Searching for what to do this week in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this week (July 6-12, 2026) including the best 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Events This Week in Chicago
Below are the best events this week in Chicago:
Windy City Smokeout – July 8-12, 2026
Taste of Chicago – July 8-12, 2026 | Free Admission
Square Roots Fest – July 10-12, 2026 | Free but donation suggested – Live music & craft beer street fest on Lincoln Avenue between Montrose & Wilson in Lincoln Square.
Southport Art Fest (Lakeview) – July 11-12, 2026 | Free
Chicago Water Lantern Festival – July 11 & 12, 2026
Barrio Arts Festival (Humboldt Park) – July 11-12, 2026
Chicago Latin Jazz Festival at Humboldt Park – July 10-11, 2026 | Free
Bucktown Garden Walk – July 11-12, 2026
Japan Fest (Skokie) – July 11-12, 2026 | Free
St. Andrew’s Edgewater Greek Fest – July 11-12, 2026, noon-10pm
Summer Heat: Vintage House Chicago at Artifact Events – July 11 & 12, 2026, 12-5pm – Shop over 90 vintage and handmade vendors.
Sauced Night Market – July 10 & 11, 2026, 5-10pm – Fifty local vendors selling everything from watercolor prints to upcycled apparel.
The Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 7am-10pm | Free
Belmont Cragin Vintage Market – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12-5pm | Free
John Mulaney at Wrigley Field – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 8pm
Come Together: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute at AIRE Rooftop – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 5pm & 8pm
More Events in Chicago This Week
Below are more events taking place this week in Chicago:
Pilates at Gallagher Way – Monday, July 6, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Movies at the Pier – Monday, July 6, 2026, 6-9pm | Free – First day of free outdoor movies on Monday nights at Navy Pier.
Kicking It Curbside (Pilsen) – Monday, July 6, 2026, 7-9pm | Free – Live music and drink specials every Monday in the summer on Allport Street.
Fizz Band Night at Gallagher Way – Monday, July 6, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Swing Dancing at Gallagher Way – Monday, July 6, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Summer Writing Institute at American Writers Museum – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 10am-4pm
3rd Annual Makers Fair at International Museum of Surgical Science – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 5-8pm | Free
Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Night – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 5-9pm
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Daniel Villarreal at the Museum of Contemporary Art – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 5:30-8pm | Free, but tickets are limited
Pier Fitness – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free – Fitness sessions (rush hour cardio and sunset yoga) every Tuesday night at Navy Pier.
Yoga in the Park – Tuesday Nights – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 6:30-7:30pm | Free
Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Ratatouille (Kickoff to Taste of Chicago) – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 6:30pm (gates open at 5pm) | Free Admission
Transformers Trivia Night at Snakes & Lattes – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 7-9pm
HIIT at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Illinois Free Wednesdays at the Field Museum – Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Adler Planetarium Free Day (Illinois Resident Discount Day) – Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Pay What You Wish Wednesday at Driehaus Museum – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 4-7pm
Get Lit: Party Like It’s 1776 at American Writers Museum – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 5-7:30pm
Jazzin’ at the Shedd – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 5-10pm
After5Chicago – Broken Media: Navigating The Credibility Crisis – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm
Summer Concert Series at Northcenter Town Square – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7-8:30pm | Free
Lot Jams (Albany Park) – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7-9pm | Free
CatJam Chicago Jam Session at The Wild Mile – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Sibelius Symphony No. 2 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 8:15pm | Free
Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 9pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Wrigleyville Night Market at Gallagher Way – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 4-8pm | Free
Willis Tower’s Catalog Summer Concert Series – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 4:30-6:30pm | Free
Art Institute of Chicago Free Hours for Illinois Residents – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5–8pm | Free
Argyle Night Market – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5-9pm | Free
Bastille Day French Market (Lincoln Park) – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm | Free
Matilda at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 6-10pm | Free
Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Square – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
Harper Court Summer Music Series – Rich Medina with LeftJones (Hyde Park) – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 6-9pm | Free
Paddlers Guide to Safety: Jackson Park Yacht Club – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 6-9pm | Free
BAPA Porch Concert Series – Friday, July 10, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm | Free
Legendary Late Hours at the Field Museum – Friday, July 10, 2026, 5-9pm
The Jury Experience – Frankenstein on Trial: The Man Who Defied God: Will Chicago Deliver Justice? – Friday, July 10, 2026, 6pm & 8:30pm
Mimosas & T-Swift Rooftop Party at Old Crow – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12–3pm
Kalapriya’s 4th Annual Summer Mela at Chicago Women’s Parks & Gardens – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12-8pm – South Asian music, dance, food, and crafts.
Fresh Fest at Navy Pier – Friday, July 10, 2026, 12-8:30pm | Free – Navy Pier’s free annual young performers showcase.
Club Capri: Rooftop Party Series at Castaway’s Beach Club – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 2-11pm
Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic at Tom (Ping) Memorial Park – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 4:30-5:30pm | Free
Jack Johnson at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Saturday, July 11, 2026, 7:30pm
Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Garden Walk – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 10am-3pm
Edgewater Glen Garden Walk – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 12-5pm
Live on Logan – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 1-3pm | Free – Weekly summer jazz concert series in Palmer Square Park starts this Sunday.
Bastille Day at Navy Pier – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 3-6pm | Free
Tyler Childers at Wrigley Field – Sunday, July 12, 2026, 6:45pm
You can find more Chicago weekend events here.
Chris Lake at Navy Pier – July 10 & 11, 2026, 4pm
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion – July 10 & 11, 2026, 8:15pm | Free
Dine Out On Broadway – July 10-12, 2026
William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It’s Lost” performed by Midsommer Flight in Nichols Park – July 10-12, 2026 | Free (reservations encouraged)
Catch As Catch Can at Steppenwolf Theatre – Through July 12, 2026
SUFFS at CIBC Theatre – July 7-19, 2026
Iceboy! at the Goodman Theatre – Through July 26, 2026
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW – Through September 6, 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 every Wednesday at 9pm and Saturday at 10pm in the 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:
Tribute to TOOL
Tribute to Queen
Tribute to Juan Gabriel on Strings
Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
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: Through July 5, 2026
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.
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 July.
