CHICAGO — We are in the home stretch of summer, but there’s still plenty to do to make the most of the gorgeous weather.
The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference takes place this weekend, as well as Bulls Fest, Sangria Fest and the first Milk and Melanin Festival. The Chicago Triathlon will also be held.
You can also catch an all-weekend, Chinese-language Pride film screening in Lincoln Park and Woodlawn or attend an epic battle of the bands in Pilsen.
Here are 21 things to do this weekend in Chicago:
All Weekend
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference
4-10 p.m. Thursday, 2-9 p.m. Friday, 1-9 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday
Various locations including Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., and the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference returns to the city this weekend to celebrate house music’s influence on Chicago. The multi-day festival and conference will feature panels with house music icons and dance parties hosted by DJs throughout the city. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more here.
St. Hyacinth Carnival 2025
6-10 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday and 2-10 p.m. Sunday
St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3636 W. Wolfram St.
Join St. Hyacinth Basilica for its annual parish carnival. This four-day carnival will have amusement park rides, food, games and live entertainment for families. There will also be raffles for attendees to participate in. Raffle tickets will be available to buy at the church’s sacristy, parish office and at the carnival site.
The event is free and open to the public. Learn more here.
Bulls Fest
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.
Bulls Fest will return to the United Center this weekend. This free festival will include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, special appearances from current and past Bulls players and family-friendly activities.
This event is free and open to the public. Learn more here.
10th Annual Sangria Festival
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
3021 W. Division St.
Sangria Festival is dedicated to the art of sangria and pairs the fruit-filled drink with Latin-inspired cuisine, live music, dancing and outdoor fun. Sangria Festival will feature a variety of interactive workshops such as paint-and-sips, flower crown making, candle making and jewelry making.
One-day tickets start at $28.52. Two-day tickets start at $71.21. Learn more here.
Taste of Greektown
4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday-SUnday
Halsted Street from Adams to Van Buren streets
Greektown’s iconic restaurants including Athena Restaurant will host this street fest, which will also include live music, Greek dancing, shopping vendors and family activities. For more information, click here.
Edison Park Fest
5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
6700-6843 N. Olmstead Ave.
The annual street fest will include a carnival (unlimited rides start at $30), a bags tournament, bingo, a business expo and craft fair and a full slate of live entertainment. For more information, click here.
STArt Chicago Pride Film Screening
Various times
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., on Saturday and FACETS, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., on Sunday
STArt Film Studio will present its touring showcase of four Chinese-language films, including “Happy Together,” “Vive L’Amour,” “Lan Yu” and “All Shall Be Well.”
Bundle tickets start at $58.35. Saturday tickets for “Happy Together” and “Lan Yu” start at $19.97, and Sunday tickets for “All Shall Be Well” and “Vive L’Amour” start at $17.83. Learn more about movie times and ticket prices here.
Friday
Stay High Wear: Battle of The Bands
4-8 p.m. Friday
Haz Cooperative Studios, 1706 S. Halsted St.
Enjoy a battle of the bands this weekend at Haz Cooperative Studios. Musical acts facing off include GirlRot, TV In Color, Elusions, FOF Band and Ten Till Dead. There will also be local vendors to shop from.
General admission starts at $7.18. Learn more here.
These Days Skyline Sessions at Navy Pier
5-9 p.m. Friday
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
These Days and Navy Pier will partner for this weekend’s Skyline Sessions. Enjoy a night of live musical performances from local acts, including M.E.H., J Bambii and Mike DFG.
This event is free and open to the public. Learn more here.
¡Pachanga! on Navy Pier
8 p.m. Friday-1 a.m. Saturday
Bar Sol at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave.
Enjoy a night of learning the pachanga and participating in a pachanga dance contest with ¡Pachanga! at Navy Pier this weekend. The event will feature live performances from DJs in genres such as cumbia, reggaeton and salsa. There will also be local artist vendors.
General admission starts at $24, and salsa dance lessons and pachanga experiences start at $24. Learn more here.
