It’s on! Sporty pros and regular folks can flex their intellect and athleticism across Chicagoland. Whether self-testing strength and smarts or vying for prizes against opponents, the following opps ensure a winning time for all.
Bods
The Professional Fighters League will crown its inaugural women’s flyweight world victor at the PFL Chicago Women’s Flyweight Championship (Oct. 16) at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. This is not to be confused with Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park where hundreds of dodgeball athletes from across the country will compete in the men’s/open, women’s, and mixed divisions during the 2026 USA Dodgeball National Championships (Sep. 4-6).
“The Chicago Southland region is very pleased to welcome the 2026 USA Dodgeball National Championships on Labor Day weekend,” says Visit Chicago Southland President & CEO Mary Patchin. “Wintrust Sports Complex at Bedford Park has become a renowned sports facility in such a short time period and will be the ideal venue for these prestigious competitions.”
Co-ed divisions of the Players Fall Classic Softball Tournament (Oct. 24, Nov. 14) will face off at lakefront fields including Montrose Field and Waveland Park, but not before the Luau Volleyball Weekend (Sep. 11-13) livens up Montrose Beach and Sydney Marovitz Golf Course with women’s divisions.
In order to stay fit, Chicagoans are encouraged to pick up fresh fruits and veggies at the Wicker Park Farmers Market (through Oct. 25), where free Pilates and yoga classes are offered.
Brains
For the first time in the Midwest, the bestselling game Minecraft leaves the screen via the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue at EXP in Rosemont. Created by Supply + Demand in collaboration with Experience MOD and Mojang Studios, the immersive adventure lets families with children expand their minds as they explore Minecraft biomes. Armed with only their wit and an Orb of Interaction, players are challenged with creating a life-saving potion.
“Making our Midwest debut with Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is an exciting milestone as we continue expanding the tour across North America,” says Olivier Goulet, Founder and CEO of Supply + Demand and Co-Manager and Investor of Experience MOD. “In collaboration with Mojang Studios and Microsoft, we’ve created an experience that sits at the intersection of game design, immersive storytelling and advanced multimedia technology, transforming a beloved digital world into a real-life quest.”
Write Club Chicago hosts its annual Best Brainy Battle of Words (Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 15) competition at Gman Tavern in Lakeview East. Starting at 7 p.m., combatant writer-performers face off with original, seven-minute essays on seasonal topics to win prize money as well as the Loving Cup of Deathless F***ing Glory trophy.
“Every audience member who experiences Write Club for the first time wonders why they didn’t see it sooner. We’d like to save you that heartache with Season 17,” says the event’s producer and host Corrbette Pasko. “We round up incredible artists to perform their words in a room full of actual human beings. Nothing beats that live experience. We pit them against each other in the most supportive, creative environment we know and let the audience learn something without even realizing it. We’ve wowed New York, Atlanta is selling out shows and we now return to the Mothership to give you the best show around. It’s a literary bar brawl and you’re home at a decent hour.”
JEOPARDY! Bar League is bringing the popular TV show game to Trader Todd’s on Sunday nights. The week continues with other trivia contests at Clover Lincoln Pak on Mondays; Matilda on Tuesdays; F.O Mahony’s on Wednesdays; Country Club on Thursdays; and Whatdayaknow? at Merkle’s Bar & Grill on Fridays.
The Insect Asylum is the place to be for a cat-themed trivia night (Sep 6). Participants are encouraged to dress as their fave animal as they receive refreshments and compete for prizes. All proceeds help support a kitty with autoimmune disease.
Those who subscribe to exercising their minds, may subscribe to Completing the Puzzle. Available at varying difficulty levels and themed imagery, the puzzles engage both sides of the brain, boost short-term memory, enhance problem-solving skills, reduce stress, help delay cognitive decline, and offer hours of screen-free entertainment. Each month subscribers receive a different puzzle, then return it using a prepaid shipping label. Since this rental service avoids clutter, it’s not only good for the brain, it’s good for the planet!