CHICAGO — Things are heating up — and we don’t just mean the temps. Summer in the city is in full swing and it’s the perfect time to take an urban adventure.
You can check out a variety of running and biking activities, learn about birds and other local wildlife and practice outdoor yoga this month. There is no shortage of ways to make the most of what’s left of Chicago’s warm weather — capped off by the popular Bike the Drive event on Labor Day weekend.
Here are 16 community-led outdoor events happening in and around the city in August:
A paved path at Big Marsh Park in South Deering on Aug. 9, 2022. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Chicago BIPOC Birders: Bird Banding at Big Marsh Park
7-10 a.m. Aug. 1
Big Marsh Park, 11559 S. Stony Island Ave.
Join Chicago BIPOC Birders for a Friday morning birding event at Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s South Side. Attendees will get an up-close look at the bird banding station at the park. Chicago BIPOC Birders is a grassroots community that hosts gatherings for BIPOC birders across Chicago. This is a free and beginner-friendly event. Families are also welcome to join (children do not need to RSVP). Register in advance online.
1:30 p.m. Aug. 2
Departs from Jarvis Square Red Line Stop, 1523 W Jarvis Ave.
Bike to the beach and cool off with Femmes + Thems, an inclusive and empowering community of women, femme, nonbinary and/or trans-identifying bikers. This 9-mile community bike ride to Hollywood Beach departs from Jarvis Square in Rogers Park. The ride ends at the beach for a ‘They Beach’ party, a community movement for trans, nonbinary and queer folks to gather, connect and have fun. No registration is required.
Wild Mile Chicago, a floating eco-park located on the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, amid its expansion on Aug. 15, 2024. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
5-6 p.m. Aug. 3
The Wild Mile, 905 W. Eastman St.
Practice yoga on a floating, public eco-park created by Urban Rivers, whose mission is to restore wild habitat along the river. Surrounded by native gardens and urban wildlife, this morning yoga session offers a grounding start to your week in a truly unique outdoor space. Hosted by The Intuitive Lens, 20 percent of ticket sales will go directly to support Urban Rivers’ ongoing river conservation efforts. Individual class tickets are $15. Purchase tickets in advance online.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: Bugapalooza
1-4 p.m. Aug. 4
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive
Bug lovers, rejoice — Bugapalooza is back and buggier than ever! At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, you can visit the bug zoo to meet native insects and spiders up close. They’ll also have a petting zoo for even closer critter encounters. Attendees can chat with an entomologist, catch an insect pinning demo and grab a net and explore the prairie to uncover the many tiny creatures that live within the city. Purchase tickets for $20-$30 in advance online.
Families splash in Lake Michigan on a hot Friday afternoon at Rainbow Park Beach in South Shore on June 4, 2021. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Out Our Front Door: Monthly Hang at Rainbow Beach Park
7:30-10 p.m. Aug. 5
Rainbow Beach Park, 3111 E. 77th St.
Ride down to Rainbow Beach Park to meet up and hang out with fellow city-based bikers and local bikepacking group Out Our Front Door. This month’s gathering will provide brief announcements from the organization, discuss upcoming group rides and trips and share a fun fact about the ecology or history of the meetup location. Tickets to the event are free. RSVP online.
Chicago Park District: Toddlers, Tunes and Turtles
5-7 p.m. Aug. 6
Sherwood (Jesse) Park, 5701 S. Shields Ave.
Toddlers, Tunes and Turtles welcomes little adventurers and their families to get outside and discover the wonders of Sherwood (Jesse) Park. This fun-filled outdoor program invites families to explore nature together through hands-on turtle encounters, playful scavenger hunts and lively music from the Old Town School of Folk Music. No RSVP required.
Fishing off of the dock at Canal Origins Park. Credit: Facebook
Chicago Park District: Family Fishing at Canal Origins
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 9
Canal Origins Park, 2701 S. Ashland Ave.
Head out to a lesser-visited access point along the Chicago River for a fun, family-friendly fishing experience while learning about local fish species and the ecosystems they call home. All participants must be at least 8 years old, and each session provides instruction, equipment and bait. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No advanced registration is required.
The West Lagoon around Wooded Island in Jackson Park on Aug. 26, 2021. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Chicago Bird Alliance: Wooded Island Birding Outing
8-10 a.m. Aug. 16
Jackson Park, 6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
Head out with the Chicago Bird Alliance for bird watching at Jackson Park. Every Saturday morning, bird watchers meet up to walk the park and look for local species. The group wanders two miles through Wooded Island and Bobolink Meadow on this inclusive and relaxing community stroll. Bring binoculars and field guides, and dress for the weather. Meet up at the west side of the Columbia Basin (north lagoon) at 8 a.m. Park on Stony Island, near 59th street, walk east across the parkland area, then cross Cornell Drive to reach the spot. No RSVP is required.
