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El Grito, Ravenswood ArtWalk and Hyde Park Pizza Fest

CHICAGO — With the return of warm weather, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the last, fleeting weeks of summer. This weekend, there are Bronzeville Summer Nights, Mexican Independence Day parades, the El Grito festival in Grant Park, the Ravenswood ArtWalk and more.

But even if you've already pulled out your cable knit sweaters and fall decor, you can still get into the fall spirit with the Norwood Park Fall Fest, a fall walk to the bird migrations at Leone Beach Park, and an end-of-summer garden party at Fire Station Park.

Here's a roundup of 16 things to do in Chicago this weekend:

The whole weekend

A previous edition of the Norwood Park Fall Fest, hosted annually in September by the Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce. Credit: Fall Festival at Norwood Park

Fall Festival at Norwood Park

Friday 4pm-10pm and Saturday 12pm-10pm

Between Northwest Highway and Raven to Newark and Centennial Park

Fall is upon us and Norwood Park celebrates the changing of the seasons with its annual Fall Festival. Visitors can enjoy live performances of country, rock and blues, food from Chicago restaurants, alcohol, vendor booths from local vendors and a family zone with activities for children.

A donation of $7 is requested upon admission. Parking is limited. For more information, click here.

Halfway to the St. Patrick's Day Festival

Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Irish American Cultural Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.

St. Patrick's Day 2025 is six months away and the Irish American Heritage Center is celebrating with three days of music, dance and cultural festivities. There will be performances by Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums, The Chancey Brothers, Kila and more. Sunday also begins with a mass at 10 a.m. and an Irish breakfast at 11 a.m.

Tickets are free on Friday and are $10 online or $15 at the door. You can register online, find the full schedule and learn more here.

A booth at a past edition of the Ravenswood ArtWalk. Credit: Provided

Ravenswood ArtWalk

Saturday and Sunday 11am–6pm

Along Ravenswood Avenue, from Lawrence Avenue south to Irving Park Road

The Ravenswood ArtWalk is an annual celebration of local artists and makers. There are open studios and galleries, live music and dance, public art, an outdoor art market, two indoor art markets, food truck dining, a beer garden and more.

There will also be performances by Prairie Roots, Of Wondrous Legends (OWL), Jonas Friddle and Andrew Wilkins Bluegrass Duo, James Sanders and Conjunto and more.

For more information and a full list of performances and participants, click here.

Musician and participant of a previous Lakeview East Festival for the Arts. Credit: Provided

Lakeview East Festival for the Arts

Saturday and Sunday 11am–7pm

Along Broadway from Belmont Avenue to Hawthorne Place

The 19th annual Lakeview East Festival of the Arts features more than 120 artists, local cuisine, live music, kids' activities and more.

Find out more here.

Ballet Folklórico de Chicago, the largest Mexican folkloric dance company in the Midwest, performs for El Grito Chicago on Sunday in Grant Park. Credit: Courtesy of El Grito Chicago

Chicago

2pm–10pm Saturday and Sunday

Grant Park, 350 E. Monroe St.

Chicago's annual El Grito festival, a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, returns this weekend, featuring cultural performances, Mexican food, merchandise, family-friendly activities, bounce houses and more. It's the first festival held downtown in over a decade.

General admission tickets are $10 for one day and $18 for two days. VIP tickets are also available for $100-175. You can purchase them and find more information about El Grito here.

Thursday

Lincoln Park Uncorked takes place on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Credit: Courtesy of Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce/Shon Gibbs

Lincoln Park Uncorked: A Wine Walk on Lincoln Avenue

6pm-9pm Thursday

Lincoln Avenue from Diversey to Webster

At Lincoln Park Uncorked, attendees can explore the shops on Lincoln Avenue as they transform into pop-up tasting rooms for Vin Chicago wines and small bites from local restaurants. Check-in is at Junior Chefs Kitchen, 2448 N. Lincoln Ave., where wine walkers can pick up their complimentary wine glass and tasting guide, which serves as their ticket.

Tickets are $60 online and $65 at the door. You can purchase them and learn more here.

Friday

Bronzeville Summer Nights

Friday, 5pm-9pm

Various companies and locations in Bronzeville

Walk the neighborhood, ride a bike, or take the Bronzeville Summer Nights Trolley to experience local businesses, community, and culture at this monthly summer event—the last of the year. There will be live performances by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Javon Watson Experience, March'e Blu, Peoples Music School, and more.

A list of performances, participating companies, special offers and free tickets can be found online.

Sounds of solidarity: coffee, conversation, solidarity

Friday, 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Nabala Cafe, 4660 N. Broadway

This community event at Nabala Café features “live music and good vibes.” Participants are invited to enjoy coffee and tea, bring friends, meet neighbors, or curl up with a book from the café’s community library.

Participation in this event is free and registration is not required.

