2015 – Southport Corridor News and Events

Southport’s successful Taco Fest is back for 2015, and this year, it will be on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, from noon until 10pm (and yes, the Mexican wrestlers will be back)!

“Chicago’s hottest new festival (trust us!) is back for its third year. The glorious taco will again get the spotlight it has long deserved when the tortilla-wrapped fave is celebrated at this food and music festival that also kicks off the first official weekend of autumn.

Whether one prefers theirs with a hard or soft shell and filled with a meat, chicken, guacamole, fish or other imaginative ingredients, this September happening in the bustling Southport Corridor is a mega-hot addition to the Windy City’s food fest scene.

There will also be special beer and taco pairings, crowd-pleasing Mexican wrestlers, and visitors will be able to text-to-vote for Chicago’s “Best Taco.”

See photos from the past Taco Fests here:

2013
2014

It’s that time of year again to announce the 2015 Chicago Summer Events!

MAY 2015

Chicago Kids and Kites Festival Chicago Kids and Kites Festival, May 2, Montrose Harbor
Polish Constitution Day Parade, May 2, Dearborn from Lake to Van Buren, steps off, 11:30 a.m.
James Beard Foundation Awards (new event), May 4
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Spring Festival, May 7 – 23
American Beer Classic, May 9, Soldier Field
Mayfest, May 15 – 17, Lakeview, Ashland and Barry
Chicago Craft Beer Week, May 14-24, various locations
Chicago Memorial Day Parade, May 23, noon, State Street from Lake to Van Buren
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks, May 23 – September 5: Wednesdays & Saturdays
Randolph Street Market Festival, May 23, 24, 1350 block W. Randolph and 1340 W. Washington Street between Ada and Ogden
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, May 23, 24
Bike the Drive, May 24, Lake Shore Drive
Maifest Chicago, May 28-May 31, Lincoln Square at Lincoln Ave. and Leland Ave.
Millennium Art Festival, May 29 – 31, Lake Street at Michigan Avenue
Chicago Gospel Music Festival, May 29 – 31
Do Division Fest, Saturday and Sunday, May 30, 3, 12-6pm on Hoyne between Crystal and Potomac and on Crystal between Hoyne and Damen
Fiesta del Taco, May 29 – 31, Little Village, 2600 S. Kostner (at 26th St.)

JUNE 2015

Taste of Mexico, (new) June 5-7, 3000 W. 26th Street (at Sacramento)
57th Street Art Fair: June 6-7, Hyde Park
Remix Chicago: Chicago’s Recycled Art Fair, June 6 – 7, Logan Square, Milwaukee between Fullerton and California
Printers Row Lit Fest, June 6, 7, S. Dearborn and Polk
Andersonville Midsommarfest, June 12 – 14, Andersonville
Ribfest Chicago, June 12-14, Lincoln/Irving Park/Damen
Spring Awakening, June 12-14, Soldier Field
Chicago Blues Fest, June 12-14, Grant Park, Millennium Park
Brew to Be Wild, (new), wine tasting event, June 13, Lincoln Park Zoo
Ravinia Festival, June 13-September 12, Highland Park (northern suburbs)
Old Town Art Fair, June 13, 14, Old Town
Naked bike ride, June 13
Wells Street Art Festival, June 13, 14, Wells Street, between North Avenue and Division Street
Grant Park Music Festival, June 17 – August 22, Wednesdays, Fridays, 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, free
Fiestas Puertorriqueñas and Puerto Rican Parade, June 18-21, Humboldt Park, Division Street
Taste of Randolph, June 19-21, Randolph and Peoria St., West Loop
Oakley Festa Pasta Vino, June 19-21, 2400 S. Oakley
Windy City Lake Shake, (new) June 19, 20, 21, Northerly Island
Elkhart Jazz Festival, June 19, 20, 21, downtown Elkhart, IN.
B96 Pepsi Summer Bash, Toyota Park, June 20
Millennium Park movies, June 23 – Aug. 25, 2015 (Tuesdays)
6 Corners BBQ Fest, June 20-21, 4000 N. Milwaukee Ave. (at Irving Park Rd./Cicero Ave. to Belle Plaine)
Wicker Park’s Green Music Fest, June 20, 21, Damen betw North and Schiller
Gold Coast Art Festival, June 20, 21, Grant Park’s Butler Field at the corner of Monroe and Lake Shore Drive
Chicago Pride Fest, June 20 – 21, Halsted and Waveland
Make Music Chicago, June 21, various locations
World’s Largest Block Party, June 27, 28, Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams
2015 Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy, June 27, Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th Street
Sausage Fest (new), June 27, 28, Elston at Grace
Randolph Street Market Festival, June 27, 28, 1350 block W. Randolph and 1340 W. Washington Street between Ada and Ogden
Summerfest, June 24-28, June 30-July 6, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee
Pride Parade, June 28, North Broadway, Boystown
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks, Wednesdays & Saturdays, all month