You can head outside and volunteer at the South Shore Nature Sanctuary this month. Credit: Maxwell Evans/Block Club Chicago
South Shore Nature Sanctuary: Volunteer Stewardship Day
10 a.m.-noon Aug. 16
South Shore Nature Sanctuary, 7059 S. South Shore Drive
Give back with volunteer stewardship at the South Shore Nature Sanctuary, a six-acre natural area and urban wilderness preserve. Volunteer stewardship days at this South Side nature sanctuary are held from April to October, on the third Saturday of each month. The event also includes a special intro to birding workshop with the Feminist Bird Club Chicago. All ages are welcome. Volunteers should bring a water bottle and weather-appropriate clothing, and tools and gloves will be provided. Registration details will be shared online closer to the event.
The Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont, Ill., is throwing a Hummingbird Fest this month. Credit: Facebook
Forest Preserves of Cook County: Hummingbird Fest
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 16
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W. 111th St., Lemont
Hummingbird Fest takes flight at the beautiful Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in suburban Lemont. Watch in awe as ruby-throated hummingbirds are gently captured and banded by expert Vern Kleen, one of Illinois’ few licensed bird banders. This unique, hands-on experience offers a fascinating window into hummingbird migration and conservation efforts. Admission is free. No advanced registration is needed.
Eris Brewery and Cider House, 4240 W. Irving Park Road, on Dec. 11, 2024. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez/Block Club Chicago
Illinois Brewery Running Series: ERIS Brewery & Cider House
9:30 a.m. Aug. 17
ERIS Brewery and Cider House, 4240 W. Irving Park Road
If beer and running are your thing, don’t miss out on the Illinois Brewery Running Series August 5K. The fun run starts and ends at ERIS Brewery & Cider House in Irving Park. Participants of all experience levels can run, walk or jog – anything goes! Registration is $47 for the run and post-race beer; $70 for the run, post-race beer and running series t-shirt. Register in advance online.
The Fountain Girl statue in Lincoln Park. Credit: Facebook
Chicago History Museum: Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains Bike Tour
2:30-4:30 p.m. Aug. 24
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
Explore the fountains of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side with Greg Borzo, author of Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains. The 1.5 to 2-hour tour will travel 5 miles at a leisurely pace through Lincoln Park and end in Streeterville, with stops including the Fountain Girl, Children’s Fountain, Jane Byrne Plaza Fountain and Garth Fountain. Chicago is home to more than 130 outdoor public fountains, and many of them have stories to tell. This is your chance to learn the stories behind their history — by bike! Purchase tickets in advance: $25 for non-members, $22.50 for museum members. RSVP online.
Tippecanoe River State Park in Winamac, Ind. Credit: Facebook
Outsiders Chicago: River Tubing Adventure
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 24
Depart from Brooklyn Boulders, 100 S. Morgan St.
Cool off on a river float with Outsiders Chicago, a group that hosts adventures in and around the city and the Midwest. You’ll enjoy a scenic, lazy and fun trip floating down the Tippecanoe River in Winamac, Indiana. During the three-hour trip, relax with friends and a drink in hand, provided by Outsiders Chicago. Transportation to and from the event, lunch and drinks are included with your ticket. A portion of the proceeds will go toward raising funds for Gardeneers. Book your spot for $105 online.
Common nighthawk populations are on the decline around the country, but a group of volunteer researchers in Chicago are looking for clues for what would make them thrive here. Credit: Nick Myatt / Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Chicago Ornithological Society: Nighthawk Watch at Horner Park
7-9 p.m. Aug. 26-31 (final date TBD)
Horner Park, 2756 W. Irving Park Road
Attend the Chicago Ornithological Society‘s second annual Nighthawk Watch, a twilight stakeout to witness the dramatic migration of common nighthawks across the evening sky. This awe-inspiring display is weather-dependent. The event will be held on one of five potential dates — 7 p.m. Aug. 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 or 30 — depending on the forecast. RSVPs are required and crucial. Registrants will receive a confirmation email about the final date roughly 24 hours in advance based on the forecast. Pre-registration is required for the bird walk. RSVP online.
The Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie In Lisle, Ill. Credit: Facebook
Out Our Front Door: Morton Arboretum Day Ride
7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Aug. 29
Depart from Roos Recreation Center, 7329 Harrison St., Forest Park
Start your weekend early and ride to the Morton Arboretum with local adventure cycling group, Out Our Front Door. The group will start the ride in Oak Park and cruise the Illinois Prairie Path, stopping in Glen Ellyn for breakfast along the way. At the Arboretum, enjoy a guided tree walk and behind-the-scenes tour of the research center: Gateway to Tree Science. The 22-mile out-and-back ride (44 miles total) is perfect for nature lovers and cyclists alike. Entry into the Morton Arboretum for the group is free. Purchase a ticket for $9 in advance online.
Active Transportation Alliance: Bike the Drive
6:30-10:30 a.m. Aug. 31
Various starting points on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
This annual bike ride transforms DuSable Lake Shore Drive into a community bike path for cyclists to enjoy. Bike the Drive is a car-free cyclist’s paradise, allowing you to pedal along the stunning lakefront scenery at your own pace. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Adult tickets are $64 for Active Transportation members and $74 for non-member adults, and $18 for kids. The first 2,500 adult registrants receive a free T-shirt. Register in advance, view the route and learn more about entry point details online.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: