CHICAGO — Street festival season is back in Chicago this weekend, with Lincoln Park Mayfest hitting West Armitage Avenue on Saturday with live performances, an artisan market and food.
There are craft fairs in Andersonville and Lakeview, a “Save Our SNAP” Block Party in Lawndale and the opening of the 61st Street farmers market in Woodlawn.
You can also shop around Chicago’s curated vintage stores for national Vintage Store Day, catch the opening of “The Portal Project” in North Lawndale, hit the first Vibes on Logan celebration of the season — and much more.
Here’s a roundup of 24 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
All Weekend
Credit: Provided
Lottie’s Pub 92nd Anniversary
Thursday-Sunday, opening early at 9 a.m. Saturday
Lottie’s Pub, 1925 W. Cortland St., Bucktown
Lottie’s Pub is celebrating 92 years in Bucktown with Lottiepalooza — an all-weekend bash offering deals from Thursday-Sunday. On Thursday, the festivities get started with a Windy City Smokeout ticket giveaway; then on Friday, you can celebrate with a pre-party happy hour with free samples and giveaways.
On Saturday, there will be 92-cent draft beers all day long, and 92-cent burgers from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. On Sunday, a breakfast party features 92-cent mimosas, pancakes and 92 hits from 1992.
Find more information about the weekend lineup here.
Columbia College students preparing for their annual art showcase and commencement weekend. Credit: Provided
Columbia College Art Festival
Friday-Sunday various times
Various locations, South Loop
Columbia College is gearing up for commencement weekend with its creative homecoming, Convergence. The weekend festival follows the theme “Kaleidoscope,” honoring 25 years of Columbia’s signature arts festival. There will be live music, gallery exhibitions, film screenings, fashion shows and more — all celebrating the creativity of Columbia students and alumni.
Find more information about the free weekend programming here.
A previous Mayfest. Credit: Facebook
Lincoln Park Mayfest
4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday
West Armitage Avenue from North Racine Street to North Sheffield Avenue, Lincoln Park
Kick off summer at Lincoln Park’s annual Mayfest, where you can catch live music on two different stages, browse the artisan market and take your pick from different food stands. There will also be an area for kids with inflatables and a fine art market. There is a $10 suggested donation upon entry, which benefits RANCH Triangle Conservation Association. Find more information about Mayfest here.
Credit: Facebook
Hyde Park Garden Fair
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Kimbark Plaza Shopping Center, East 53rd Street and South Kimbark Avenue, Hyde Park
Chicago’s oldest community garden sale is back in Hyde Park, where you can chat with expert gardeners and gear up your plant and flower game for spring. Proceeds from the sale will go to a variety of organizations on the South Side.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
The Lincoln Roscoe craft fair is returning to Lakeview this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Lincoln Roscoe Art & Craft Fair
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
North Lincoln Avenue between West Roscoe Street and West Melrose Street, Lakeview
The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Lakeview are back with their annual art and craft fair running throughout the weekend. There will be nearly 90 artists selling everything from paintings to photography, as well as jewelry, fiber arts and other one-of-a-kind pieces. You can also catch live music, painting classes, festival food and drinks.
This is a free event with a $10 suggested donation toward Friends of Lakeview. Find more information here.
The Renegade Art Fair is returning to Andersonville this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Renegade Craft Fair
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
North Clark Street between West Bryn Mawr Avenue and West Edgewater Avenue, Andersonville
Shop small at Renegade Market in Andersonville this weekend, where over 250 vendors will take over Clark Street offering endless unique fare. Shop ceramics, leather goods, home decor, paper goods and much more. There will also be food like empanada stands, Italian ices and more.
Admission to the fair is free to the public. Find more information here.
