Searching for what to do this week in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this week (August 3-9, 2026) including the best events and activities.
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.
Best Events This Week in Chicago
Below are the best events this week in Chicago:
Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine Tour at the United Center – August 3, 5 & 6, 2026
Chicago Ducky Derby – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 10am–2:30pm (race at 1pm) | Free – Rubber duck race in the Chicago River in support of the Special Olympics Illinois. There are also family-friendly activities including games, food trucks, entertainment, photo-ops, souvenirs, and more at Pioneer Court.
Northalsted Market Days – August 7-9, 2026
Ginza Festival (Old Town) – August 7-9, 2026
LatiNxt Festival – August 8 & 9, 2026 | Free
Bud Billiken® Parade – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 10am-4pm
Bugapalooza at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 1-4pm – Fun family event for bug enthusiasts.
Summer Center Day at Hyde Park Art Center – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 1-4pm | Free
More Events in Chicago This Week
Below are more events taking place this week in Chicago:
Pilates at Gallagher Way – Monday, August 3, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Millennium Park Summer Music Series – Monday, August 3, 2026, 6:30-9pm (Gates open at 5pm) | Free
After5Chicago – Swipe Right on Space: What Dating & Physics Have in Common – Monday, August 3, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm
Kicking It Curbside (Pilsen) – Monday, August 3, 2026, 7-9pm | Free – Live music and drink specials every Monday in the summer on Allport Street.
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Intro to Weather at North Park Village Nature Center Park – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm | Free
Tuesdays on the Terrace – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 5:30pm | Free, but tickets are limited
Pier Fitness – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
Millennium Park Summer Film Series: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 6:30pm (gates open at 5pm) | Free Admission
Disney Trivia Night at Snakes & Lattes – Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 7-9pm
HIIT at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Illinois Free Wednesdays at the Field Museum – Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks at Riis Park – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 5-7:30pm | Free
Late Wednesday at National Museum of Mexican Art – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 5-8pm | Free
Jazzin’ at the Shedd – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 5-10pm
Ohlsson Plays Chopin at Jay Pritzker Pavilion – Wednesday, August 5, 6:30pm | Free
Summer Concert Series at Northcenter Town Square – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 7-8:30pm | Free
Music in Monument Park (Edison Park) – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 7-9pm | Free
CatJam Chicago Jam Session at The Wild Mile – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier – Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 9pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Willis Tower’s Catalog Summer Concert Series – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 4:30-6:30pm | Free
Art Institute of Chicago Free Hours for Illinois Residents – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 5–8pm | Free
Argyle Night Market – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 5-9pm | Free
Dog Days of Summer at Lincoln Common Plaza – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm | Free – Bring your pup for an agility course, treats, giveaways, samples and more.
Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Square – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
Harper Court Summer Music Series (Hyde Park) – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 6-9pm | Free
Millennium Park Summer Music Series – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 6:30-9pm (Gates open at 5pm) | Free
Vocal Fellows at Columbus Park Refectory – Thursday, August 6, 6:30pm | Free
Wild Mile Projections: Skunk Run – Gųųšgoonąk at The Wild Mile – Thursday, August 6, 2026, 9-9:30pm | Free
Big Questions, Cool Drinks: A Psychedelics Science Night – Friday, August 7, 2026, 6pm & 8:30pm
Ashley McBryde at Gallagher Way – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 7pm
Driehaus Museum Summer Market – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 11am-5pm | Free
Chicago Fair Trade’s Sidewalk Sale – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 12-5pm | Free
Jarvis Square Pierogi Fiesta (Rogers Park) – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 1-10pm
Foo Fighters Take Cover Tour at Soldier Field – Saturday, August 8, 2026, 5:30pm
Maxwell Street Market – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 10am–3pm | Free Admission
Andersonville Vintage Market – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 11am-5pm – Outdoor event at Ashland & Catalpa featuring a curated mix of vintage clothing, home goods, vinyl, furniture, and handmade treasures.
Humboldt Arboreal Society DJ Sets – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 1pm | Free
You can find more Chicago weekend events here.
