Welcome to the August, the eighth month of the year! This August, grab bites from several food bashes like Food Bowl and Bites & Booze Fest. Learn a new skill through the Fashion Marketing Seminar with FGI Chicago. Get ready for the Back to School season in a major way with the annual Bud Billiken Parade. Check out all that August has to offer in this months guide for things to do in Chicago.

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Style:

Fashion Marketing Seminar and Industry Mixer at DG Expo

Tuesday | August 28th | 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Palmer House Hilton Hotel | 17 East Monroe St. | $20 – $25

You have a product, now what? Learn how to tell your brand story, and create solid strategies for public relations, marketing, and sales with FGI Chicago, Jet Black PR, and Dearborn Denim. Join them for an informative discussion featuring two of Chicago’s brightest professionals. Lindsay Siwiec of Jet Black PR and Rob McMillan of Dearborn Denim who have cultivated strong brand images and made their mark in the industry. Seminar tickets include access to the fashion industry mixer immediately following the discussion. Be sure to grab tickets to this event that is perfect for entrepreneurs, fashion industry experts, and others who are looking to grow their brand in the Chicago area.

Bien Open Studios – Textile Canning Print Workshop

Thursday| August 16th | 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Bien Fashion Studio-Fulton Street Collective | 1821 West Hubbard St. | $25

Enjoy a fun, creative night out at Bien with our first adults-only workshop. Studio Bien is a Chicago-based creative space for children and teens to explore their interest in fashion design. The class will consist of the basics of DIY printmaking. Supplies are included in the admission ticket. Learn rudimentary forms of silkscreening over light snacks and alcoholic beverages provided by Vitani. To register, visit the event page here.

DREAM BIG Midwest Curvy Fashion & Beauty Conference

Friday – Saturday | August 24th – 25th| 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Venue SIX10 |610 S Michigan Ave. | $75 – $145

DREAM BIG Midwest is Chicago’s first conference dedicated to building a community of curvy fashion and beauty enthusiasts. The conference brings together influential panelist, brands, and guests for a social networking opportunity that is dedicated to the plus-size and curvy community within the fashion and beauty industries. For more on this event including this year’s speakers and panelist, visit the event page.

Made in Chicago Market

Sunday | August 5th| 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Plumbers Union Hall | 1340 W Washington St. | Free

Bring your family, and discover unique rarities from the hardworking hands of Chicago makers. It’s a celebration of innovation, resourcefulness, and beauty in local craft and design. Discover what local artisans have made for your home, garden, closet, jewelry or toy box. Get the full details on the specialty Chicago market here.

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Food:

Bites & Booze Fest

Friday | August 24th| 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Lacuna Artist Lofts | 2150 South Canalport Ave. | $30 – $64

The Bites & Booze Festival is the premier event where various types of Booze are paired with delightful food tastings. The festival features three floors consumed by themed Alcohol houses. Each house is distinctly designed to ensure guests engage in a fun, inviting, and informative experience. The Chicago event has separate bars, a mixology stage, Craft Cocktail Corner, cigar lounge, rooftop bar and dance floor. Register here for an evening full of bits, booze, and all over fun!

Taste of Black Chicago

Taste of Black Chicago was created to celebrate Black people’s contributions to Chicago’s world-class culinary arts scene is back after its first successful year. Black chefs, beverage makers, and other food-related vendors come together to celebrate a day of tasting, learning and experiencing the unique food of black Chicagoans. To learn more about this event be sure to check out the event page.

Chicago Hot Dog Fest

Make your way to the Chicago History Museum for a celebration of Chicago’s most loved food. Now in its sixth year, this outdoor festival features live music, games, and hotdogs prepared in various regional and ethnic styles. Each vendor will have their unique menu and costs with Hot dogs range in price from $4 – $8. Grab your tickets early and save by visiting the event page here.

Food Bowl

Sunday – Saturday | August 8th – 26th | Location Varies

Location Varies | $0 – $100

FOOD BOWL celebrates the chefs, restaurateurs, mixologists, innovators, entrepreneurs, critics and connoisseurs who put Chicago at the forefront of the nation’s food and drink scene. During August, over 100 events will take place throughout the city to showcase the distinct tastes and flavors of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Get the details on this new food-focused event, perfect for any and every foodie’s budget.

