It’s now June, which means summer is finally here! Memorial Day Weekend has passed, giving Chicago its first taste of summer festivities. And there’s so much more to enjoy. From exciting interactive experiences to aquatic adventures, here are some of the best things to do in Chicago this June.
Visit Pearl Lake — Midwest’s premier scuba diving oasis
Pearl Lake in South Beloit, IL, is a 50-acre former quarry with a sandy beach and clear waters popular for swimming, fishing, water sports, and scuba diving.
The lake reaches depths up to 85 feet with 30+ feet of visibility, and you can scuba dive to see sunken attractions like a bus, airplane, boats, and a two-person submarine.
Experience mind-bending, up-close illusions in a 100-seat immersive show at Palmer House. For a standout night out in Chicago this June, Theater of Magic is an up-close, immersive magic experience that limits audiences to 100 guests and opens the door to sleight-of-hand, mind-reading, levitation, and flash-paper effects. Performances take place at the Palmer House a Hilton Hotel and include a magic-themed cocktail, VIP front-row options, and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice accolade.
Enjoy $1 frozen yogurt topped with olive oil and sea salt every Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. If your ice-cream-from-puppets adventure leaves you craving another cold, quirky sweet, Rotisserie Ema is offering $1 frozen yogurt every Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, starting May 22 and running through September 4. Optional specialty sauces (Strawberry-Rhubarb or Pistachio with cinnamon phyllo) are available for $2 each.
If you want to keep the fun going after grabbing ice cream from puppets, make it a high-energy date with open‑air house music by the lake this June. Plan a weekend at this open‑air, house‑music festival at Lincoln Park featuring curated DJ sets, immersive art, food vendors, and brand activations across two days in June. Tickets start at $75 with GA, VIP, and cabana options.
You decide the verdict in this immersive Frankenstein trial. For a uniquely interactive night out in Chicago this June, The Jury Experience stages an immersive live trial where audience members serve as jurors in ‘Frankenstein on Trial,’ debating creator responsibility in a case about Dr Frankenstein and his creation. Performances are held at the Edlis Neeson Theater inside the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Catch a Twisted Laugh with ‘SAW The Musical’ in Chicago
If you’re in the mood for something way more offbeat than a sweet treat, this boundary-pushing horror-comedy hilariously reinterprets the iconic bathroom trap from the original Saw film, blending intense horror with raunchy humor and an unexpected love story. For a wild night out, ‘SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw’ takes over The Den Theatre in Chicago with a boundary-pushing horror-comedy spin on the franchise.
It hilariously reinterprets the iconic bathroom trap from the original Saw film, blending intense horror with raunchy humor and an unexpected love story.
A convenient Lakefront Trail hub for rentals, repairs, and try-before-you-buy purchases. If your ice-cream-from-puppets plans include cruising the Lakefront Trail, swing by Igor’s Bike Shack—a repurposed shipping-container bike shop in Lakeview offering hourly and daily rentals with helmets, full-service repairs and tune-ups, a free tire-pumping station, and a try-before-you-buy purchase option.
Join Recess’s free six-week World Cup celebration with music, merch, and live match screenings. If you want an easy add-on stop while you’re out, Recess will stream every FIFA World Cup 2026 match from June 11 to July 19 as a free six-week Chicago Fire Soccer Celebration featuring surprise musical guests, merch drops from local artists, player appearances, and prize giveaways. Entry is free but requires a mobile pass.
Keep the fun going with laughs at one of Chicago’s legendary comedy clubs. Chicago’s comedy scene spans improv and stand-up at venues like The Second City, iO Theater, Zanies, and the Laugh Factory, offering options for every comedic taste and making for a lively night out with friends.
Order from a cowboy, cow, or polar bear at The Sugar Hole’s puppet window. The puppet-staffed ice cream window, The Sugar Hole, is reopening in Irving Park at the Color Club on Elston Avenue, serving vanilla, chocolate, and swirl soft-serve (plus dairy-free pops). It opens starting Memorial Day weekend and will take orders every Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the remainder of the summer.
Yorkville’s Raging Waves opens Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m. If you’re looking to keep the fun going beyond the ice-cream-from-puppets moment, Yorkville’s Raging Waves, the largest water park in Illinois, will open for the 2026 summer season on Saturday, May 23, with operating hours from 11:00 to 17:00 for opening day. The 58-acre park has expanded its attractions and will offer temperature-controlled water in its wave pool and lazy river this year.
Soak in historic, candlelit thermal baths for a restorative spa day. If you want a soothing detour from the puppets-and-ice-cream fun, AIRE Ancient Baths offers candlelit thermal baths inspired by ancient civilizations in a historic, converted factory setting—an indulgent spa option for groups. The article also recommends The NOW Massage as a more affordable alternative with a unique, transportive atmosphere.
Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. was ranked 8th in the USA’s Top 50 Pizzas for 2026. If you’re grabbing ice cream from puppets and want to keep the food crawl going, make a quick detour to Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. on the Ogden Strip in Streeterville. The family-owned restaurant landed the No. 8 spot in the USA in the 2026 Top 50 Pizzas list, thanks to its wild-yeast sourdough thin-crust pizzas and expansive waterfront setting. The restaurant also earned a golden ticket to attend the 50 Top Pizza World Pizza Ceremony in Naples this fall.
Celebrate 30 years of Pokémon with Excavator Pikachu and real fossils at the Field Museum. If you want to add something a little more interactive to your day, the Pokémon Fossil Museum is a limited-run exhibition at Chicago’s Field Museum that pairs Fossil Pokémon with real-world fossils, features Excavator Pikachu, and includes hands-on tools and exhibits led by museum scientists. The show runs until April 11, 2027, and tickets are currently available.
Sample 12+ pours from local breweries and distilleries along Damen this June 24. If you want a break from sweet treats, Malt Row on Damen is a summer beer and spirits stroll in Ravenswood along Damen Avenue, returning Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Local breweries, distilleries and shops will offer 12+ tasting pours, a Malt Row tasting glass, coozie/lanyard, and a gift bag.
While you’re out on your quest to grab ice cream from puppets, make time to swing by the Logan Square Farmers Market—one of Chicago’s most legendary outdoor markets—which is officially open for the season! Explore more than 100 vendors offering artisanal food, home goods, produce, flowers, and more.
