For the first time in seven years, NASCAR will be returning to the 1.5-mile speedway in Joliet with an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on July 4, 2026 and a Cup Series race scheduled for July 5.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Arts of Life is a place where creative people with intellectual and developmental disabilities produce works of art and earn an income. Now their colorful work fills the gallery at the Design Museum of Chicago in a group exhibition called “Community on the Make: Arts of Life 2000-2025.”

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the dog days of summer actually ended on Aug. 11. So where are we now — the hot dog days? The dog-tired days? This week’s cultural offerings are a doggone delightful six-pack of opportunities both sublime and slightly silly.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Chicago’s bungalows may be modest in size, but that doesn’t keep their owners from having grand ambitions when it comes to gardening.

Bishop Yehiel Curry will start his new role in October. “In many ways, this is an example of the church saying, ‘We see you,’” Curry said.

If you want to laugh, hear new sounds or simply watch a parade with Priscilla Presley and Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, we’ve got you covered. And if you think we’re joking about that last one, read on.

The great-great-grandnephew of John Mills Van Osdel — Chicago’s first architect — toured the glorious Church of the Holy Family interior designed by his relative in the mid-19th century.

The sculpture is made of 800 pounds of unsalted butter spread across a wire frame. This year’s iteration depicts a cow accompanied by an “adventurer seeking hidden treasure across the fairgrounds.” The theme for this year’s fair is “Adventure Awaits.”

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference will be held Aug. 21-24. Events are set to take place at Millennium Park and other areas of downtown. Events are free and open to the public.

Lori Cannon was known for her advocacy work with ACT UP Chicago, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, in the 1980s. It was during that time, she also co-founded Open Hand Chicago, an in-home meal delivery program for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a cornerstone of American culture for three generations, announced Friday it would take steps toward its own closure after being defunded by Congress — marking the end of a nearly six-decade era.

Baseball’s biggest names will be heading to the Friendly Confines in July 2027 as Wrigley Field is set to host the MLB All-Star game for the first time in more than 30 years.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will give one-time emergency grants between $10,000 to $25,000 to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Chicago that have experienced recent federal funding cuts.