sol at Wrigley Field – Friday, June 12, 2026, 7:30pm
The Poetry Brothel Chicago: Life is a Cabaret – Friday, June 12, 2026, 8-10pm
Forest Glen Garage Sale – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 9am-4pm
RiverLab: Family Paddle at River Park – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10am-12pm – Relaxed kid-friendly guided canoe paddle on the Chicago River for paddlers of any skill level.
Family Day: Zooming in and Zine-ing Out: What Does Science Mean to You? at the Smart Museum of Art – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10am-1pm | Free
Dinopalooza at the Field Museum – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10am-2pm
Sox Crawl Fiesta at Rate Field – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11:30am
Wrigleyville Hot Dog Fest – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 12-5pm
RiverLab: Summer Float Paddle at River Park – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1-3pm
Norwood Park Summer Solstice Wine Stroll – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2-5pm
Chicago Full Moon Jam at Arrington Lagoon (Evanston) – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 6-9:30pm | Free
Budweiser Concert Series: OK Go at Gallagher Way – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 6-9pm
An Evening with John Cusack and Screening of Grosse Pointe Blank – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 7:30pm
Queer Prom – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier – Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10pm | Free
The Jury Experience – Frankenstein on Trial: The Man Who Defied God: Will Chicago Deliver Justice? – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 5:30pm
Dine Out On Broadway – June 12-14, 2026
Legendary Late Hours at the Field Museum – June 13 & 14, 2026, 5-9pm
Willem de Kooning Drawing Exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago – Opens June 14, 2026 (Member previews: June 11–13, 2026)
Eugene Onegin at Lyric Opera House – Through June 14, 2026
Brokeback Mountain at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – Through June 28, 2026
Catch As Catch Can at Steppenwolf Theatre – Through July 12, 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:
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must do Chicago experience.
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:
The Lord of the Rings
Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here. (Tickets are up to 20% off from 6/4-6/7/26)
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.
When: May 9 – July 5, 2026
Where: 9900 Berwyn Ave, in the Pearl District, Rosemont, IL 60018
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets. (Tickets are 20% off from 6/4-6/7/26)
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: May 22-August 29, 2026
Where: Experience 868, 868 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets. (Tickets are 20% off from 6/4-6/7/26)
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. (Tickets are 25% off from 6/4-6/7/26)
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 June here.
