Midsommar maypole. (Timmy Samuel / Starbelly Studios)
1. Frolic
Dance around the maypole at Midsommarfest, which returns this weekend for the 57th year. You’ll find five stages, dozens of vendors, drag performances, a pet parade and kids’ activities. New this year is a roller-skating rink; walk-ups are welcome, but tickets can be purchased in advance.
Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (with an hour for those who are immunocompromised from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday) on Clark Street from Foster Avenue to Gregory Street. $10 suggested donation / MAP
Looking for more events? The Chicago Blues Festival, Old Town Art Fair, Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas and Lincoln Square Greek Fest all return this weekend. Check out those and more of the season’s upcoming festivals in our 2023 Chicago Summer Festival Guide.
2. Celebrate
The Chicago Public Library is commemorating its 150th anniversary with free events across the city. There’ll be everything from concerts and a traveling zoo to improv sessions and art workshops.
Details: Times and locations vary Saturday. Pre-registration required for several events.
3. Discover
Celebrate the Art of Pride at the Hyde Park Art Center with an afternoon of performances and artmaking with LGBTQ+ artists. Shop local vendors and bring an item to be printed by Marimacha Monarca Press.
Details: noon-4 p.m. Sunday at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Free / MAP
4. Roar
To celebrate its new 46-foot Spinosaurus, the Field Museum is hosting Dino Fest. The event features activities for all ages, including trivia games, a scavenger hunt and dino crafts. Dinosaur-themed attire is encouraged.
Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Field Museum, 1400 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Included with basic museum admission. $18-30 adults; discounts available for children, seniors and students / MAP
5. Clap
The South Chicago Dance Theatre is presenting “Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley,” a tribute to Chicago jazz music history. Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Jazz in the Alley on Chicago’s South Side was a popular meeting place for some of the country’s best performers. This weekend’s show will feature live music from Isiah Collier & The Chosen Few.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive. $33-77 / MAP
Left: Taylor Yocum. Right: Kim Davis and Isaiah Collier. (Michelle Reid / South Chicago Dance Theatre)
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.
