JULY EVENTS
events | music | film

High summer in the city is packed with cultural events, beginning with the Black Pride and United in Pride festivals—and the required July 3rd Lakefront fireworks extravaganza. Don’t-miss-events include the Andersonville Midsommarfest, Absolute Vision Chicago 6, the Sheffield Garden Walk, Venetian Night and Chicago Outdoor Film Festival (schedule to be determined). Pay a visit to the Newberry Library as they host their 17th annual book fair, as well as a salute to the city’s historic orators. You’ll never miss a chance to party outdoors with the "taste" of everything from Africa to Logan Square to Lincoln Avenue. And while there’s plenty of arts, crafts and soccer to go around, for something a little different we’re keeping a close eye on the E=MC2 Festival of Relativity.

1
Chicago Black Pride Festival
Noon-8pm. Lincoln Park Grove 7S, (773)731-8665.

United in Pride Festival
10am-8pm. Rainbow Beach Park, 7325 S. Exchange, (312)986-0661.

Race to the Taste
Unload all the pounds you put on with the 9th annual 5K run or 2-mile walk. 8:30am. $12-$15. Grant Park.

Sunday Polo at Oak Brook
Midwest Cup (8-goal) finals, USPA Cecil Smith (12-goal). $10 adults; children 12 & under free. 1pm and 3pm. Naperville Polo Club & Oak Brook Sports Core, (630)990-2394, (815)436-9500.

The Taming of the Shrew
Two of Shakespeare's most famous lovers face off under the stars in the 27th season of outdoor productions for Oak Park's Festival Theatre. $17-$19. Through Aug 25. Austin Gardens, Lake Street at Forest Avenue, (708)524-2050.

3
Independence Eve Fireworks Spectacular
With the stirring sounds of the Grant Park Orchestra. 9:30pm. Free. Grant Park and along the Lakefront.

4
African/Caribbean International Festival of Life
10am-10:30pm. Washington Park, 55th and Cottage Grove, (312)427-0266.

All American 8K Run
8am. Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive between Fullerton and Irving Park, (773)404-7571.

6
19th Annual Brighton Park Lithuanian Fair
5-11pm. Also, July 7-8, noon-11pm. 4700-4900 S. Western, (773)847-0664.

7
7th Annual Rock Around the Block
Through July 8. Lincoln and Ashland, (773)665-4682.

8
Chicago Distance Classic
7:45am. UIC, Halsted and Harrison, (312)243-2000.

Sunday Polo at Oak Brook
USPA Governor's Cup (6-goal), USPA Cecil Smith (12-goal) finals. $10 adults; children 12 & under free. 1pm and 3pm. Naperville Polo Club & Oak Brook Sports Core, (630)990-2394, (815)436-9500.

9
36th Annual Midsommarfest
Through July 10. Clark and Foster, (773)665-4682.

11
Celebrate State Street Festival
Join more than 500,000 people for the fourteenth annual homage to that "great" street. Music, food and more. Free. 10am-8pm. Through July 16. State Street, Randolph on the north and Washington on the south, (312)782-9160.

12
St. Bede Summerfest
6-10pm. Also, July 13, 5:30-11pm; July 14, 4-11pm; July 15, 3-10pm. 8300 S. Kostner, (773)767-8264.

St. Symphorosa Family Fest 2001
6-10pm. Also, July 13, 6-11pm; July 14, 1pm-midnight; July 15, 1-10pm. 62nd and Austin, (773)767-1523.

13
Absolut Vision Chicago 6: Art: The Next Generation
Gallery exhibits, music, raffle and more. Free. Through Aug 25. 5pm-8pm. River North Gallery District, (312)649-0065.

Festival Con Sabor A Colombia
Noon-8pm. Through July 15. Richard Clark Park, (773)339-9149 and Horner Park, Irving Park and California, (773)878-9532.

Irish American Heritage Festival
5pm-midnight. Also, July 14, noon-midnight; July 15, noon-11pm. 4626 N. Knox, (312)283-8833.

The St. Charles Art and Music Festival
$5-75. Through July 28. St. Charles, (630)584-3378.

