The temperatures are warmer—the sun is out later—which means your weeknights just got a whole lot better. Make your Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays more interesting with this guide of 15 weeknight events worth experiencing this summer in Chicago.
Tuesdays on the Terrace
Tuesdays | June – September | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | 220 E Chicago Ave. | Free
Enjoy an evening of free music every Tuesday evening at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The MCA’s annual summer performance series highlights artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned jazz community. Dining options on Tuesdays include seasonal offerings on the upper terrace and more casual offerings in the garden. Both locations include a full bar with cold beverages, wine, and cocktails. Tables are available on the upper terrace on a first-come basis, and there is no table service. For the full list of performers visit MCAChicaog.org.
Jazzin at the Shedd
Wednesdays | July – October | 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Shedd Aquarium | 200 S Lake Shore Dr.| $25
Take a sip of summer at Jazzin’ at the Shedd. Every Wednesday evening, move to the rhythms of Chicago’s top jazz musicians—the pulsing rhythms of spotted jellies, the shimmering slow dance of false herrings and more. Combine a cocktail with great music, the city skyline, fireworks and beauty worth saving—only at Shedd. Jazzin’s is free for all members and for Illinois residents through September and October. For more information and to purchase tickets, check out the website.
Chicago Summer Dance
Wednesday – Sundays | June 28th – August 25th | 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Grant Park | Location Varies | Free
The Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park blossoms into an urban dance space this summer in the Loop. Dance to the sounds of 48 different live bands + DJs and get into step with dance lessons beforehand. Learn how to samba, salsa, swing, step or just enjoy the music. Bring a friend and dance the night away. Check out the full list of events by visiting the website.
Bodega Night
Thursday | June 29th- December 27th |5:30 p.m.
The Spanish Square | 1358 W Belmont Ave. | Free
Spend a relaxed Thursday evening at the bodega housed in the back of The Spanish Square. The Lakeview restaurant transforms from a simple wine shop into an immersive wine tasting experience, that is 100% free. The event offers a variety of wines, handpicked by the rotating staff of sommeliers/general wine gurus, poured to perfection in the romantic bodega. Come for the tasting––stay for dinner and enjoy corkage free wine all night.
Boxville
Wednesdays | June 29th – October 10th| 4:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m.
51st and CTA Greenline| Free
“Boxville” is Chicago’s first street food market and container mall, serving Bronzeville residents and visitors with unique products & services. Inspired by the global container retail movement and our own experience with the Bronzeville BikeBox, Boxville offers community entrepreneurs affordable spaces for building enterprises & creating jobs to revitalize the community. Stay up to date on the weekly rotation of local enterprises by following the Boxville event page.
Wheel Wednesday
Wednesdays | June 6th – August 22nd | 5:00 p.m.
Antique Taco Bridgeport | 1000 W 35th St.| Free
Join Antique Taco and The Fat Shallot as they host a weekly food truck event featuring some of their fellow food truck friends. The restaurant will still serve up tacos and drinks alongside food trucks such as the Happy Lobster and A Sweets Girl. For more information on this event, be sure to visit their event page.
Millenium Park Music Series
Monday and Thursdays | June 18 – August 16th | 6:30 p.m.
Millennium Park |201 E. Randolph St. | Free
The 2018 Millennium Park Summer Music Series will offer an exciting lineup of FREE outdoor concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The music series features a wide variety of genre-defying music from top local, national and international artists—both established and emerging. Check out the full lineup of performers by visiting the website.
Movies in the Park
Monday – Thursday | June 1st- September 12th | Dusk
Location Varies| Free
Hollywood stars return to Chicago skies this summer, as Movies in the Parks brings over 200+ movies local parks for the eighteenth season. Films feature everything from classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood and retro childhood favorites, to the best family-friendly box office favorites from recent years. Grab snacks, a few friends, and check out the full lineup by visiting the website.
Green City Market at Gallagher Way
Thursday | May 31st – August 20th |5:00 PM – 11:59 PM
Gallagher Way Chicago |3635 N Clark St.| Free
Green City Market brings locally-sourced, farmer-driven goods to Gallagher Way this summer. The premier farmers market, who has locations in Lincoln Park and the West Loop delivers seasonal fruits, veggies, prepared food and more. Stop by to shop, taste, see chef demonstrations, hear live music and bring the neighborhood together to support local, sustainably grown food from family farms. Learn more about Green City Market and their weekly schedule of events by visiting the event page.
Taste Maker Tuesdays
Monday – Thursday | June 29th-July 28th |5:00 PM – 11:59 PM
Emporium Popups | 2367 N Milwaukee Ave.| Free
Make your way to Wicker Park for a celebration of good music, good people, and good vibes. Every Tuesday The Delta showcases some of the best DJs in Chicago alongside some of the city’s tastemakers. The vibe and the music will be eclectic and soulful, and the food and drinks are great. Check out the weekly lineup of DJs by visiting the event page here.
Westside Wednesday
Wednesdays | July 18th – September 5th | 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Homan Square | 3517 W Arthington St. | Free
AMFM along with the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) are back in Homan Square for Westside Wednesdays, a free outdoor performance series and open mic with westside and Homan Square residents, food & art featuring DJ Stepchild, hosted by W.ill. The series seeks to engage the Homan Square and West Side community through arts programming that ties the neighborhood and the school together. See the full lineup of artists performing by checking out the event page here.
Argyle Night Market
Thursdays | July 7th – August 30th | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kenmore and Sheridan | Free
The Argyle Night Market is a summer celebration of food, live music, cultural performances, that takes place in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. The market draws in over 3,500 people each week for family fun and community engagement. Need more detail? Be sure to check out the event page.
Activate
Thursdays | June 7th – September 13th | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location Varies | Free
Experience the (EVO)lution of the Loop’s most unexpected spaces with the muse, EVO, as your guide. Join the Chicago Loop Alliance and artistic curators Canvas Chicago for ACTIVATE 2018: a series of four celebratory summer nights inspired by Chicago’s modern-day creative renaissance. Experience interactive engagements, artistic installations, live music, and unexpected adventures. Helpful Seekers Tip: Make sure to RSVP for the Activate event and receive a FREE drink ticket (21+). Stay updated on each and every Activate event by visiting the website.
Grown Folks Stories
Thursdays | July 19th – 20th | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Silver Room |1506 E 53rd St.| $5 Donation
Make your way to Hyde Park for Grown Folks Stories, a human connection made through storytelling. Guests are invited to share a 5-minute story on any topic. No poetry, no readings, no judging. Just you, a microphone and an audience who is there to show a whole lot of love. The event is hosted by Whitney Capps. BYOB. Get there early for a seat or bring your own. Stories start at 8 p.m. sharp!
Hideout Veggie Bingo at The Hideout
Wednesdays | July 18th – September 19th | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Hideout Inn | 1354 W Wabansia Ave. | Free
Spend your Wednesday nights playing bingo for a good cause. Veggie Bingo invites 19 local celebrity callers to lead 2-hour bingo games while contestants compete for a fresh harvest of prizes. Bingo cards are $4 each/3 for $ 10.All proceeds from this event benefit Chicago community gardens through NeighborSpace.
