Weekend Best Bets: Live Music, Fall Color, Indie Bookstores

Events in and around Chicago the weekend of Sept. 15-18

This charming man: Morrissey is scheduled to appear at Riot Fest on Saturday night. (Man Alive! / Flickr)This charming man: Morrissey is scheduled to appear at Riot Fest on Saturday night. (Man Alive! / Flickr)

The big event: Riot Fest

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The three-day music fest returns to Douglas Park with a can’t-miss lineup that includes Morrissey, Nas, The Original Misfits (with Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only), Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, Rob Zombie and scores more. Plenty of food and drink vendors aim to keep you on your feet; carnival rides aim to sweep you off them. (Bonus: It looks like the mudfest that was Riot Fest 2014 in Humboldt Park is unlikely. Check the forecast here.) 

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive. Single day: $85, $160 VIP; 2-day pass: $160; 3-day pass: $330, $700. Map

Free pick of the week

Quimby's opened on Sept. 15, 1991 in Wicker Park. (Quimbys Bookstore / Flickr)Quimby's opened on Sept. 15, 1991 in Wicker Park. (Quimbys Bookstore / Flickr)

Wicker Park and West Town Lit Fest 
Kick off the second annual Lit Fest on Thursday at Quimby's (7-9 p.m.) to toast the indie shop's 25th anniversary with founder Steven Svymbersky. To mark the milestone, award-winnning cartoonist Chris Ware designed an anniversary print and Bridgeport's Marz Community Brewing created a special beer. Other weekend events in the neighborhood include a story slam, book swap, readings, signings and more. Expect toasts aplenty to Chicago legend Nelson Algren. Full Lit Fest schedule here.

Details: Thursday-Sunday at various locations, including Quimby's Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave. Most events are free. | Map

Also on tap ...

Andersonville City Made Fest
Billing itself as "Chicago's only local-exclusive street festival," this two-day event returns to the neighborhood for the fourth year with a diverse lineup of vendors, live music, local food, and beer from Half Acre, Revolution, Empirical and Right Bee Cider. Entertainment includes burlesque performances, DJs and music from the Oh Yeahs, Marrow, Santah (Saturday) and Yoko and the Oh No's, The Right Now and Lamajamal (Sunday), among others. 

Details: ​Noon-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday along Clark Street, between Argyle Street and Carmen Avenue. $5 suggested donation. | Map

Chicago indie rockers Marrow take the stage Saturday at the Andersonville City Made Fest. (Courtesy City Made Fest)Chicago indie rockers Marrow take the stage Saturday at the Andersonville City Made Fest. (Courtesy City Made Fest)

Global Jam–East Meets Middle East
George Lawley of local band Lamajamal performs alongside fellow Chicagoan Ronnie Malley and Indian musicians Subrata Bhattacharya and Abhishek Lahiri for this cross-cultural performance that’s presented as part of Eye on India Chicago. The sixth annual festival of contemporary and traditional Indian culture includes readings, performances, exhibitions and more through Oct. 2 at locations across the city.

Details: Noon Sunday at Fulton Street Collective, 1821 W. Hubbard St., 3rd Floor. $25 suggested donation. | Map

63rd Annual Chicago Powwow 
The 63rd annual event hosted by the American Indian Center of Chicago represents 175 tribes from the U.S. and Canada, and includes traditional crafts, dancing, drumming, singers and food. 

Details: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Groves 22-24, Elk Grove Village. $15; $10 for seniors, active military and kids ages 12 and under; free for kids 5 and under. Map

  • The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

    The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

  • The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

    The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

  • The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

    The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

  • The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

    The 62nd Annual Chicago Powwow. (Courtesy American Indian Center of Chicago)

48 Hour Film Project ‘Best of’ Screening 
The timed filmmaking competition wraps up with the audience choice award and top picks from the judges. See what local teams were able to create in two days after being given a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue. Films are eight minutes, max.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. $13. Map

Reel stress: Filmmakers had just two days to create eight-minute films. See the best of the batch at the Music Box on Thursday.Reel stress: Filmmakers had just two days to create eight-minute films. See the best of the batch at the Music Box on Thursday.

Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest
Back after making its debut in 2015, the event features selections from about 30 breweries including New Belgium, Lagunitas, Stone, Virtue Cider and Half Acre. Tickets include a souvenir tasting glass, 18 drink tickets, live music and snacks. Barbeque Jim's Smokehouse will be on site with additional food for purchase. Rain or shine. 

Details: 1-5 p.m. Saturday at the Elmhurst History Museum grounds, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. $50; $20 "designated driver" tickets available. | Map

Fall Cocktail Challenge
Sample seasonal cocktails created by more than a dozen local mixologists at the Chicago Reader's annual competition. This year's drink theme: nostalgia. Tickets also include appetizers and a chance to vote for your favorite.

Details: 7 p.m. Thursday at Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard St. $50. | Map

Films on the Lake
Movies in the Parks gets a French twist at this screening of Laurent Cantet's award-winning 2008 drama "Entre Les Murs" ("The Class"). Includes a pre-screening concert (6:30 p.m.) and free cheese and popcorn.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Harold Washington Park, 5200 S. Hyde Park Boulevard. Free. | Map 

West Loop Art Fest
Browse paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more from nearly 170 artists from across the country. Local restaurants sell food and drinks, live music includes Trippin Billies, Stache, Chicago Samba (Saturday); and 16 Candles, The Boy Band Night and 7th Heaven (Sunday).

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday along Washington Boulevard, between Halsted Street and Racine Avenue. $10 suggested donation. | Map 

Lakeview Taco Fest 
More than a dozen local bars and restaurants sell tacos stuffed with ingredients ranging from lemon-pepper shrimp to barbecue goat at the fourth annual fest sponsored by Sam Adams beer. Seasonal brews from Sam Adams are also available for purchase, in addition to Mexican wrestling shows at 5 p.m. daily, live music on two stages, kids activities and arts and crafts. Music highlights: Catfight, 97 Nine (Saturday); and Wedding Banned, Get Up With the Get Downs, Boy Band Review (Sunday).

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday along Southport Avenue, between Addison and Roscoe Streets. $7 suggested donation. | Map

Skip breakfast: Pack three meals into one at Taco Fest this weekend. (Courtesy Special Events Management)Skip breakfast: Pack three meals into one at Taco Fest this weekend. (Courtesy Special Events Management)

Urban Vines Wine Festival
Toast award-winning African-American winemakers during an afternoon tasting.

Details: 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center, 1060 E. 47th St. $35. | Map

Oaktoberfest
Celebrate the season with live music, seasonal craft beer and wine, local restaurants and family activities. Headliners: The Band of Heathens, The Black Lillies (Friday); Nikki Lane, Luke Winslow-King (Saturday).

Details: 4-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday at Marion Street and North Boulevard, Oak Park. Free. | Map

Fall color is on display this weekend in Oak Park and other area locations. (Quinn Dombrowski / Flickr)Fall color is on display this weekend in Oak Park and other area locations. (Quinn Dombrowski / Flickr)

Independence Park Beer Fest
Support the park and your thirst for craft beer at this third annual event. More than a dozen breweries participate, including Half Acre, Lagunitas, Lake Effect and Alarmist. Online ticket sales end 11 a.m. Saturday and include live music, beer and a tasting glass. Food from local trucks and event T-shirts available for purchase.

Details: 4-8 p.m. Saturday at Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield Ave. $40. | Map

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.


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