CHICAGO — The end of January is quickly approaching as February begins this weekend, with a Valentine’s Market hosted by Vintage House Chicago. There are also plenty of other indoor markets around the city, like a vegan street food pop-up and a Ravenswood makers market.
Those looking forward to warmer days ahead can stop by the seed swap in Kilbourn Park to start planning for gardening season or warm up with a cider at the 12th annual Cider Summit.
There’s also a chili cook-off, a Fleetwood Mac tribute and a THC-infused soul food pop-up.
Here’s a roundup of 22 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
All Weekend
Valentine’s Market
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell St.
Vintage House Chicago is kicking off Valentine’s Day celebrations early with their largest market of the year featuring 120 different vendors rotating throughout the weekend. The bi-monthly vintage and handmade outfit showcases Chicago makers. Stop by for a unique gift for a loved one or treat yourself for the day of love.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
Friday
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Oooh Wee It Is! x Prohibition THCafe Food Event
Noon-10 p.m. Friday
Prohibition THCafe, 2113 S. State St.
Oooh Wee It Is! and Prohibition THCafe are collaborating for one day and one day only on a THC-infused soul food plate. Indulge in jerk chicken, mac and cheese, greens, yams and even pot-roast cupcakes — all infused with THC.
Pre-order and valid 21-plus ID is required for purchase. More information can be found here.
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“Good” Stand-Up Comedy Showcase
7 p.m. Friday
The Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago comedian Greg Kennedy will host his first edition of “Good,” a comedy stand-up showcase highlighting the Chicago comedy scene, featuring “good comedians performing good” at one of the city’s most acclaimed comedy clubs. Comedians include Josh Ocean Thomas, Lucia Whelan and more.
Tickets for $14.89 can be purchased here.
Fleetwood Mac tribute band Second Hand News plays the Beverly Arts Center this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Second Hand News Fleetwood Mac Tribute
7:30 p.m. Friday
Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.
Popular Second Hand News tribute band will bring the experience of a Fleetwood Mac concert to Beverly Arts Center for the third year in a row. These local musicians come together to perform some of the band’s greatest hits along with deep cuts for longtime fans.
Tickets for $35.50-$38.50 can be purchased here.
The Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble
7:30 p.m. Friday
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 6021 S. Drexel Ave.
The Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble is coming to the University of Chicago for an evening of music combining indigenous musical traditions and jazz. The ensemble honors the untold legacy of Native jazz pioneers while producing new and bold sounds.
Tickets from $47 can be purchased here.
Saturday
Vin Chicago is holding a massive sale this weekend. Credit: Facebook
Wine Sale
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Vin Chicago, 1826 N. Elston Ave.
Vin Chicago — the Chicago Reader’s Best Wine Shop of 2024 winner — is hosting a massive wine sale featuring over 200 discounted wines, along with beers and spirits. There will be picks from under $10 up to $200, with a chance to save up to 50 percent.
Find more information here.
Credit: Facebook
Aunt Lizzie’s Bakery Pop-Up
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Calabria Imports, 1905 W. 103rd St.
Aunt Lizzie’s Home Baked Goods will be at Calabria Imports this weekend offering a wide array of cookies, cakes and other baked goods inspired by the recipes of the owner’s mother and grandmother. Pre-order is available.
More information can be found here.
Credit: Facebook
Viennese Beer Hall
Noon-6 p.m. Saturday
Dovetail Brewery, 1800 W. Belle Plaine Ave.
Get cozy with Dovetail Brewery’s last beer hall of their Beer Hall Month as they take you into the café culture of Vienna. Enjoy Vienna lager and a brand-new Dovetail beer paying tribute to Viennese flavors, along with a pop-up by ceramic coffee rosters, an open mic for short readings and a special Viennese-inspired menu.
More information can be found here.
Credit: Facebook
Seed Swap
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
Kilbourn Park Fieldhouse Auditorium, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., 2nd Floor
It’s time to start planning your 2026 gardens with the Kilbourn Park Greenhouse seed swap. Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois will be there to answer any seed and gardening questions while enjoying the park’s seed offerings, including native, vegetables, herbs, flowers and more. Bringing your own seeds is optional.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
Credit: Instagram
Ravenswood Makers Market
1-6 p.m. Saturday
KOVAL Distillery, 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave.
I Heart Indie Markets is hosting a pop-up at KOVAL Distillery offering a wide variety of locally and handmade goods from independent artists. Shop jewelry, fiber art, paintings, candles and more for a thoughtful Valentine’s gift.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
A participant at a previous Cider Summit tastes some different beverages. Credit: Gosia Matuszewska
Cider Summit
2 p.m. Saturday
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
The nation’s largest cider tasting is back this weekend at Navy Pier for the 12th year with over 125 different ciders, cider cocktails and spirits to try along with cupcakes to pair perfectly with different artisanal ciders. A portion of ticket sales will go to the nonprofit The Evolved Network.
