The city’s warm weather sets the tone for open air events starting with Movies at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville. The free outdoor screenings include Barbie (June 26), School of Rock (July 10), Angels in the Outfield (July 17) and more.
In Morgan Park, the Far South Community Development Corporation hosts its Juneteenth Festival (June 15) on the northwest corner of Halsted Street and 115th Street. The all-ages event honors the holiday with live music, food from local Black-owned restaurants, a small business marketplace, a resource vendor fair, housing workshops, and family activities. There is no charge for admission but registration is required at FarSouthCDC.org.
The Chicago Southland suburbs are also making the most of mild temperatures with Summerfest Orland Park (June 14-16), the Will County Fair (Aug. 21), the North Coast Music Festival (Aug. 31-Sep. 1), and Frankfort Fall Fest (Aug. 31-Sep. 2).
The Andersonville Farmers Market returns to Catalpa Ave. between Clark St. and Ashland Ave (on Wednesdays through Oct. 23) with more than 40 vendors including Coffey Girls’ Coffee Cakes, Global Garden Refugee Farm, Letizia’s Natural Bakery (Sorano, inc), Salty Provisions, Schmaltz & Vinegar, and the Swedish American Museum.
As part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, Porchlight Music Theatre presents Broadway in your Backyard (through Aug. 6). The complimentary hour-long concerts feature performers singing show tunes.
Thanks to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, music-loving locals can enjoy Tuesdays on the Terrace in the Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden. The free summer concert series features performances by Jorge Morataya–Marimba (June 25), Maggie Brown (July 2), Shawn J Wright (July 9), Sharon and Yaw with Heliacal Rising (July 16), Brandee Younger (July 23), Rudy de Anda (July 30), Julian Davis Reid’s Circle of Trust (Aug. 6), The Aggregation feat. Justin Dillard (Aug. 13), The Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty (Aug. 20), and Alexis Lombre (Aug. 27).
The costless summer concert series Rockin’ in the Park returns to Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district with Thursday evening shows. Fireworks follow the live performances of tribute bands The Traveling Salvation Show (June 13), Atomic Punks (June 20), The Dyer Davis Group (June 27), Silver Bullet Band STL (July 4), Ticket to the Moon (July 11), Departure (July 18), Live the Who (July 25), Southern Accents (Aug. 1), Rumours ATL (Aug. 8), Echoes of Pompeii (Aug.15), Slippery When Wet (Aug. 22), and Elton Rohn (Aug. 29).
After the College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center hosts its 2024 Lakeside Pavilion Free Outdoor Summer Series (July 12-Aug. 9)in Glen Ellyn, Third Coast Percussion’s 20th anniversary Chicago concert season presents the Ravinia Festival debut of Archetypes with Sérgio and Clarice Assad (Aug. 27) at the Martin Theatre in Highland Park. .
In Millennium Park, dancers with the Joffrey Ballet Company and students from the Joffrey Academy of Dance Community Engagement programs will perform in Joffrey for All (June 16). “[This] free performance is truly a gift to the people of Chicago, offering the opportunity to see works by powerhouse choreographers, in addition to pieces illustrating the breadth of our Academy and Community Engagement programs.I am especially delighted to share an excerpt from Carousel: A Dance by Christopher Wheeldon, which will be the final performance by retiring artist Christine Rocas, who celebrates 20 illustrious years at the Joffrey. Audiences will also see works from our upcoming 2024-2025 season: Yuri Possokhov’s Andante and Cathy Marston’s Heimat (a preview of the beauty to come in our season opener, Atonement),” explains Ashley Wheater MBE and the Company’s Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director.
Physical Theater Festival Chicago’s 11th anniversary celebration (July 13-21) kicks off with a full day of free family-friendly outdoor shows on July 13. “We’re bringing the best of what theater can do – clown, slapstick, social justice, virtuosity – from around the world and right here in Chicago,” says Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Alice da Cunha. “We can’t wait to gather with the community for another year of the Physical Theater Festival Chicago.”