THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Return of Iconic Summer Street Fests & Festivals!
Start your summer off on the right foot with the return of Chicago’s iconic summer street fests and festivals this weekend! Just ignore the rain.
Kicking off our summer festivals season will be the largest FREE festival in the world featuring top-tier talent at the Chicago Blues Festival this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.) at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion (55 N. Michigan Ave.) in the Loop. This festival brings living legends and local players to the stage with electrifying performances as Chicago honors its legacy as a city of 12-bar melodies and wailing guitar solos. It also features the Blues Village in the North Promenade and Wrigley Square with a Chicago Blues Revival, Delmark Records, Muddy Waters MOJO Museum, The Blues Kids Foundation, and more. In addition, a neighborhood celebration takes place on Sunday at the legendary market on Maxwell Street (between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is offering a FREE trolley between Millennium Park and Maxwell Street (10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). So, join in the celebration of the blues’ past, present and future – you won’t be disappointed but may be a little wet!
Enjoy a day of Hellenic culture and pride at the Lincoln Park Greek Fest this Saturday (12 p.m.-11 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at St. George Greek Orthodox Church (2701 N. Sheffield Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Once again, this celebration will be serving up authentic, home-made Greek cuisine along with libations, great music, folk dance performances, artisans, kids’ activities, and of course, pure fun! Opa!!
Are you ready to go Hog Wild for a day? Then Ribfest Chicago is the place to be this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) located at 4000 North Lincoln Avenue in the Northcenter neighborhood. Besides the main event of ribs, ribs, and more ribs, the vendors will be battling for the coveted Best of Ribfest Chicago titles that include the People’s Choice Award (voted by you), and the Celebrity Judges’ Pick (chosen by food experts and special guests). In addition, there’ll be plenty of live music, a community stage with exciting performances, and a kids’ area with carnival games, activity booths, bounce houses, and much more. And, once again, the Whiskey/Bourbon Tastings are back for those looking to sip and savor. It’s going to be a sizzling weekend of mouthwatering BBQ!
The first major art fair of the season will also be kicking off the summer with the 79th annual 57th Street Art Fair this Saturday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) on 57th Street (adjacent to the University of Chicago campus) in the Hyde Park neighborhood. As the Midwest’s oldest juried art fair, guests can browse a wide range of original creations over a wide range of mediums from over 130 juried artists whose work must be handmade as well as enjoying live music from Buddy Guy’s Legends, food trucks serving delicious bites, and family-friendly activities!
Returning to Chicago’s Grant Park (337 E. Randolph St.) for its biggest annual event is Pokémon GO Fest where thousands from around the world gather to catch their favorite Pokémon. Each day features unique event experiences, special rewards for Trainers, photo opportunities, and more. The in-person event features designated morning and afternoon Park Experiences held inside Grant Park and features exclusive special research, new Pokémon debuts, and meet-and-greets with Team Leaders whereas the City Experience grants a full-day of citywide gameplay to hunt for rare spawns across Chicago. Plus, you can also purchase optional add-ons to extend your citywide gameplay!
Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago