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Good

The Bud Billiken Parade

Saturday | August 11th | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Martin Luther King Junior Dr. | Free

The largest African American parade in the United States, the Bud Billiken Parade has grown into an institution with generational participation across the country. Having education-first roots, the parade takes place every 2nd Saturday in August and is cited as a mark of “back-to-school” – kicking off the school year with high energy and enthusiasm. The parade includes contests and participants are judged in categories like Best Float and Best Dance Team. All parade attendees are welcomed to join in additional post-parade festivities in the park. Watch the parade live or join in the festivities yourself. For more information be sure to visit the Bud Billiken Parade website.

100+ Who Care Chicago Chapter, Q3 Event

Thursday | August 30th | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

TechNexus | 20 North Upper Wacker Dr. | Free

Want to help local causes all in one place? Now you can! 100+ Who Care Chicago partners with local, Chicago-based 501(c)3 organization serving the Greater Chicago Area. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and learn about local non-profits and instantly make an impact by giving a donation $100 donation right on the spot. For more information on this charitable event, visit 100 Plus Who Care Chicago.

The Chicago Cooperative Economy Summit

Saturday | August 25th| 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

237 South Desplaines St. | $0 – $20

The Chicago Cooperative Alliance is a democratic group of cooperators who want to grow the cooperative ecosystem in Chicagoland. The Chicago Cooperative Economy Summit will freely host panels of the co-op economy’s leaders and pioneers, provide breakout discussion zones to delve deeper, offer tabling space for cooperative organizations to promote awareness and enroll people in their programs, and publish the first directory of Chicago’s 250+ brick and mortar sites in the cooperative economy. To volunteer, co-organizer, or to get involved in some other way, visit the event page.

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Arts + Culture:

South Shore Summer Festival

Sunday| August 19th | 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

South Shore Cultural Center | 7059 S South Shore Dr. | Free

South Shore Summer Festival, the popular afternoon community happening on the palatial grounds on Lake Michigan is indeed an event for area residents of all ages. In addition to great food, local merchants and activities for kids, there’s a diverse entertainment lineup designed to appeal to both young and old. Performers run the gamut: from up-and-coming local R&B artists and silky-smooth Stepper acts to groovin’ funk acts from the present and past. Get more details taking place at the historical landmark center by visiting the website.

Black Harvest Film Festival

Sunday – Saturday | August 4th – 30th| Time Varies

Gene Siskel Film Center |164 N State St. | $6 – $55

From August 4 through 30, the Gene Siskel Film Center welcomes one and all to our 24th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival, a month-long celebration of the stories, dreams, history, and legacy of African Americans and the African diaspora, as interpreted by independent filmmakers from around the U.S. and abroad. Grab your tickets to this month-long event by visiting Siskel Film Center.

Festival Cubano

Saturday – Sunday |August 10th – 12th | 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

RIIS Park |6100 W Fullerton Ave. | $15 – $50

The 9th Annual Festival Cubano returns featuring Grammy Award-winning artist, 30 of the top restaurants in the Midwest, over 75 merch and retail vendors, Carnival rides and games, hand-rolled cigars, domino tournaments, Classic Vintage Cars, The Boxing Corner, NEW VIP Experience, Music & Dance Workshops, traditional rumba parades and much more. Grab your tickets to this midsummer festival by visiting the website.

Retro on Roscoe

Friday – Sunday| August 10th – 12th | Time Varies

2000 W. Roscoe St. | $10 Donation

Ever wish you could go back in time? Get a blast from the past this August at the 22nd annual Retro on Roscoe festival. Go back in time with music enthusiasts, families, and gearheads for a back in the day weekend. Live music across three stages will play oldies and throwbacks along with popular hits to keep festival goers. In addition to the old school, tunes will be antique vendors, a classic car, and motorcycle show. See the full lineup of events, vendors, and performances by visiting the event page.

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