August is stacked with reasons to get out and explore Chicago. We’ve curated a list of events taking place this month to help you make the most of it.
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Bronzeville Smooth Jazz Festival
Date: Saturday, August 1st
Location: 3837 King Drive, Chicago, IL 60653
Learn more about Bronzeville Smooth Jazz Festival here.
Black Women’s Expo
Date: Friday, July 31st through Sunday, August 2nd
Location: McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60616
Learn more about Black Women’s Expo here.
Feature Fridays | The Wiz
Date: Friday, August 7th
Location: 4455 S. King Drive (PArkway Ballroom)
Learn more about Feature Fridays | The Wiz here.
Bud Biliken Parade
Date: Saturday, August 8th
Location: 39th & King Drive to 51st to Washington Park
Learn more about 97th annual Bud Billiken Parade here.
Mercado De Intercambio: Back to School
Date: Saturday, August 8th
Location: 4459 S. Marshfield, Chicago, IL 60609
Learn more about Black Mercado De Intercambio: Back to School here.
ITC In the Park
Date: Saturday, August 8
Location: Harrison Park – RSVP for ful location
Learn more about ITC In the Park here.
Summer Center Day 2026
Date: Sunday, August 9th
Location: Hyde Park Art Center – 5020 S. Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615
Learn more about Summer Center Day 2026 here.
Summer Sunday Concert Series: Sheryl Youngblood
Date: Sunday, August 9th
Location: Nichols Park in Hyde Park – 1355 E. 53rd Street
Learn more about Summer Sunday Concert Series with Sheryl Youngblood here.
Artini at Gallery Guichard
Date: Thursday, August 13th
Location: 436 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60653
Learn more about Artini at Gallery Guichard here.
Beverly Porch Concert
Date: Friday, August 14th
Location: 109th Street and Prospect Avenue, Beverly
Learn more about Beverly Porch Concert here.
South Side Zine Fest
Date: Saturday, August 15th
Location: Richard J. Daley Library, 3400 S. Halsted St., Bridgeport
Learn more about South Side Zine Fest here.
Stevie Wonder Movie Night
Date: Friday, August 14th
Location: The Arts Lawn, 337 E. Garfield Blvd., Washington Park
Learn more about Stevie Wonder Movie Night here.
360 Fest
Date: Saturday, August 15th
Location: South Side Sanctuary, 4702 S. King Drive, Bronzeville
Learn more about 360 Fest here.
Fiesta Mexicana Family Concert
Date: Saturday, August 15th
Location: Throop Park, 1811 S. Throop St., Pilsen
Learn more about Fiesta Mexicana Family Concert here.
Lifespan Of A Fact
Date: Friday, August 14th through Sunday, August 16th
Location: Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St., Beverly
Learn more about Lifespan Of A Fact here.
Chicago Air and Water Show
Date: Saturday, August 15th through Sunday, August 16th
Location: North Avenue Beach and the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, Chicago, IL
Learn more about Chicago Air and Water Show here.
Irish Fest 2026
Date: Friday, August 21st through Sunday, August 23rd
Location: Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th Street, Oak Forest, IL 60452
Learn more about Irish Fest 2026 here.
Teachers’ Back2School Supply Giveaway
Date: Friday, August 21st and Saturday, August 22nd
Location: Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange, 2124 W. 82nd Place
Cost: $40 for Friday and $30 for Saturday
Learn more about Teachers’ Back2School Supply Giveaway here.
Righteous Rise Back to School & Resource Block Party
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: 433 E. 46th Street
Cost: Free
Learn more about Righteous Rise Back to School & Resource Block Party.
Shore Walks: Calumet Park
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: 9801 S Avenue G
Cost: Free
Learn more about Shore Walk series here.
Viejitas Pero Bonitas Block Party
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, 1621 W. 47th Street
Learn more about Viejitas Pero Bonitas Block Party.
Villapalooza Little Village Music Festival
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: La Villita Park, 2800 S. Sacramento Avenue
Learn more about Villapalooza Little Village Music Festival.
Back-To-School Health Fair
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Learn more about Back-To-School Health Fair here.
The Chicago Critics Circles: Part I (Black Authorship)
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Learn more about The Chicago Critics Circles: Part I (Black Authorship) here.
The Sweet Mix DJs – Strugglebeard Bakery
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Location: Strugglebeard Bakery, 5221 S. Harper Court, Chicago, IL 60615
Learn more about The Sweet Mix DJs – Strugglebeard Bakery here.
National Park Week August 22-30
Date: Saturday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 23rd
Location: Pullman National Historical Park, 610 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628
Learn more about National Park Week August 22-30 here.
Pullman Exhibit Hall Open
Date: Saturday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 23rd
Location: Pullman Exhibit Hall, Pullman National Historical Park, Chicago
Learn more about Pullman Exhibit Hall Open here.
Hyde Park Farmers Market
Date: Sunday, August 23rd
Location: Hyde Park Bank Parking Lot, Chicago, IL 60615
Learn more about Hyde Park Farmers Market here.
Ragtime The Musical
Date: Friday, August 28th – Sunday, August 30th
Location: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655
Cost: Varies
Learn more about Ragtime The Musical here.
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project
Performance: Dancing the Archive: Embodied Histories, Collective Power
Date: Saturday, August 28th
Location: Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, Chicago, IL, 60601
Learn more about the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project here.
Taste of Greektown
Date: Friday, August 28th through Sunday, August 30th
Location: Halsted Street from Adams to Van Buren, Greektown, Chicago, IL 60661
Learn more about Taste of Greektown here.
Sip and Sweat
Date: Saturday, August 29th
Location: Pullman Community Center, 10355 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60628
Cost: Varies
Learn more about Sip and Sweat here.
Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest
Date: Saturday, August 29th
Location: Armstrong (Lillian Hardin) Park, 4433 South Saint Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60653
Cost: Varies
Learn more about Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest here.
Maconomics Wealth Summit
Date: Friday, August 28th – Sunday, August 30th
Location: Obama Presidential Center in Chicago
Learn more about Maconomics Wealth Summit here.
Hyde Park Farmers Market
Date: Sunday, August 30th
Location: Hyde Park Bank Parking Lot, Chicago, IL 60615
Learn more about Hyde Park Farmers Market here.
Soul Sessions Chi
Date: Sunday, August 30th
Location: Bassline Music Lounge, 2239 S. Michigan Ave.
Cost: $20 online and $25 at the door
Learn more about Soul Sessions Chi here.
Black On The Block
Date: Sunday, August 30th
Location: Soldier Field, 1410 Special Olympics Drive , Chicago, IL 60605
Cost: Varies
Learn more about Black On The Block here.