Thursday
Credit: Provided
Half Acre Pizza Battle Final Four
5 p.m. Thursday
The Beer Temple, 3173 N. Elston Ave., Avondale
Half Acre and Dovetail are going head-to-head to win a spot in the Pizza Battle final. Each brewery will be dealing out a new pizza in collaboration with the Beer Temple pizza chef to pair with one of their beers. The winner will go against either Hop Butcher or Phase 3 — who are dueling on May 29. Don’t miss it; the creative pizzas will only be available for that night only.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Friday
Credit: Instagram
3:30-6 p.m. Friday
Yollocalli Fire Station, 2358 S. Whipple St., Little Village
Alumni from Yollocalli, the youth initative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, are offering free polaroid and digital portraits for you, your family or a loved one — all at no cost. There will also be supplies to decorate your new frame to display your portrait, along with a free torta bar for lunch for the perfect afternoon of community and art.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Enjoy free LED mini golf in North Center this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Free Mini Golf
7 p.m. Friday
North Center Town Square, 4100 N. Damen Ave., North Center
Go head-to-head in a free game of mini golf hosted by Chicago Putt Company. There will be nine holes of LED mini golf to enjoy with friends and family.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Saturday
Vintage Store Day
Various times, Saturday
Various locations
Saturday is national Vintage Store Day, and many of Chicago’s best vintage shops are participating with deals and more. Lost Girls Vintage has teamed up with New Lincoln Antique Mall to offer a trolley tour of six of Chicago’s curated vintage shops. Tickets will include transportation, Vintage Store Day merch, drinks, snacks and discounts at participating stores.
Find more information about the trolley tour and purchase tickets for $75 here. You can also find a full list of participating Vintage Store Day stores here.
Credit: Facebook
Pilsen Spring Sketch Walk
8:45-11:45 a.m., 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Harrison Park, northwest corner of West 19th Street and South Wolcott Avenue, Pilsen
Explore Pilsen with a sketchbook on a walk hosted by Urban Sketchers. There will be live demos with a “vibrant” theme to reflect the colorful neighborhood, opportunities to share your work with other artists and a lunch break. Stop by the park to pick up a name tag before heading out to draw. You can catch the morning and/or afternoon session.
Find more information about the sketch route and demo artists here.
Credit: Facebook
61st Street Farmers Market
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Woodlawn
The 61st Street Farmers Market is back for the season with over 30 vendors and a list of weekly rotating activities. Browse fresh produce, baked goods and more, then catch a chef demo, a sprout station and more. Plus, Black Stone Bicycle Works will have an open shop from 10 a.m.-noon.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
The Brew, 7101 S. Yates Blvd., South Shore
Neighbors can gather at The Brew for a community-centered discussion about development in the neighborhood due to a proposed quantum computing center at the former South Works site. Community members can join the Chicago Reader for conversation, free coffee and pastries and a moderated discussion by Grey Lucas, a Reader contributor.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
103rd Street 5k Peace Walk-Run-Ride
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Starts at Corliss High School, 821 E. 103rd St., Roseland
Join 773 runners for their inaugural run/walk/ride through the South Side. The run begins at Corliss High School in Roseland, then ends at Julian High School in Washington Heights. There will be a post-5K celebration that will welcome a new community garden to the neighborhood with live music and more fun activities.
This is a free event, find more information here.
Credit: Instagram
The Portal Project Exhibition Opening
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Starling By Duo, 3243 W. 16th St., North Lawndale
There’s a new art exhibit coming to Lawndale that brings together artists from Chicago, Mexico City and Mosul, Iraq. Stop by the opening reception for “Portal To Peace” to see works of art from around the world as it examines systemic violence and a road toward local and global peace. There will be free Chicago-style and Middle Eastern food, coffee, a live artist conversation and a DJ set.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Save Our SNAP Block Party
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday
Go Green Riot Plaza, 1201 W. 63rd St., Englewood
As 150,000 Illinois residents are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network are joining forces for a block party bash to offer support and education about the changes to SNAP benefits. There will be live performances by Nico Segal, Shawnee Dez, Heavy Crown and more, plus fresh meals provided by Cedars.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Cheryl Pope, “All There Is,” 2025, Roger Brown, Lake Effect, 1980. Credit: Instagram/The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Brown Family, Cheryl Pope, Ionit Behar
Cheryl Pope Gallery Talk
2-3:30 p.m. Saturday
Monique Meloche Gallery, 451 N. Paulina St., West Town
Cheryl Pope will be at Monique Meloche Gallery for a talk about her exhibit “All There Is.” Pope is an interdisciplinary artist exploring themes of intersection through sculpture, installation, performance, video and textile.