Saturday

Headliners for the 4th Annual Englewood Music Festival include Twista, Waka Flocka Flame, Kelly Price, Lenny Williams and Ron Carroll. Credit: Englewood Music Festival/Facebook

Englewood Music Festival

Saturday, 12.00–19.00

Kennedy-King College Baseball Field, 64th and Halsted Street

This South Side fest is returning for the fourth year in a new location. Headliners for the free event include Twista, a West Side native and one of the fastest English-speaking rappers in the world; Waka Flocka Flame, known for the hits “O Let's Do It” and “No Hands”; and R&B and gospel singer Kelly Price.

The day-long event also includes an art village where neighbors of all ages can paint a mural and participate in a public artwork by artist Eric Kotchkiss.

Click here for more information and to register.

Chicago residents can go birdwatching with the Sam Leone Beach Park Advisory Council. Credit: Provided/Sam Leone Beach Park Advisory Council

Autumn migration with birds from the migration

8-9:30 am Saturday

Leone Beach Park, 1222 W. Touhy Ave.

Birders of all experience levels are welcome to join the Sam Leone Beach Park Advisory Council for a bird walk as the birds migrate through Chicago ahead of the fall season. The walk is led by experienced local birders Scott Judd and John Cawood, who lead groups of all ages and experience levels.

Participants are asked to dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars. In the event of rain, the walk will be rescheduled for 8am on Sunday. For more information, click here.

The Ramova Theater reopened to the public at the end of 2023 after standing empty for decades. Credit: Provided

Home Brewer's Ball

2pm Saturday

Ramova Theater, 3520 S. Halsted St.

Chicago's leading homebrewer association, the CHAOS Brew Club, is hosting its Homebrewer Ball at the recently reopened Ramova Theater. The event will feature 15 homebrewers offering Belgian beers, with attendees and experts from Other Half Ramova and Marz Community Brewing selecting two winning beers to be featured at their respective local breweries.

The 21+ event costs $25 and includes a souvenir tasting glass and beer samples. To purchase tickets and learn more, click here.

Photos from the 2019 Out of the Darkness Chicagoland walk. Credit: Provided.

Out Of The Darkness Chicagoland Walk to Combat Suicide

Saturday, 9am-1pm

Montrose Harbor, 601 W. Montrose Harbor Drive

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its Illinois chapter are hosting a walk to honor suicide prevention. Participants include people who have struggled with suicidal thoughts, lost a loved one to suicide, or know someone who has been affected by suicide. Alongside the three-mile walk, there will be a “Why I Walk” wall with tributes from and for participants.

You can register, donate and find out more here.

Bob's Pizza's specialty: pickle pizza (foreground). The pizzeria, which opened in Hyde Park last year, is one of 11 local businesses represented at the Hyde Park Pizza Fest on Saturday. Credit: Yancu/Provided

Hyde Park Pizza Fest 2

Saturday 12-3pm

The Foothills, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West

At Hyde Park Pizza Fest 2, visitors can enjoy pizza slices from various pizzerias under one roof. There are eight participating pizzerias: Bob's Pizza, Cholie's Pizza, Domino's, Giordano's, Jet's Pizza, Medici on 57th, Papa John's and Pizza Capri.

Visitors can enjoy four slices of pizza and a soft drink for $15 or five slices of pizza for $20. Individual tickets cost $4.

Learn more about the event organized by the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and purchase tickets ranging from $4 to $20 here.

South Chicago artist Roman Villarreal meets with director Steven Walsh for an interview for the documentary “Southeast: A City Within a City” in August 2020. Credit: Provided

Film screening at Steelworkers Park

18:30 Saturday

Steelworkers Park, E. 87th Street.

Steelworkers Park, a historic site in South Chicago that was once part of the U.S. Steel South Works complex, is honoring its history with a screening of the film “Southeast: A City Within A City.”

Organizers are also looking for sponsors: email [email protected] to get involved or donate. Find more information here.

Sunday

A past edition of the Mexican Independence Day parade in Little Village. Credit: Courtesy of/Little Village Chamber of Commerce

26th Street Parade for Mexican Independence Day

Sunday lunch

26th Street from Albany to Kostner Avenue

This year's Mexican Independence Day parade, hosted by the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, has the theme “Celebrando Nuestras Tradiciones” and showcases Mexican culture with colorful floats, mariachi bands and folkloric dances.

Find out more here.

Annual Mexican Patriotic Parade

1pm Sunday

87th Street and Commercial Avenue

The Mexican Patriotic Club hosts its annual parade on the Southeast Side, led by Grand Marshal Dennis J. Bulmer Jr.

Find out more here.

Evening in the garden at Fire Station Park

Sunday, 5-7pm

Fire Station Park, hidden behind the fire station on Armitage Avenue and Larrabee Street

Evening In The Garden is an end of summer celebration, honouring garden helpers and their garden harvest. There will be food from local restaurants Cedar Palace, Angry Octopus and Vanilla Patisserie, drinks from The Ward Room in Sushi Hall, entertainment from Leopold the Magician and much more. MP Margaret Croke will also be in attendance.

This event is free to attend and open to the public. More information can be found here.

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