Listeners, if you’re spending time in Chicago this week, you’re here at just the right moment for some of the city’s most fun, entertaining, and distinctly Chicago experiences. In August, especially today, everyone can dive right into the Northalsted Market Days festival, a signature Chicago street event running through Sunday. Stretching along Halsted Street, this festival draws crowds for live music on multiple stages, 250 vendors, food and drink, dance groups, drag performances, and an easygoing party vibe celebrating Chicago’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
Music lovers have their pick, with the Ginza Holiday Festival at the Midwest Buddhist Temple concluding today. This celebration of Japanese culture offers traditional music, artisans, and authentic Japanese street food in an intimate setting. For something big and energetic, Millennium Park remains a hot spot—not just for its iconic reflective Cloud Gate (affectionately called “the Bean”) and family picnics by the fountains, but also for its al fresco summer concerts and public art. This weekend, art fans will also appreciate the Franz West installations set amidst Millennium Park’s gardens, and just outside the city, the Hokusai & Ukiyo-e exhibition at the McAninch Arts Center presents over 70 intricate Japanese woodblock prints from the famed Edo period.
Looking for sports action? Head to Guaranteed Rate Field this afternoon to catch the Chicago White Sox take on the Cleveland Guardians. For those who want to make a full day of it, combine a baseball game with a walk along the nearby 18th Street Bridge for a unique skyline view most visitors skip. Golf fans and families should check out the final day of LIV Golf Chicago at Bolingbrook Golf Club—fairways, food trucks, interactive games, and live music, all surrounded by the excitement of top international players competing.
If you’re up for some adventure, take to the water this weekend. Chicago’s breezy skyline sails depart daily from Navy Pier and let you experience Lake Michigan up close, offering one-of-a-kind views and an exhilarating, peaceful break from city life. Prefer to stay on land? Join a guided architecture cruise on the Chicago River; you’ll float past spectacular skyscrapers while learning about the city’s legendary 20th-century architects and the stories that shaped them. If urban walking is your speed, the Riverwalk offers public art, casual bars, unique eateries, and kayaking beneath the bridges for the more adventurous listener.
Art-seekers shouldn’t skip the National Public Housing Museum’s exhibit, “Living in the Shade,” which highlights the city’s history of public spaces and community gardens, or opt for quirky and impactful at the Medieval Torture Museum. For something truly unique, gather your crew for Big Bus Tours’ hop-on, hop-off ride. This lets you craft your own city adventure: snap a selfie at Buckingham Fountain, hop off in Chinatown for soup dumplings, or head to Pilsen to check out vibrant murals and some of Chicago’s best taquerias.
Before August wraps up, put Bulls Fest on your radar. This free, family-oriented, two-day basketball celebration at the United Center, happening August 23-24, includes all-ages 3-on-3 tournaments, youth clinics, food trucks, live art, and the irresistible buzz of Chicago basketball. Wind down in the evenings at Navy Pier, where the hidden gem is Wednesday and Saturday night fireworks, best enjoyed with a classic Chicago hot dog in hand. For those needing some green space, stroll Lincoln Park Zoo—it’s free, surrounded by peaceful gardens, and home to everything from big cats to playful sea lions.
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