Searching for what to do this week in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this week (August 24-30, 2026) including the best events and activities.
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
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 Events This Week in Chicago
Below are the best events this week in Chicago:
Full Moon Jam at Palmisano Park – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference – August 27-30, 2026 | Free Admission
Bucktown Arts Fest – August 29-30, 2026 | Free – Browse handmade works from juried artists and enjoy live music.
Taste of Greektown – August 28-30, 2026 | Free (suggested donation)
Edison Park Fest – August 28-30, 2026 | Free ($10 suggested donation)
Edgewater Music Fest – August 28-30, 2026 | Free ($10 suggested donation) – 30+ live musical acts and 100 vendors on Broadway and Thorndale.
Panda Fest – August 28-30, 2026 – Asian food festival with experiential activities and tastings that showcases food, art and cultural traditions from Asia.
Bucktown Arts Fest – August 29-30, 2026 | Free – Browse handmade works from juried artists and enjoy live music.
Big Grill Festival – August 29-30, 2026, Noon-10pm – Live-fire cooking in Wrightwood Park.
Backlot Bash (Skokie) – August 28-30, 2026 | Free
Port Clinton Art Festival (Highland Park) – August 29-30, 2026 | Free
Art Battle – Friday, August 28, 2026, 7-10pm
Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest – Saturday, August 29, 2026, 1-7pm
Thalia Hall Free For All – Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2:30pm | Free
Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute – Saturday, August 29, 2026, 6:30pm & 8:45pm
Heatwave House Party at the Shedd Aquarium (21+) – Saturday, August 29, 2026, 7-11pm – House music, electric vibes and after hours access.
Arts on Devon: A Celebration of Culture and Community – Sunday, August 30, 2026, 3-8pm | Free
More Events in Chicago This Week
Below are more events taking place this week in Chicago:
Pilates at Gallagher Way – Monday, August 24, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Burn Boot Camp at Gallagher Way – Monday, August 24, 2026, 6-7pm | Free
Kicking It Curbside (Pilsen) – Monday, August 24, 2026, 7-9pm | Free – Final concert of the weekly summer series.
Free Days for Illinois Residents at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – August 24-26, 2026 | Free admission
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Free Admission Days for Illinois Residents – August 24-27, 2026
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Tuesdays on the Terrace – Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 5:30–8pm | Free, but tickets are limited – Final concert of the summer.
Pier Fitness – Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
Yoga in Wicker Park – Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 6:30-7:30pm | Free – Last day of the weekly summer series.
HIIT at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Illinois Free Wednesdays at the Field Museum – Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Jazzin’ at the Shedd – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 5-10pm
Emily Kuhn Quintet at Wicker Park – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 5:30-7pm | Free
Happy Gilmore at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 6-10pm | Free
Lot Jams (Albany Park) – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 7-9pm | Free – Final concert of the summer series.
Bottomless Margaritas on the Riverwalk (Ages 21+) – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 6:30-9pm
CatJam Chicago Jam Session at The Wild Mile – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier – Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 9pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Chicago History Museum Free Day for Illinois Residents – Thursday, August 27, 2026 | Free
Wrigleyville Night Market at Gallagher Way – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 4-8pm | Free
Art Institute of Chicago Free Hours for Illinois Residents – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 5–8pm | Free
Argyle Night Market – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 5-9pm | Free – Last market of the summer.
Wild Mile Projections: Skunk Run – Gųųšgoonąk – Thursday, August 27, 2026, 9-9:30pm | Free
PAWS Chicago 5K Walk/Run (Montrose Harbor) – Saturday, August 29, 2026, 7:30-11am
Meet Me on Milwaukee – Sunday, August 30, 2026, 10am-6pm | Free – Milwaukee Ave will close to automobile traffic and local businesses set up shop on the sidewalks.
Humboldt Arboreal Society DJ Sets – Sunday, August 30, 2026, 1pm | Free
BTS World Tour at Soldier Field – August 27-28, 2026, 8pm
You can find more Chicago weekend events here.
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW – Through September 6, 2026
Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents Joan Crawford Goes To Hell at The Clutch – Through September 27, 2026
Sunday in the Park with George – August 13 – November 1, 2026
More Things to Do in Chicago This Week
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must do Chicago experience.
Take a Lake Cruise
Enjoy a cool lake breeze and admire the Chicago skyline from a lake cruise.
If your time is short, you can do a combination river and lake cruise.
Watch Fireworks
Watch fireworks at Navy Pier Wednesday and Saturday all summer. The fireworks can be seen from various spots along the Lakefront including North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach and the Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk.
The best and most relaxing way to see the Navy Pier fireworks show is on a fireworks lake or river cruise.
If you enjoy guided tours, you can also see the fireworks and other attractions on this fireworks segway tour.
Kayak in the River or Lake
A fun way to explore the city is to go kayaking in the Chicago River or Lake Michigan. You can rent a kayak in the Chicago River here and Ohio beach here.
You can also join a guided kayaking tour in the downtown portion of the Chicago River including this history and architecture kayak tour and this sunset kayak tour.
Please note that you will get a little wet when kayaking so bring a waterproof case for your phone and water-resistant or quick-drying clothing.
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 week include:
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Oak Park)
Ed Sheeran Meets Coldplay (Oak Park)
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 returning to Chicago for a full summer run. After sold-out runs across the U.S. and Europe, the internationally acclaimed Airotic Soirée is a show that celebrates desire, sensuality, athletic beauty, and erotic elegance. Airotic Soirée is a blend of erotic cabaret and contemporary circus blending high-level acrobatics, seductive choreography and visual artistry. 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.
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.
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 week. 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 planning ahead, you can find more things to do in Chicago in August.