10th Annual Magnificent Mile Art Fair
10am-6pm. Also, July 14-15, 10am-5pm. 435 N. Michigan, Pioneer Court, (815)937-0920.

14
Annual Edens Art Fair
Free. Through July 15. 10am-5pm. Edens Plaza, Wilmette, (312)751-2500.

Cabrini 2 Annual Talent of Cabrini Festival
Noon-6pm. 412 W. Chicago, (312)397-1697.

Chicago Folk and Roots Festival
Noon-10pm. Wells Park, 4400 N. Lincoln, (773)728-6000.

DuSable Arts & Crafts Festival
Noon-dusk. Through July 15. DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, (773)947-0600.

E=MC2 Festival of Relativity
10am-8pm. Rainbow Beach Park, 76th and Lake Shore, (312)747-8578.

46th Ward Summer Unity Fest
10am-6pm. Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson, (773)878-4646.

Lincoln Park Cultural Center Summer Art Fair
11am-6pm. 2045 N. Lincoln Park West, (312)742-7726.

Paris Flea Market
Marshall Field’s 2nd annual salute to Bastille Day offers a three-day European flea market within the confines of its State Street store. Free. Open during regular store hours. Through July 15. 111 North State, 7th floor.

Streeterville Summer Festival
Noon-10pm. McClurg between Illinois and North Water, (773)868-3010, ext. 227.

3rd Annual Grand Crossing Community Gospel Festival
11am-8pm. 73rd to 75th on Dorchester, (312)861-8890.

27th Annual DuSable Museum Arts and Crafts Fesitival
Free. Noon-dusk. Through July 15. 740 E. 56th Place, (773)947-0600.

15
Chinatown Summer Fair
10am-8pm. Wentworth from Cermak to 24th, (312)225-0303

Dearborn Garden Walk and Heritage Festival
Noon-6pm. 1300-1500 blocks of North Dearborn, (312)944-1521.

Friends of the Parks’ L.A.T.E. Ride
Midnight to sunrise. Congress at Columbus, (773)918-RIDE.

Sunday Polo at Oak Brook
USPA Governor's Cup (6-goal), USPA Tommy Harris Memorial (12-goal) finals.
$10 adults; children 12 & under FREE. 1pm and 3pm. Naperville Polo Club & Oak Brook Sports Core, (630)990-2394, (815)436-9500.

Lou Gehrig Day
Enjoy a pre-game party at the Vic Theatre, followed by a relaxing afternoon of interleague baseball between the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals.
11am-1pm. Vic Theatre, (847)679-3312.

Chris Zorich Foundation 5K run, Walk, Kids Dash & Wheelchair Race
More than 2,700 individuals and families from Chicago and the suburbs are expected for the event, followed by an awards ceremony. 7:30am. $7-$20. Dearborn, between Polk and Harrison, (773)868-3010.

Farmyard Summer Fun Fest
Farmyard pulls out all the stops for an action-packed day of fun including a bounce house, games and activities. Free. 10am-5pm. Lambs Farm, (847)362-4636.

16
Journey to the Red Planet
The exhibit is linked with the content of The Mars Millennium Project, a national arts, sciences and technology education initiative. Through Oct 1. Chicago Children's Museum, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand, (312)257-1000.

17
2nd Annual Chicago Outdoor Film Festival
Yet another summer of films shown under the stars. Films begin at dusk. Schedule still undetermined at press time. Through Aug 28. Grant Park.

Chicago Moving Company Performance
7pm. Free. Belle Plaine Dance Studio, 2014 W. Belle Plain, (773)880-5402.

18
Chicago Park District Carnival
11am-11pm. Through July 22. Marquette Park, 7100 S. Kedzie, (312)747-6136.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Carnival
6-10pm. Also, July 19, 6-10pm; July 20-21, 6-11pm; July 22, 4-10pm. 62nd Place at Lawndale and Hamlin, (773)735-1121.

