This weekend's Pride Fest kicks off a week of LGBTQ celebrations. Credit: Michael Lucas
This weekend's Pride Fest kicks off a week of LGBTQ celebrations.
This weekend’s Pride Fest kicks off a week of LGBTQ celebrations.Credit: Michael Lucas


It’s time to gear up for the weekend. Here’s some of what we recommend:

Fri 6/17: Local hip-hop and R&B station WGCI hosts fan favorites like Fetty Wap, Jeezy, and T.I. for Summer Jam 2016. Head over to United Center (1901 W. Madison) to jam out to Fetty Wap’s breakout hit “Trap Queen.” 7:30 PM

Fetty Wap performs at Summer Jam 2016 on Fri 6/17.
Fetty Wap performs at Summer Jam 2016 on Fri 6/17.Credit: Getty Images North America


Fri 6/17: See 14 burlesque talents perform in Thrifty Thrills at Township (2200 N. California), an evening where dancers are challenged to put on a show with a $20 budget for costumes, pasties, and props. Proceeds from this night of frugal creativity go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Chicago. 9:30 PM

Fri 6/17-Sat 6/18: For the second year, Chicago Ale Fest brings a spate of craft beers from across the nation to Buckingham Fountain (301 S. Columbus). Enjoy more than 200 beers—including sips from local breweries, like Moody Tongue and Temperance Beer Company—in the shadow of the city skyline. Fri 6-10 PM, Sat 2-6 PM


Sat 6/18: Lumber your way over to the Bean at Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph) for the ninth annual Chicago Zombie March. If you need help donning the styles of the undead, a crew of makeup artists are will be on hand to help passersby join the downtown zombie apocalypse. 3:30 PM

The walking dead take over downtown at the Chicago Zombie March on Sat 6/18.
The walking dead take over downtown at the Chicago Zombie March on Sat 6/18.Credit: Brendan Riley/FlickR

Sat 6/18-Sun 6/19: The two-day Pride Fest on Halsted between Belmont and Addison kicks off with a Pet Pride Parade, local street vendors, and three stages of music with performances by Dumblonde, Daya, and Jordin Sparks. (Check out our full list of Pride events.) 10 AM-10 PM

Sat 6/18-Sun 6/19: Get sustainable lifestyle tips at Green Music Fest. The annual Wicker Park (North and Damen) festival also includes three stages of alt-rock performances, including Black Joe Lewis and King Khan & the Shrines. Noon-10 PM

Sat 6/18-Sun 6/19: There are Lego displays aplenty at Brickworld, a convention for enthusiasts of the colorful building blocks. Visit the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center (1551 N. Thoreau, Schaumburg) to view hobbyists’ creations and to purchase accessories from vendors such as the Chicago-based customized Lego parts shop Citizen Brick. Sat 10 AM-4 PM, Sun 10 AM-3 PM

Brickworld features giant Lego displays, like this one: a 20-foot-long medieval market and castle.
Brickworld features giant Lego displays, like this one: a 20-foot-long medieval market and castle.Credit: Bryan Bonahoom


Sun 6/19: Tempel Farms (17000 Wadsworth, Old Mill Creek) presents Tempel Lipizzaner Matinee, a horse ballet including a pas de deux of two stallions set to the Star Wars theme. 1 PM

The Tempel Lipizzaner Matinee features white stallions performing their version of ballet.
The Tempel Lipizzaner Matinee features white stallions performing their version of ballet.Credit: Jeff A. Goldberg


Sun 6/19: Priya Venkataraman of the local performing arts organization Kalapriya visits the University of Chicago Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th) to perform Songs of the Blue God, an Indian dance inspired by the Hindu deity Krishna. 6 PM

For more stuff to do this weekend—and every day—check out our Agenda page.