Identity means a lot of things to a lot of people as noted in the variety of products, productions and special events listed below.
FESTIVALS
Greektown Chicago’s Taste of Greektown (Aug. 28-30), along Halsted Street, offers dancing, DJs, and live music by from Hellas 2000. In addition to family activities, stops at Athenian Candle Co. and Spavia Day Spa are welcomed. Of course, the neighborhood restaurants — 9 Muses Bar & Grill, Athena Restaurant, Moka & Co., Mr. Greek Gyros, Ithaki Estiatorio, Spectrum Bar & Grill and Zeus Restaurant — are the stars of the festival.
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum and Goodman Theatre are honoring Chicago’s native and Indigenous artistic community with The Sweetest Season: A Gathering of Indigenous Creativity (Aug. 15) at the Alice Center for Education and Engagement. The day’s events include a plant pressing workshop; Sorrel and Sassafras Indigenous Poetry Reading; a Cedar Tea Sip and Paint session; SuperYou games for families; Interethnic Solidarity Between the Indigenous People of the Americas panel discussion and art exhibition; a social mixer; and the Dancing Pony Productions play The New Adventures of Super Indian.
Since women are more likely to suffer from chronic pain, auto-immune disorders and other chronic illnesses, Evanston’s ADA-certified Piven Theatre Workshop is opening its doors for HystericalFest: Women+ Act Out (Aug. 28-30). Taking a laughter is the best medicine approach, the fest features short comedic plays about invisible disabilities.
Those who identify with being a Chicagoan will appreciate the Windy City-heavy lineup for the 2026 Edgewater Music Fest (Aug. 28-30) on Broadway. “Nearly every single artist performing this year calls Chicago home, making the festival a showcase of the extraordinary talent being created right here in our city,” says Garrett Karp, Executive Director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. It’s a weekend that celebrates not only incredible live music, but also the neighborhood businesses, restaurants and creative spirit that make Edgewater the place to be.”
MUSIC
Just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15-Oct. 15) Boleros De Noche presents A Night of Romance and Rhythm (Sep. 25) at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. “We are honored to return to the city of Chicago to celebrate the timeless tradition of bolero music and the stories, memories, and emotions it carries across generations. Boleros De Noche was created to provide a space where this cherished genre can be preserved, celebrated, and shared with both longtime fans and new audiences alike,” says Roberto Carlos, Founder and Creative Director of Boleros De Noche.
In her upcoming solo album Destroy Everything (Oct. 2), indie rocker Lee Emi (aka Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives) examines the uncertainty that comes with reinventing oneself—noting that identity is continuously shaped and reimagined.
PUBLICATIONS
On August 18, Simon & Schuster is releasing White. Blonde. Jew.: A Call to End Extremism, Speak Up, and Reclaim Center by Alyssa Rosenheck. In this book, the bestselling author of The New Southern Style: The Interiors of a Lifestyle and Design Movement (2020) and a founding member of Artists Against Antisemitism tackles identity stereotypes, media manipulation, and the weaponization of language. Nominated for the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Jewish Literature, the book pushes back on disinformation and warns against ideology replacing inquiry.
By September 8, Westminster John Knox Press will ensure Faithfully Dissident Daughters by Chelsea Kim Long is on bookshelves. Written from personal experience and theological research, Long shows readers how to reclaim Christian womanhood beyond the patriarchal interpretations of the Bible. Her liberating view helps those who are disenfranchised by their religion reconnect with their faith in a way that honors the feminine experience.
THEATER
This fall, A Red Orchid Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Oct. 29-Dec. 6). Directed by Ensemble Member dado, Will Arbery’s politically-driven drama follows four recent liberal arts graduates as they address spiritual conflicts and generation gaps with their Catholic college mentor.
Set in Pennsylvania’s Black neighborhood of Mud Row, two generations of sisters confront the legacy of their foremothers in Dominique Morisseau’s hopeful dramedy Mud Row (Oct. 15-Nov. 15) at Theater Wit. “Mud Row invites such a timely conversation about home, identity, family obligations and the reminder that the choices we make and the narratives we hold onto can last for generations,” explains Malkia Stampley, who directs the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company production. “There’s always something to pass on to the next generation, including the choice to heal.”
FUNDRAISERS
Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward — who wrote about generational trauma of poor Black families in Sing, Unburied, Sing (2017) and Salvage the Bones (2011) — will be honored at the American Writers Museum‘s OnWord benefit (Sep. 29). Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, the annual event supports of the Museum’s youth education programs. As such, founder Malcolm O’Hagan says, “Writers and their works have been fundamentally important in defining our country and who we are, and they continue to inspire each new generation.”
Wil’s Martini Lounge is the place to be for The Queer Creative Lounge (Aug. 26). Hosted by Z Marc Productions, the mixer is designed to strengthen Chicago’s LGBTQIA+ creative community and support independent queer storytelling and Latin cinema. Funds will be raised for Chicago filmmaker Nathan L. Marquez’s Castaway, a short film about faith, identity, marriage, and acceptance.
PERFORMANCE
Award-winning storyteller Ada Cheng performs The Trouble With My Hair: Coloring, Cutting, and Coming into Who I Am in salons across Chicago. Covering gender, sexual identity, and a relationship with a hair stylist, the show can be seen at Scissor & Fork (Aug. 21), Visceral Adventure Lounge (Aug. 21), REM Salon (Aug. 23), Haibayo (Aug. 29), and The Center on Halsted (Aug. 30). All performances are followed by a Q&A discussion. The final performance includes a reaction piece by Stir Friday Night and post-run reception catered by Krung Thep Thai Cuisine.
PUPPETRY
Specializing in Black history works, North Carolina crafter Mikayla Wilson is among the artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who have spent the past eight months in residence at the Chicago Puppet Lab. She — along with gender non-conforming contortionist Raven See; Chicago-based theater professor Rachel Anne Healy; China-born interdisciplinary artist Zachary Sun, and others — will share recent creations in Chicago Puppet Lab Showcase (Aug. 20-23) at Raven Theatre.