THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Festival Season Swings Into High Gear!
WOW– what a weekend the City has lined up for us as summer temps roll into town and festival season swings into high gear!
Experience the blues live at Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop at the 34th annual Chicago Blues Festival this Saturday and Sunday (11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m.). Billed as the largest FREE blues festival in the world, there will be performances by the genres’ leading artists on five stages, including William Bell, Theo Huff, Nellie Tiger Travis, Gary Clark Jr., Rhiannon Giddens and many others! Don’t miss this one since Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World!!”
Festival season can’t swing into high gear without these street fests –
Chicago’s favorite food and music fest lights it up this Saturday and Sunday (12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) in the North Center neighborhood at Lincoln Avenue, Damen Avenue and Irving Park Road with Ribfest Chicago 2017. Featuring a mix of 13 rib restaurants, including some returning favorites as well as newcomers, it’s definitely the hottest barbecue of the summer! There will be plenty of live entertainment and the return of the Kids Square where the whole family can have fun. Check out the Culinary Fight Club (Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., separate ticketed event) with a special edition of the “Bacon Classic at Ribfest.” Chicago’s largest cookout is still Smoke-King!!
Revamped this year for a new feel and experience, Milwaukee Avenue will be transformed into a backyard barbecue with sizzling charcoal grills, sweetened lemonade and red checkered table cloths. This weekend marks the return of the 7th annual Six Corners BBQ Fest, on Saturday and Sunday (12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) in the Portage Park neighborhood (4041 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Not only will there be over a dozen local and regional bands for your live entertainment, but also food, beer, giant lawn games and an outdoor roller skating rink for the whole family to enjoy! Relish in the enchantment of a Chicago summer!!
America’s largest craft beer festival, Beer Camp on Tour, is coming to Chicago’s Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood this Saturday (3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). Hundreds of craft beers, the city’s best food trucks, live music and, of course, good times make this the largest craft beer celebration in Chicago! So, come and raise a glass with the best and brightest brewers in American craft beer!!
Finally, Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood will be hosting its two early summer art extravaganzas –
The 69th Old Town Art Fair, voted the #1 art fair in America for the second year, returns to the Old Town Triangle (1763 N. North Park Ave.) this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.). On hand will be 250 nationally acclaimed artists, a Garden Walk, live music, a food court, a children’s corner and lots of fun for the whole family!
Returning to the eponymous strip of Wells Street between North Avenue and Division Street, the Wells Street Art Festival takes place this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.). It’s an eclectic mix of over 220 juried artists with tasty cuisine from neighborhood restaurants, live music, kids’ activities and more!
Will You Be Swinging Into High Gear Too?