Saturday
noon-3 p.m. Saturday
Outside Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road
This free, family friendly tailgate take place before the Sky take on the Connecticut Sun, and is open to fans regardless of game attendance. Activities include face painting, pop-a-shot games, Sky gear giveaways, a live DJ and free Eli’s Cheesecake slices.
Summer BrewBQ Regional Homebrew Fest
2-7 p.m. Saturday
2417 W. Hubbard St.
CHAOS Brew Club, Chicago’s preeminent homebrewers association, is hosting its annual Summer BrewBQ featuring 80 beers from over a dozen regional brew clubs. The event will also feature barbecue and music from three bands plus vendors selling home brew equipment.
The event is free and open to the public. More information is here.
Milk & Melanin Festival 2025
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
South Side Sanctuary, 4702 S. King Drive
Black Midwifery Collective will host its first Milk & Melanin Festival this weekend. The festival aims to honor and uplift the breastfeeding journeys of Black families. The event will have live music performances, local vendors, lactation education and more.
The event is free and open to the public. Learn more here.
‘Battle 4 The City’ Mural Competition
11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday
Bloomingdale Avenue between Humboldt Boulevard and Kedzie Avenue, below the Bloomingdale Trail
Join Battle 4 The City at this one-day mural showdown from the city’s best muralists. Artists will go head to head to transform walls in real time to claim the $10,000 prize. The event will also feature a set from DJ Moz Definite.
Admission is free. Learn more here.
Supertri Chicago Triathlon
1-5 p.m. Saturday
Queen’s Landing, 500 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Competitive triathlon league Supertri will return to Chicago this year for the Chicago Triathlon. Spectators can watch the best athletes in the world compete in the fastest, electric version of triathlon. Last year saw 15,000 spectators take in the lakefront event.
Admission is free. Learn more here.
Freedom From and Freedom To
7-11 p.m. Saturday
Elastic Arts, 3426 W. Diversey Ave., unit 208
Freedom From and Freedom To returns to Elastic Arts for its second iteration of sound and movement collaborations. Each group will perform an improvised set fusing a variety of artistic backgrounds and practices to create unique worlds in six 15-minute acts. There will also be a special opening set from Joey Meland and Eva Supreme alongside Aaliyah Christina.
Standard tickets start at $17.85, and student tickets start $12.51 with student identification. Learn more here.
Angel’s Lane 2025
8 p.m. Saturday-4 a.m. Sunday
Ping Tom Park, 2215 S. Union Ave.
Angel’s Lane makes its return for another year of DJs and fun with an all-night party across the city starting in Chinatown’s Ping Tom Park and then heading to a secret warehouse in the city. Be prepared for a night of dancing and nonstop music.
General admission starts at $17.85. Learn more here.
Sunday
Golosa Day Party
2-6 p.m. Sunday
Diego, 459 N. Ogden Ave.
The day party series Golosa is set to return to Diego for a day filled will food and music. There will be live DJ performances by Mala Vida, Cozmiika and MLE. Attendees who buy tickets not only get entry into the party but also two taco tickets and their choice of side, plus the chance to experience a cumbia dance class.
General admission tickets start at $23.18. Learn more here.
InVox A Cappella Summer 2025 Concert
3-4:30 p.m. Sunday
The Revival – Improv Theater, 906 S. Wabash Ave.
Join InVox Chicago A Cappella for an evening of harmonies and live performance at its summer concert.
General admission tickets start at $28.52. Learn more here.
The Bloom Fashion Show
5-8 p.m. Sunday
1801 W. Berteau Ave.
DesignerZoh will host The Bloom Fashion Show, showcasing a collection of handcrafted designs. Alongside DesignerZoh, the event will also feature the works of seven designers ranging in styles from avant-garde couture to streetwear.
Early Bird VIP Front Row tickets start at $44.52. Learn more here.
Queer Care Inc. Pop Up Closet Fundraiser
7-10 p.m. Sunday
The Insect Asylum, 2870 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Queer Care Inc. will host a pop-up closet this weekend to provide clothing and haircuts to LGBTQ+ people in need. Attendees are encouraged to bring gently used clothes and exchange them for new pieces. All sizes and styles welcome.
General admission is free, and donations are accepted. Learn more here.
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