Little Kids Rock (Courtesy of DCASE)
1. Applaud
Celebrate the city’s rising crop of talent at the Youth Arts Showcase Fest, featuring classical music by the Chicago Children’s Choir and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, and spoken word performances by Young Chicago Authors’ Louder Than A Bomb Squad. Ravyn Lenae, who signed with Atlantic Records and toured with SZA and Chicago rapper Noname, opens for headliner Desiigner. Don’t miss hands-on activities throughout the Millennium Park campus, including live art-making demonstrations.
Details: 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free / MAP
Find more summer festivals in our 2018 guide
2. Savor
Sample international dumplings from 10 neighborhood-based restaurants, including Kasia’s Deli, Himmel’s, Friendship Chinese Restaurant and Ethiopian Diamond, at World Dumpling Fest. Get a three-dumpling tasting pass for $10; or opt for a nine-dumpling tasting pass for $25. Live music, cultural performances and interactive craft tables are also on tap.
Details: 1-7:30 p.m. Sunday at Navy Pier Polk Bros Park, 600 E. Grand Ave. Free / MAP
(Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen / Lydia Hoover Photography)
3. Delight
Take a bite out of autumn at Apple Fest, where you can enjoy locally made caramel apples, apple cider donuts, apple pie, apple goat cheese dumplings and other seasonal, apple-inspired treats. Browse an open-air marketplace for sweet and savory treats and apples picked fresh from Frank’s Farm Orchard. Love apple pie? Get your fill of the quintessential American dessert during apple pie-eating contests at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Details: Noon-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. $5 / MAP
(Couleur / Pixabay)
4. Engage
Expand your literary horizons at Lit Crawl Chicago. Curated by nearly two dozen literary luminaries, the event celebrates all forms of written expression and features more than 100 artists, from novelists to comedians and poets. Headlining this year’s event: acclaimed humor writer and essayist Samantha Irby (9 p.m. at. Ebenezer Church, 1650 W Foster Ave.). Bonus: The Neo-Futurists, who produced this year’s event, perform a reboot of their 2016-2017 piece, “Tangles & Plaques” (7:30 p.m. at 5315 N. Ashland Ave.).
Details: 3-11 p.m. Saturday at various locations. Free-$25.
The Neo-Futurists perform “Tangles & Plaques.” (Joe Mazza Brave Lux)
5. Ponder
Immerse yourself in I.D.: Images of Diversity, a multimedia performance that hones in on the immigrant experience and diversity of America. Performed by the Chicago Sinfonietta, the piece features music from around the world, including works by Giuseppe Verdi, Aaron Copland and Arturo Marquez.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $10-$62 / MAP
6. Cheers
Craft beer aficionados, this one’s for you: Goose Island’s annual 312 Block Party offers samples of more than 20 different beers – all of them available for $3. Pro tip: Arrive early as the event has been known to reach capacity before the headliner takes the stage.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday; 4-10 p.m. Saturday at Goose Island Fulton Street Brewery, 1800 W. Fulton St. $10 suggested donation / MAP
(Quinn Dombrowski / Flickr)
7. Woof
Does your dog have the waggiest tail? Or the best bark? Put Fido’s best foot forward at the Carol Stream Charity Dog Show. Pooches can show off their tricks, best costumes and adorable looks in a variety of contests ($10 entry fee for each). Proceeds benefit the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
Details: 10 a.m.-4 p. m. Sunday at Carol Stream Town Center, 960 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Free / MAP
(skeeze / Pixabay)
8. View
Documentaries, narrative shorts and experimental films are the focus of the Middle Coast Film Festival. See local, national and international flicks, and hear from the filmmakers at post-viewing Q&A sessions.
Details: Screenings begin at 2 p.m. Friday; 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the Davis Theatre, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. $20 one-day pass; $10 for students with ID; $35 festival pass / MAP
9. Come together
Experience Native American dance and drum performances, traditional regalia and native fare at Harvest Pow Wow. Cultural demonstrations and displays include an authentic Ojibwe birchback canoe and an Algonquin vertical canoe made by Potawatomi Jerry Cooper. Kids can make their own arrowheads, visit a tepee and watch an archery demonstration.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. $12; $7 for kids ages 3-12 / MAP
(Midwest soarring Foundation / Facebook)
10. Soar
Spread your wings at Flutter into Fall, a daylong celebration of butterflies. Wish migrating monarchs good luck on their journey, make your own butterfly wind chime and help museum scientists identify local bugs using your smartphone. Also: Seek out unique butterflies in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven and catch a butterfly release at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Details: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Free / MAP
(Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum / Facebook)
Events listed are subject to change. We recommend double-checking times and locations before you head out the door. Want to share your upcoming events with us for consideration in a future roundup? Send us an email.
