1. Stuff
Get your fill of stuffed tortillas at the Lakeview Taco Fest, where more than a dozen local vendors serve up the dish of the day, including Café Tola, Flaco’s Tacos, Taco Joint, Tacos Nietos and others. About a dozen seasonal beers on tap from Sam Adams help you wash it all down. The fifth annual fest also includes two stages of live music, plus arts and crafts and kids games and activities.
Music highlights include The Funk Crusaders, Too White Crew, Girl Power Night, Boy Band Review (Saturday); Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press,16 Candles, Rico, 97 Nine (Sunday).
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday along Southport Avenue, from Addison to Roscoe streets. $10 suggested donation. / MAP
2. Rock
You powered through Pitchfork. Ran laps at Lollapalooza. Now it’s time to ramp up once again for Riot Fest. The three-day, all-ages event returns to Douglas Park with headlining sets from Nine Inch Nails, New Order, A Day to Remember, Dirty Heads, Vic Mensa, Ministry (Friday); Queens of the Stone Age, Wu-Tang Clan, Mike D, At the Drive-In, Danzig, Gogol Bordello (Saturday); Jawbreaker, Paramore, Prophets of Rage, M.I.A., TV On The Radio, Dinosaur Jr. (Sunday).
Extras: Food vendors, carnival rides, lockers (reserve them here). Re-entry not permitted.
Details: 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday at Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive. $75-$80 daily; $200 3-day pass; VIP options available. / MAP
3. Enter
Peek inside dozens of art studios, galleries and even breweries during the 16th annual Ravenswood Art Walk. The showcase of the neighborhood’s creative side—which includes a peek at Century Mallet—also features a street festival (Ravenswood and Berteau avenues) with a market, two stages of live music, kids activities, food trucks and a craft beer garden featuring Begyle Brewing.
Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday along Ravenswood Avenue, from Irving Park Road to Leland Avenue. $5 suggested donation for festival entry. / MAP
4. Inspect
Sample the work of dozens of craft beer makers and microbreweries at the third annual Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest, featuring Revolution Brewing, New Belgium, Lagunitas, Half Acre, Founders, Allagash, Empirical, Goose Island Beer Co. and others. Tickets include 18 3-oz. samples, a commemorative tasting glass and snacks. Live music and food vendors round it out. Rain or shine.
Details: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. $50-$65; $20 “designated driver” tickets available. / MAP
5. Roll with it
Combine your love of the outdoors with your love of adult beverages at Birds, Bikes and Beer. The event, hosted by Friends of Big Marsh, includes birding walks at the 278-acre park—the largest natural area in the Chicago Park District’s holdings—plus bicycle instructions, tours of the bike park and beer from Lagunitas Brewing Company.
Details: 1-9 p.m. Saturday at Big Marsh, 11599 S. Stony Island Ave. Free; donations accepted. / MAP
6. Refresh
Browse works of art along a four-block stretch of Fulton Street at the West Loop Art Fest. More than 120 artists from across the country participate in the third annual event, which also features dozens of live music acts, street entertainers, food trucks, art demonstrations—including glass blowing demos—and an art project for kids. In addition, artist Rich Alapack creates a giant globe mosaic on Lake Street. (You can participate in the globe, and get a print of the finished project, for a fee.)
Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday (art booths close at 7 p.m. nightly) along Fulton Street, from Morgan Street to Racine Avenue. Free. / MAP
7. Cackle
Stand-up comedian Brandie Posey headlines the fifth annual Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival, a showcase of comedy ranging from stand-up to cabaret to musical improv and sketch comedy. Expect a variety of performances Thursday through Saturday; Sunday programming includes workshops, panel discussions and games.
Details: Performances start at 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 5 p.m. Saturday; times Sunday TBA at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. $15 per show; $45-$75 for 1-day pass; $85-$100 all-festival pass. / MAP
8. Take stock
The Chicago Architecture Biennial returns for a second year to highlight the work of contemporary architects from around the globe. This year’s theme is described as an invitation to the more than 140 participants to “Make New History.” At the Chicago Cultural Center—CAB’s main hub—the rooms, galleries and hallways are transformed into “unique viewing experiences,” organizers say. Among the highlights: an exploration of the 1922 Chicago Tribune Tower competition in which participants reimagine the landmark building; an exhibition of innovative architectural photography; and scale-model dioramas that reconsider the interiors of iconic buildings.
In addition to the Chicago Cultural Center, CAB includes exhibitions at six museums and institutions across the city, including the DuSable Museum of African American History, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the DePaul Art Museum.
Details: Saturday through Jan. 7. Main hub: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Free. / MAP
9. Caffeinate
As we reported Wednesday, this year’s Art Expo Chicago is the most global edition yet, with more than 135 galleries represented by 25 countries and 58 cities from around the world, from Amsterdam to Zurich. Additional highlights include a section dedicated to emerging artists and the off-site exhibition “Singing Stones,” developed in partnership with the Palais de Tokyo, on display at the Roundhouse at the DuSable Museum.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave. $20; $40 for a 4-day pass. / MAP
Video: Tony Karman, president and director of Expo Chicago 2017, joins us in discussion.
10. Travel
It’s a far cry from Munich, but Berwyn’s Oktoberfest takes pride in kicking off its sudsy celebration on the same day as the German original. The two-day party just west of the city includes live music, an international food court, carnival rides, family entertainment and—not to be forgotten—a beer garden stocked with seasonal selections and other brews. Band highlights: R-Gang, 16 Candles (Friday); Hello Weekend, Tributosaurus Becomes The Rolling Stones (Saturday).
Details: 6-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday at Windsor and Grove avenues, Berwyn. Free. / 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.