JULY 2015

African/Caribbean International Festival of Life, July 3-5, Union Park
Windy City RibFest: July 3-5, Uptown, Lawrence and Broadway
Naperville RibFest, July 2-5, Knoch Park in Naperville, western suburb
Summerfest, July 1-July 6, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee
Fare Thee Well, Grateful Dead concert, July 3, 4, 5, Soldier Field
Fourth of July Fireworks, July 4 at Navy Pier
Chosen Few Picnic, July 4 in Jackson Park, 63rd and Hayes Drive
Taste of Chicago, July 8-12, Grant Park
Square Roots Music Festival, July 10-12, Lincoln Square
Michigan Avenue Art Festival, July 10-12, Pioneer Court
Irish American Heritage Festival, July, 10-12 , Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox
Windy City Smokeout, July 10-12, at Grand Avenue and the Chicago River
Taste of Lakeview, July 11, 12, Lincoln at Belmont
Survive Paint Wars (Outdoor Paint Party), Saturday July 11, Hawthorne Race Course
Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, July 11, from Navy Pier and Columbia Yacht Club
Roscoe Village Burger Fest, July 11,12, Belmont and Damen
West Fest: July 11,12, West Town, Chicago Ave. from Damen to Wood
Green City Market Chefs BBQ, July 16, Lincoln Park
Taste of River North: July 17-19, River North, Kingsbury and Erie Street
BenFest 2015, July 17-19, St. Benedict’s, 2215 W. Irving Park Rd.
Pitchfork Music Festival: July 17-19, Union Park
Summer on Southport, July 18, 19, Southport and Waveland
Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival: July 18,-19, Lincoln Park, Sheffield and Webster
Chicago Craft Beer Festival, July 18-19, Sheffield and Webster
Celebrate Clark Street Festival, Saturday, July 18, 19, between Morse and Estes Avenue
Chinatown Summer Fair, July 19, Wentworth Ave from Cermak Road to 24th Place
North Dearborn Street Garden Walk, July 19, starts Latin School, 45 W. North
Jeff Fest Arts and Music Festival, July 24-26, Jefferson Park, Lawrence and Long Avenues
Chicago Hot Sauce Fest (new) July 25, 26, Avondale neighborhood (Belmont & Elston)
Bloody Mary festival, July 26, downtown Highwood, northern suburb
Taste of Lincoln Avenue, July 25 – 26, N. Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton & Wrightwood
Randolph Street Market Festival, July 25, 26, 1350 block W. Randolph and 1340 W. Washington Street between Ada and Ogden
Wicker Park Fest, July 25-26, Milwaukee Avenue Between North Avenue and Paulina Street
Fiesta del Sol: July 30-August 2, Pilsen on Cermak between Morgan and Ashland
Lollapalooza, July 31 – August 2, Grant Park
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks, Wednesdays & Saturdays, all month