19
Annual Arts and Crafts Expressions
Free. 8am-8pm. Through July 20. Canal and Madison, (312)751-2500.

20
13th Annual Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp
Part of week's activities is the "Hot Jazz-6 Cool Nites" evening concert series, featuring nightly performances by the camp and faculty artists. Free. Through July 27. 8pm. North Central College, (630)416-3911.

Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party
5-10:30pm. Through July 21. 700 W. Adams, (312)831-9359.

21
Edgewater Days
Noon-10pm. Also, July 22, noon-9pm. Granville between Broadway and Sheridan, (773)868-3010, ext. 227.

Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival
Donation $5. Noon-5:30pm. Through July 22. Sheffield, (773)929-9255.

8th Annual Mayor's Cup Youth Soccer Fest
Girls and boys ages 5-14 go at it five-on-five-style at this free youth soccer event. Games begin daily at 9am. Through July 22.

Summer Arts & Crafts Show
10am-5pm. Through July 21. Lambs Farm, (847)362-4636.

Wilmette 11th Annual Festival of Fine Arts
Free. Through July 22. 10am-5pm. Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road at Skokie Boulevard, Wilmette, (847)256-2080.

22
Gaelic Fire Brigade Family Picnic
11am-9pm. Kennedy Park, 2500 N. 113th St, (773)239-0875.

Sunday Polo at Oak Brook
USPA Governor's Cup (6-goal) finals, Mexico vs. USA International Polo Challenge
$10 adults; children 12 & under free. 1pm and 3pm. Naperville Polo Club & Oak Brook Sports Core, (630)990-2394.

24
Improvisation Jam
7-9pm. $3 to participate, free to audience. Hamlin Park, (773)880-5402.

26
Fiesta Del Sol 2001
5-10pm. Also, July 27, 5-11pm; July 28-29, 11am-11pm. 1400 W. Cermak, (312)666-2663, ext. 222.

Newberry's 17th Annual Book Fair
Feed your bibliomania with many cheap books priced under $1. Noon-8pm. Through July 29. The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton, (312)255-3553.

Richard Fest
6-11pm. Also, July 27, 6pm-midnight; July 28, 1pm-midnight; July 29, 1-10pm. 5000 S. Kostner, (773)535-1221.

Taste of Logan Square
A rich program of family entertainment that features food, crafts, consumer service organizations and entertainment. Free. Through July 29. Kedzie Boulevard, (773)525-5546.

27
Bughouse Square Debates
Vivid portrayals of Chicago's favorite historic orators in Washington Square Park. Microphones available to members of the public to address today's burning issues. Free. Through July 28. 6-8pm. The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton, (312)943-9090.

1st Annual Northside Sportfest
Through July 29. Portage Park, Irving and Central, (773)665-4682.

28
44th Annual Venetian Night
Chicago's longest-running Lakefront event. Dusk. Chicago Lakefront.

Pan African Soccer Tournament
Soccer competition between African and Caribbean teams, fifteen teams from around the Midwest. Through July 29. Jackson Park, 63rd and Hayes, (773)955-ARTS.

Tastes of Africa
Food tasting festival of the African Diaspora (African, Caribbean, soul & vegetarian) Foods. Through July 29. Jackson Park, 63rd and Hayes, (773)955-ARTS.

Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Noon-10pm. Through July 29. Lincoln from Fullerton to Wrightwood, (773)348-6784.

Wicker Park Festival
Noon-11pm. Damen between Wabansia and North, (773)868-3010, ext. 227.

29
An Arts Adventure
Exhibits and art in action demonstrations by the artists and craftsartists exhibiting work they have created. Free. 9am-5pm. Superior and State, (312)751-2500.

Fleet Feet Sports Women’s 5K and 10K Festival
8am. Montrose Harbor, (312)944-4113.

GhanaFest
11am-9pm. Washington Park, 54th on Cottage Grove, (773)955-9533.

Sunday Polo at Oak Brook
USPA President's Cup (8-goal), USPA Intra-Circuit (12-goal). $10 adults; children 12 & under free. 1pm and 3pm. Naperville Polo Club & Oak Brook Sports Core, (630)990-2394, (815)436-9500.

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