CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – It's the last weekend of summer! So that means get outside and enjoy the warm weather, whether it be a baseball game or street festival! And if you are ready fall, there are plenty of fall activities going on this weekend too, like fall festivals and Oktoberfests, as well as apple picking, pumpkin picking, and corn mazes.
For one weekend each fall, Southport Corridor becomes a mecca for taco lovers in Chicago during the Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Fest. More than a dozen restaurants (including Beat Kitchen, Tied House, Taco Joint and Taqueria Arceo) offer their take on the tortilla-wrapped dish, serving delicious creations throughout the weekend. You'll also be able to take in lucha libre wrestling (everyday at 5pm) and performances from local bands and tribute acts on one of two stages at the fest.
Where: On Southport between Addison and Roscoe (3500 N. Southport Ave.)
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Every year on the third week of September, the Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce welcomes families to their largest event, Fall Fest, for a weekend of delicious food, live entertainment, fun activities, and local business shopping. Fall Fest's live entertainment consists of rock, country and blues music from all eras and many musical genres. Thisyear's headliner is none other than Wedding Banned!
Where: 6100 block of Northwest Highway, Norwood Park
When: Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.
The sitcom that gave us one of television's ultimate on-again, off-again relationships, taught people to say "pivot!" while moving a couch and introduced us to a song about a smelly cat turned 25 this year. In celebration of a quarter century of Friends, Maggie Daley Perk (get it?) will host a one-day event dedicated to the popular series. You'll be able to sing along to performances of "I'll Be There For You" by the Rembrandts, get a photo with Gunther (James Michael Tyler) on the Central Perk sofa, rollerblade around the skating ribbon accompanied by a '90s playlist, learn about paleontology at a Field Museum pop-up or visit cats from the Tree House Humane Society. Could you be anymore excited about Friends turning 25?
Where: Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
When: Saturday, noon-8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Art on theMART launches its 2019 Fall Program on Saturday. The new program features artwork by renowned artists Charles Atlas and Petra Cortright. The program will also feature extended viewing of select soliloquies by Year of Chicago Theatre artist John Boesche, including a projected performance by Cheryl Lynn Bruce backgrounded by images of paintings by Kerry James Marshall.
Where: Wacker Drive between North Franklin and North Wells streets
When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, is an annual contemporary and modern art fair that takes place at Navy Pier's Festival Hall, with city-wide satellite events and exhibitions that take place during EXPO ART WEEK (September 16 – 22). The exposition hosts more than 135 leading international fine art exhibitors representing 24 countries and 68 cities presented alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
When: Thursday-Sunday
Jordan Peele's Academy Award-winning flick Get Out receives the live-concert treatment with help from the Chicago Sinfonietta. The movie's score composer, Michael Abels, conducts the orchestra to recreate the dramatic soundtrack set to the film. Experience the movie's most heart-pounding scenes—like Chris's descent into the Sunken Place and his prolonged escape scene—like never before with the help of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.
Where: Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Support local cat café the Catcade with an afternoon of drinks, food and fun at Off Color Brewing's Mousetrap taproom. Each ticket includes two drinks, access to cat-themed carnival games, pizza, snacks and a tarot reaching by Megan Lynn Kott.
Where: Off Color Brewing's Mousetrap, 1460 N. Kingsbury Street
When: Saturday, noon-2 p.m.
The Chicago Full Moon Jam presents a choreographed fire performance staged around the Bean as part of the Millennium Park Summer Theatre Residencies. Before the parade begins, guests are welcome to take part in poi and hoop workshops from 6 to 6:45 p.m., which are run by Full Moon Jam performers. At 7 p.m., the fiery spectacle will begin—attendees are encouraged to bring drums and glowing items to use after the conclusion of the performance.
Where: Millennium Park, 55 N. Michigan Ave.
When: Saturday, 7-9 p.m.
Old Irving Brewing rings in its third birthday with a three-day Oktoberfest celebration featuring traditional German fare, a signature Oktoberfest brew on draft, games and giveaways.
Where: Old Irving Brewing, 4419 W. Montrose
When: Friday-Sunday
Hofbräuhaus Chicago will bring the "oompapa" of Oktoberfest back to the Chicago area with its seventh annual Oktoberfest celebration. Guests can enjoy a plethora of festivities including authentic nightly Bavarian entertainment, freshly brewed "Oktoberfestbier," inspired by the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, daily food specials served by dirndl-clad waitresses, celebrity keg tapping ceremonies and more.
Where: Hofbrauhaus Chicago, 5500 Park Pl., Rosemont
When: Ongoing through Oct. 31
Celebrate the changing seasons at Oaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park. Enjoy a premier music line up, delicious fall foods from local restaurants, specialty craft beers, and a Kids' Root Beer Garden.
Where: Downtown Oak Park, Marion Street between Lake Street and North Boulevard
When: Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.
The Midwest SOARRING Foundation keeps Native American cultures alive with this Pow Wow. Expect: traditional Native American dances, drumming, songs, arts & crafts, food, Native flute players, bird of prey exhibit, Veterans Honoring, archery, and much more. Special guests include: Grizzly Paws, Jaime Black, The Red Dress Project, and Art Shegonee. All proceeds support Midwest SOARRING's repatriation work and education programs.
Where: Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St.
When: Saturday & Sunday
Will you walk to help save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide? Last year's Chicagoland Walk was the first Out of the Darkness Walk to raise more than $1,000,000! The funds are used for suicide prevention research, support, education and advocacy. When you participate in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people nationwide to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. As the leader in the fight against suicide, and thanks to walkers like you from cities across the country, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025.
Where: Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr.
When: Saturday, 7 a.m. check-in; 9 a.m. walk/run begins
Will you walk to help save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide? Last year's Chicagoland Walk was the first Out of the Darkness Walk to raise more than $1,000,000! The funds are used for suicide prevention research, support, education and advocacy. When you participate in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people nationwide to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. As the leader in the fight against suicide, and thanks to walkers like you from cities across the country, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025.
Where: Montrose Harbor, 601 W. Montrose
When: Saturday, 9 a.m. check-in; 11 a.m. walk begins
One of the Midwest's biggest tributes to apple season takes place in Historic Downtown Long Grove. Apple Fest brings "bushels of fun" to the charming village it's called home for 28 consecutive years. From caramel apples to apple tempura, Apple Fest's claim-to-fame are the hundreds of delicious apple-inspired treats for apple lovers young and old. As always with a Long Grove festival, live music will play out all weekend long on two stages spread throughout fest grounds.
Where: Downtown Long Grove, Old McHenry Road and Robert Parker Coffin Road
When: Friday, noon-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The band is back together! Come see the Jonas Brothers with special guests Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw at the United Center!
Where: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
It's the final stretch before heading into the playoffs. The Chicago Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend for the final weeks of regular season baseball.
Where: Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St.
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 1:20 p.m.
Hockey season is around the corner, and if you can't wait then why not catch a preseason game?! The Chicago Blackhawks hit the ice to play the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Where: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Varies
