2015 City of Chicago Summer Events and Street Festivals Listed Here!



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

Summer on Southport, 2014

Continuing the tour of Summer on Southport, 2014
Spencer’s Jolly Posh Foods

Continue reading “Summer on Southport, 2014”

Southports 1st Annual Taco Fest

Lakeview Taco Fest photos from the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2013.  What a great street fest, and we’re looking forward to its return in 2014!

Continue reading “Southports 1st Annual Taco Fest”

Ready for Taco Fest this Weekend in Chicago’s Southport Corridor?


Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Fest

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 21-22
Time: Saturday: Noon to 10pm | Sunday: Noon to 9pm
Location: On Southport between Addison & Newport | Chicago
View Map
Beneficiary: Lakeview Chamber of Commerce
What took so long? The glorious taco will get the spotlight it has long deserved when the tortilla-wrapped fave is celebrated at this inaugural festival that kicks off on the first day of autumn.

Whether one prefers theirs with a hard or soft shell and filled with a meat, chicken, guacamole or one of dozens of imaginative ingredients, this new September happening on the Southport Corridor is guaranteed to be a popular addition to the Windy City\’s food fest scene.

There will also be special beer and taco pairings, and visitors will be able to text their vote for Chicago\’s \”Best Taco.\”

Entertainment
Saturday
3:30pm – Rico (funk/soul)
6:00pm – Get Up With the Get Downs (funk)
8:00pm – Freddy Jones Band (roots rock)
Sunday
3:30pm – Stache (pop/rock)
6:00pm – Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute)
7:45pm – Wedding Banned (pop/rock)
Read On!  Participating Vendors Serving Tacos!
Café El Tapatio
3400 N. Ashland, Chicago
Featured Tacos: Grilled portabella, Al Pastor, Amber-battered shrimp
Amazing and delicious are just a few ways customers of this West Lakeview eatery describe El Tapatio which has been a neighborhood fave for more than two decades. Their extensive menu includes at least a dozen taco choices including steak, portabella, chorizo, chicken and pork. Long before tacos became fashionable, Café El Tapatio wrote the book on authentic Mexican cuisine.

Café Tola
3612 N Southport Ave, Chicago
This shoebox size spot on Southport, just north of Addison, specializes in carryouts including expresso coffee, homemade empanadas and baked goods. It may be tiny, but when it comes to authentic Mexican and Latin American food and pastries, Café Tola does it right.

Crosby\’s Kitchen
3455 N Southport Ave, Chicago
Casual and comfortable (and a corporate sibling of Smoke Daddy), this popular Southport Corridor restaurant excels with its salads, sandwiches, fish and rotisserie offerings. It\’s a family-friendly eatery where there\’s always a crowd for their lunches, dinners and celebrated weekend brunches.

Mystic Celt
3443 N Southport Ave, Chicago
Don\’t let the Irish name fool you. From their popular weekend brunches to beers, cocktails and extensive food menu, this wildly popular establishment in the heart of the Southport Corridor is full of surprises. You can bet they\’ll show imagination with their fest food offerings, including the tortilla wrapped kind.

The Pony
1638 W. Belmont, Chicago
Featured Tacos: duck, smoked beef, pork belly
Since opening in 2008, The Pony\’s neighborhood charm and laid back approach has provided an ideal backdrop for any type of crowd. Whether drinks with friends, or grabbing a bite from the mouthwatering Southwestern-inspired menu, The Pony is sure to delight with their duck, smoked beef and pork belly tacos.

Smoke Daddy
1804 W Division St, Chicago
A sibling of Southport\’s Crosby\’s Kitchen, this Wicker Park eatery has received widespread acclaim both locally and nationally since it opened in 1994. To be sure, they specialize in Chicago-style BBQ dishes as well as music. But with food as their specialty, expect some unique Smoke Daddy tacos at Taco Fest!

Taco Joint
1969 N Halsted St, Chicago
The name says it all! Expect top-notch tortilla-stuffed faves from this regional Mexican street fare eatery. A sibling of Zocalo restaurant, it has locations in River North and Lincoln Park. The menu includes tacos made with braised and grilled meats, homemade salsas and handmade tortillas from several regions of Mexico including the Yucatan, Jalisco and, of course, Mexico City.

Toons Bar & Grill
3857 N. Southport, Chicago
Featured Taco: Tex-Mex smoked brisket
It\’s all in the food details at this popular Southport mainstay that gets rave reviews for its ambience, drink selection and menu of burgers, wraps, BBQ, and sandwiches. It\’s these types of imaginative bar food dishes that will delight Taco Fest visitors with Toons\’ Tex-Mex smoked brisket and pulled-pork Asian slaw tacos.

Zocalo
358 W Ontario St, Chicago
Located in River North and a relative of the Taco Joint family, this restaurant and tequila bar wins rave reviews for its extensive Mexican food and drink menu. Nuevo Mexican might be a good way to describe Zocalo\’s culinary offering which includes taco selections topped with pineapple jam and toasted pumpkin seeds.