Catch the exhibit on its last day in the gallery and chat with the artist. Find more information here.
Borrowed Time: Urdu, Memory And The Lives We Build
7-9:30 p.m. Saturday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave., Near South Side
Join the South Asia Institute for a night of immersive and interactive Urdu storytelling. Wajiha Ibrahim from Words in Urdu will be presenting poetry and art to spark a conversation about memory, identity and guided reflection.
Find more information about Words in Urdu and purchase tickets for the event for $33.85 here.
Sunday
The Seedling Extravaganza at Revolution Brewing. Credit: Facebook
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Revolution Brewing, 3340 N. Kedzie Ave., Avondale
The Avondale Gardening Alliance is heading to the Revolution Brewing Taproom for a seedling sale. Sip a beer from the brewing company’s wide menu while picking up seeds to start your garden for the summer. There will be seedlings for peppers, herbs, tomatoes, seasonal flowers and more.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Buena Park Porchfest
2 p.m. Sunday
Various locations, Buena Park
Catch more than 27 musical acts as they take over 12 different porches and yards throughout Buena Park. Explore the neighborhood through music, with ticket proceeds supporting the musicians and Buena Park Neighbors, the community nonprofit. Bring a lawn chair, a drink and enjoy the music.
Find more information about the lineup and purchase tickets from $12-15 here.
Credit: Instagram
Vibes On Logan
2-7 p.m. Sunday
West Logan Boulevard and North Rockwell Street, Logan Square
Vibes on Logan is back for the summer with the first installment of their outdoor concert series. Catch performances from a wide lineup of DJs spinning everything from boogie to dance music. There will also be food trucks and vendors. You can look out for the series to continue throughout the summer, including on June 14, July 12, Aug. 2 and 23 and Sept. 13.
This is a free event. Find more information here.
Explore small businesses and enjoy wine with the Andersonville wine walk. Credit: Provided
Andersonville Spring Wine Walk
3-6 p.m. Sunday
Check-in location: 5344 N. Clark St., Andersonville
Spend Sunday afternoon sipping and strolling through Andersonville with a spring wine walk. This year’s rendition is offering three different wine routes to discover the best sips in the neighborhood while supporting a variety of small businesses. The “Maenad” route is exclusively non-alcoholic lineup.
Tickets for the alcohol-based routes are $50, and $25 for the non-alcoholic route. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Credit: Facebook
Sip Around The World Wine Walk
3-6:30 p.m. Sunday
Edison Park Train Station, 6730 N. Olmsted Ave., Edison Park
Enjoy red and white wine pours while exploring local Edison Park businesses with an evening wine stroll. Check in at the local train station to get a wine tote, a commemorative wine glass and a tasting ticket. If you hit every location on the route, you’re entered to win a raffle for a gift certificate.
Find more information and purchase tickets for $50 here.
Credit: Instagram
Pocha Night
5-9 p.m. Sunday
Parachute HiFi, 3500 N. Elston Ave., Avondale
Hopewell Brewing is headed to Parachute HiFi for Pocha Night, a bash with Korean lager, food and records. There will be Hopewell pocha on draft, somaek (a soju-beer-combo), a snack on the house and music all night long — with all proceeds going toward Kan-Win, an Asian American outreach program working to eradicate gender-based violence.
This is a free event with spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find more information here.
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