AUGUST 2015

Fiesta del Sol: July 30-August 2, Pilsen on Cermak between Morgan and Ashland
Lollapalooza, July 31 – August 2, Grant Park
Taste of Latin America, August 1, 2, 3600 to 3828 W Armitage
Edge Fest: August 1, 2, Edgewater, 5900 N. Broadway at Thorndale Ave.
Chicago Hot Dog Fest, August 7-9, Chicago History Museum, Clark and LaSalle
Ginza Holiday, August 7-9, Midwest Buddhist Temple, Old Town
Retro on Roscoe, August 7- 9, Damen Avenue and Roscoe Street
Bud Billiken Parade (and related activities), August 8, 35-55th & Martin Luther King Drive, 10 a.m.
Wrigleyville Summerfest, August 8, 9, School Street and Seminary Avenue
Northalsted Market Days, August 8, 9, Halsted Street and Belmont Avenue
Taste of Andersonville, August 12, dinner crawl
Festa Italiana, August 13-August 16, Little Italy, Taylor St.
Edison Park Fest, August 14-16, Chicago’s northwest side, Oshkosh and Olmsted
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest: August 14-16, Rogers Park
Windy City Carnival, August 15, Midway Plaisance park
Chicago Air & Water Show, August 15, 16 (rehearsal August 14) North Avenue Beach
Great American Lobster Fest, August 15–16, Navy Pier
Reggae Fest Chicago, August 15 – 16
Highwood Garlic Fest, Everts Park, August 19, 4-9 p.m., northern suburb
Clark After Dark, Thursday, August 20, on Hubbard Street between Clark and LaSalle, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Albany Park World Fest, August 22, 23, Lawrence & Kimball
Chicago Food Social, August 22, 23, Kendall College parking lot
West Loop Arts Fest ,August 22, 23, Washington St., West Loop
Taste of Greektown, August 22, 23, 400 S. Halsted St. at Van Buren
Chicago Dancing Festival, August 25 – 29, various locations
SausageFest Chicago, August 28-30, Old Town
The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival, August 28-September 7, North Michigan Avenue
Bucktown Arts Festival, August 29, 30, Bucktown
Chicago Fashion Fest, August 29-30, Division St. from Wolcott to Paulina
Randolph Street Market Festival, August 29, 30, 1350 block W. Randolph and 1340 W. Washington Street between Ada and Ogden
Taste of Highland Park, August 29, 30, art, food, entertainment, downtown Highland Park, northern suburb
Transamerica Chicago Triathlon, August 30, Lake Michigan, Monroe Harbor and the lake
Festival Cubano, Riis Park, Fullerton and Narragansett, August, TBA
Bash on Wabash, Wabash between 13th and 14, August, TBA
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks, Wednesdays & Saturdays, all month

SEPTEMBER 2015

The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival, Through September 7
Chicago Fringe Festival, September 3 – 13, Jefferson Park
Chicago Jazz Festival, September 3-6, Grant Park
Englewood Jazz Festival, September 3-6, Hamilton Park Cultural Center
Taste of Polonia, September 4-7, Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
African Festival of the Arts, September 4-7, Washington Park
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks, final day, September 5
Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, September 11
Riot Fest, September 11-13, Humboldt Park, 1440 N. Sacramento Avenue
Roscoe Village Oyster Fest (Shock Top), September 11-12, Damen Avenue & Roscoe St.
Windy City Wine Festival, September 11, 12, Buckingham Fountain.
German American Fest and Von Steuben Parade, September 11-13, Lincoln and Leland Avenues
Festival de la Villita, September 11-13, 26th Street and Kostner Avenue
World Music Festival Chicago *16th annual* September 11 – 22, various locations including Millennium Park
Venetian Night, September 12, dusk, Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave
Misericordia Family Fest, September 13, 6300 N. Ridge
ITU World Triathlon Grand Final *new event* September 15 – 20, Grant Park
Fifth Star Awards, September 16, Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park
EXPO Chicago, September 17 – 20
Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival, September 18-20, Sherman from Elgin to Davis, Church from Benson to Orrington, and Clark from Benson to Sherman
Ravenswood ArtWalk, September 19, 20, Ravenswood between Leland and Grace
Lakeview Taco Fest, September 19, 20, on Southport between Addison & Roscoe
Renegade Craft Fair: September Market, September 19, 20, Wicker Park
Andersonville City Made Fest, September 19, 20, Clark and Argyle
Chicago Gourmet, September 25 – 27, Harris Theatre and Millennium Park
Oktoberfest Chicago, September 25-27, Southport and Lincoln Avenue
Edgewater Fall Art Fair, September 26, 27, Broadway and Granville
Design Harvest, September 26, 27, Grand Ave between Wood Street and Western Ave.
Hyde Park Jazz Festival, September 26, 27, Hyde Park, various locations
Chicago Half Marathon, September 27, Jackson Park
Ukrainian Days Festival, Smith Park (Grand/Campbell), September, TBA
North Coast Music Festival, Union Park, September TBA