Tickets from $37.54 can be purchased here.
Credit: Instagram
Begyle & Friends Winter Party
6-11 p.m. Saturday
Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Have an excuse to leave your home in the cold weather with a winter party featuring dozens of local breweries and cideries, distilleries and cocktail experts, along with food trucks from El Zorro, Barry’s Sweets and more. The party will include live music, good vibes and lots of beer.
Tickets for this 21-plus event are $78.33 and can be purchased here.
Credit: Instagram
“Melt The Ice” Hat Knit-A-Long
6:30 p.m. Saturday
Loaves and Witches, 6034 N. Broadway
Fiber artists can join the hat knit-a-long at Loaves and Witches this weekend benefiting ICIRR and Community Aid Network.
There will be a raffle offering a free class taught by knitter Maggie Tinks, and 20 percent of yarn and tool sales will be donated. A small selection of materials will be available, but knitters and crocheters are encouraged to bring their own supplies.
Patterns for the Melt The Ice hat can be purchased here.
More information about Sunday’s event can be found here.
R&B Night Paint & Sip
7:30-10 p.m. Saturday
Lux Accents Studios, 3700 S. Iron St.
Lux Accent Studios is pairing with DJ Juan G for an R&B paint and sip night. Paint a colorful boombox in a two-hour guided paint session while listening to your favorite R&B hits and sipping your preferred beverage. This is a BYOB event, and bringing your own snacks is permitted.
Tickets are $60 for this 21-plus event and can be purchased here.
Sunday
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Jefferson Park Sunday Market
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
Gateway Theater at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
Farmers market season doesn’t have to end just because it’s winter. The Jefferson Park Sunday Market is back this weekend offering an array of seasonal produce, canned goods, fresh meat and local vendors selling gifts. There will also be live music.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
Credit: Instagram
Igor Does My Bike Anniversary Party
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
5454 N. Broadway
Igor Does My Bike will be celebrating its second anniversary with a party and sale lasting all day Sunday. The all-ages event will be serving coffee and pastries in the morning, a kids crafts and storytime hour, followed by tacos for lunch and a fix-a-flat class. There will also be a free raffle, live music, closed out by pizza and dancing. Merch will be 50 percent off, and there will be special deals on used and new bikes.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
Winter Fest
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
The Beer Temple, 3173 N. Elston Ave.
Celebrate winter in Chicago instead of avoiding it with the Beer Temple’s third annual Winterfest featuring special cask beers, fire-grilled goods and plenty of cozy fires to keep you warm.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
Credit: Instagram
Star Maker Market
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Mindful Baking, 4201 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Mindful Baking is hosting a food market pop-up showcasing vegan street food, desserts and live music. The indoor street-food market will have multiple vendors and tattoos by local Ravenswood tattoo shop Hidden Light, plus live music and DJ sets.
This is a free event. More information can be found here.
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Sounds Of Sumud
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Co-Prosperity, 3219 S. Morgan St.
Join Vinyl Break for a community-centered fundraiser offering a space to connect through music, coffee and culture. The event will include live DJ sets from local artists like DJ Nanoos, along with vendors and small businesses. All ticket sales will go to the Martyr Dr. Saeed Muhammad Al-Fayoumi School in Gaza.
Tickets for $15 can purchased here.
Credit: Instagram
Real Men Cook Chicken & Chili Cookoff
4 p.m. Sunday
The Quarry Event Center, 2423 E. 75th St.
The annual Real Men Cook chicken and chili cook-off is back this weekend, where local cooks compete to see who can whip up the best chicken and chili. Guests will get to vote and help crown a winner of the two classic categories, with proceeds going to Real Men Charities. Come hungry.
Tickets for $25 can be purchased here.
20×2 Chicago Variety Show
7 p.m. Sunday
GMan Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St.
Stop by the 20×2 What Can You Do Show, where different creatives get two minutes to answer the question of the day. Sunday’s question is “What can you do?” Join musicians, food journalists, magicians and more as they answer.
Tickets for this 21-plus event are $20 and can be purchased here.
The Karim Nagi & Huzam Ensemble.
Credit: Facebook
Karim Nagi & Huzam Ensemble
7-9 p.m. Sunday
Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave.
The Huzam Ensemble led by Egyptian percussionist and composer Karim Nagi will be at the Epiphany Center for the Arts this weekend to perform traditional and original music from different Arab regions and genres. The ensemble celebrates the beauty of Arab music and culture with a group of Chicago musicians.
Tickets are $24.72 for adults and $14.42 for those under 18 and can be purchased here.
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