With the weekends affording many of us time to take a break from our work lives it is important we fill them with memories. Be it exploring nature, spending valuable time with friends and family, or enjoying an event or activity somewhere in Chicago, weekends are designed to be enjoyed!
Luckily in such a sensational city like Chicago, there is an abundance of options. To make sure you can fill your weekend with fun we’ve here rounded up some of the best things taking place in Chicago this weekend.
1. Watch the Chicago Air & Water Show
When: Saturday and Sunday
The largest free show of its kind in the entire country is coming back for another full-throttle experience above Lake Michigan this weekend.
Having once again returned to full-scale shows last year, the 2023 Chicago Air & Water show is expected to attract over 2 million spectators flocking to watch the aerial daredevil feats.
Spectators can once again line up along North Avenue Beach and the Lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street and enjoy a variety of military and civilian performances absolutely free from 10 am until 2 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Read more about the Chicago Air & Water Show.
2. Eat lobster at Navy Pier’s Great American Lobster Fest
When: Saturday and Sunday
Returning for its eighth year, the Midwest’s largest lobster and seafood festival, Great American Lobster Fest, is another cherished annual event returning this weekend.
The family-friendly festival on Navy Pier features live music and more importantly a vast array of seafood including lobsters flown in fresh from the cold waters of the East Coast.
Grab tickets to the Great American Lobster Fest.
3. Catch the Navy Pier Fireworks show
When: Saturday evening
That action-packed Saturday also happens to be one of the days a weekly Navy Pier firework display will light up Lake Michigan. The pier’s firework displays are completely free and are taking place every Saturday at 10 pm through Labor Day weekend.
Onlookers can find a spot anywhere on the pier to take in the dazzling display completely free of charge. According to the Navy Pier website, there will be accompanying soundtracks featuring dramatic and popular music.
Read more about the weekly Navy Pier fireworks shows.
4. Head down to the second version of Bulls Fest
When: Saturday and Sunday
Last year a completely new festival joined the array of Chicago summer festivals hosted by none other than The Chicago Bulls. Taking place outside the United Center on Labor Day Weekend in 2022, this year “Bulls Fest” returns for its second year and will take place this coming weekend on both Saturday, August 19th, and Sunday, August 20th.
The weekend-long Chicago street festival will once again feature “a 3v3 tournament, live music, local food, amazing art, and more” according to the official Chicago Bulls announcement.
5. Drink sangria at Sangria Festival Chicago
When: Saturday and Sunday
Another festival taking place this weekend is the 8th Chicago Sangria Festival. Bringing the art of sangria and a tour of Latin American food and wine to Humboldt Park, the area transforms into an outdoor tapas bar with local restaurants providing their very best concoctions of red wine and chopped fruit.
In addition to the abundance of food and wine to savor there are other exciting activities like a painting station and a dance area or kick back and enjoy entertainment in the form of live salsa and Brazilian dance.
Read more about Sangria Festival Chicago.
6. Explore the city on skates for the free ‘Skate Chicago’ event
When: Saturday and Sunday
If you’re looking for an active and adventurous way to spend your weekend you’ll be happy to hear that Skate Chicago is hosting free urban street skating events on both Saturday and Sunday.
For those that aren’t familiar with Skate Chicago, it is the biggest skate event of its kind in the state, much like the Big Apple Roll in New York, and features a variety of scheduled skates including themed skates and nighttime skates. Skaters from around the world gather every year to socialize and explore the city on inline and roller skates.
There are numerous skates to attend over the next few days all of which provide exciting adventures skating around the city.
Read more about Skate Chicago.
7. Enjoy a free outdoor movie screening
When: Saturday and Sunday
From a lakefront screening to a projector in the middle of a baseball field, you’ll find open-air movie screenings at many of Chicago’s parks and fields this summer.
So, pack a picnic of your favorite snacks and drinks, round up your friends, and indulge in the perfect movie night this weekend.
Everything Everywhere All At Once on Saturday at 6:30 pm in Millennium Park would be our personal pick but we’ve put together the ultimate summer movie guide to help you navigate your weekend your way!
Read our guide to free outdoor movie screenings.
8. Spend Sunday at Maxwell Street Market
When: Sunday
Maxwell Street Market, Chicago’s longest-running open-air market, which first debuted back in 1912, has returned for its 111th summer stretch with handmade crafts and undetected treasures.
Open every Sunday at 800 South Des Plaines Street from 9 am to 3 pm through to Sunday, October 29; shoppers can expect a Sunday of spirited live music and sensational street food as well as an eclectic array of bric-à-brac.
Read more about Maxwell Street Market.
9. Marvel at the magic of the Art on theMART projections
When: Saturday evening and Sunday evening
Holding the title of the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, Art on theMART attracts thousands to the Riverwalk every week by firing up 34 digital projectors and showcasing work from both renowned artists and local talent on the 2.5-acre river façade of the Merchandise Mart.
The summer program features mesmerizing projections by the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project as well as the continued Building Light projections every night through mid-September.
The shows will run from 9 pm until 10:30 pm nightly. The best places to view the projections are from the jetty section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin Streets.
Read more about the Art on TheMART summer projections.
10. Check out the sculptures at Morton Arboretum
When: All weekend
A new exhibition at the Morton Arboretum opened earlier this year featuring a collection of brand-new towering arbor-inspired sculptures created exclusively for Arboretum visitors.
Titled “Of the Earth,” the exhibition features five exclusive new works from Polish-American artist Olga Ziemska in the largest exhibition of her work to date work to date.
According to an official Morton Arboretum release, Ziemska’s sculptures have been predominantly created from reclaimed tree branches and other natural materials gathered from various locations throughout the Arboretum’s grounds.
Read about the “Of the Earth” exhibition.
Honorary mention: Check out some of the state’s most amazing natural spectacles
For some of you, it might be a break from the bustling city that you’re after which is why, though we know it isn’t strictly a ‘thing to do in Chicago’, heading out of our urban metropolis now and again is always going to be an idea that we endorse.
Whether you’re looking for an exciting place to cool off in the hotter months or just looking to escape the fast tempo of the city, there are plenty of places around Chicago to get some fresh air and revel in nature’s beauty.
Read our full list of the most amazing natural spectacles near Chicago.
[Featured image from Unsplash]