McKinley Park 20$ & Under Market – August 8 & 9, 2026, 12–6pm
The Notebook: The Musical at the James M. Nederlander Theatre – August 4-16, 2026
Iceboy! at the Goodman Theatre – Through August 16, 2026
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW – Through September 6, 2026
More Things to Do in Chicago This Week
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must do Chicago experience.
Take a Lake Cruise
Enjoy a cool lake breeze and admire the Chicago skyline from a lake cruise.
If your time is short, you can do a combination river and lake cruise.
Watch Fireworks
Watch fireworks at Navy Pier Wednesday and Saturday all summer. The fireworks can be seen from various spots along the Lakefront including North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach and the Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk.
The best and most relaxing way to see the Navy Pier fireworks show is on a fireworks lake or river cruise.
If you enjoy guided tours, you can also see the fireworks and other attractions on this fireworks segway tour.
Kayak in the River or Lake
A fun way to explore the city is to go kayaking in the Chicago River or Lake Michigan. You can rent a kayak in the Chicago River here and Ohio beach here.
You can also join a guided kayaking tour in the downtown portion of the Chicago River including this history and architecture kayak tour and this sunset kayak tour.
Please note that you will get a little wet when kayaking so bring a waterproof case for your phone and water-resistant or quick-drying clothing.
Attend a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some of the concerts taking place this week include:
The Lord of the Rings
Tribute to Bad Bunny (Oak Park)
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
Step into history at Titanic: A Voyage Through Time an extraordinary virtual reality (VR) journey into history’s most famous ship. Dive to the wreckage as it rests today, then travel back to 1912 to experience the Titanic as a passenger. Walk the Grand Staircase, meet the people who shaped its story, and witness history firsthand in this immersive adventure.
When: Through September 27, 2026
Where: 108 West Germania Place, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is an immersive adventure that lets you and your friends become heroes, fighting spiders, creepers, and skeletons on your quest to rescue villagers from a zombie attack. Explore eight interactive Minecraft rooms and gather resources for your quest in these interactive biomes. Practice your Minecrafting skills with a handheld Orb to chop down trees, collect resources, and fight mobs.
Where: 9900 Berwyn Ave, in the Pearl District, Rosemont, IL 60018
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
AirOtic Soirée
AirOtic Soirée is a bold, sensual and provocative cabaret-circus experience returning to Chicago for a full summer run. After sold-out runs across the U.S. and Europe, the internationally acclaimed Airotic Soirée is a show that celebrates desire, sensuality, athletic beauty, and erotic elegance. Airotic Soirée is a blend of erotic cabaret and contemporary circus blending high-level acrobatics, seductive choreography and visual artistry. 21+ with valid ID.
When: Through August 29, 2026
Where: Experience 868, 868 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition is a limited time unique exhibition that explores the profound relationship between art and emotions through the captivating medium of inflatable art. This exhibition, first presented in London in December 2023, is committed to the work of emotions, transforming artworks into mirrors to explore the profound relationship between art and emotions, action, and reaction. This is manifested tangibly through Inflatable Art, which offers itself as a medium to express the most intimate nuances of human feelings. Through a mix of interactive installations, emotional projections, and performance art, EmotionAir aims to transport visitors on an unprecedented sensory journey.
Where: The Fields Studios – Gate 1, 2828 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60641
Cost: Timed-entry tickets are required. Click here to purchase tickets.
Watch a Drunk Shakespeare Play
Join The Drunk Shakespeare Society for an unforgettable evening of Shakespearean revelry. Set within a speakeasy, five actors attempt to perform a Shakespearean play after one of them downs multiple shots of various alcohols. Every show is different depending on who is drinking and what they’re drinking. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
Where: The Lounge At The Lion, 182 North Wabash Avenue
Cost: Prices start at $29 per person. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wondra: Immerse yourself in the magic of nature
Looking for a fun activity for kids? Head to the suburbs for Wondra, where each space invites curious minds to discover hidden details, dazzling colors, and natural awe-scapes that spark imagination and evoke wonder. Experience nature’s wonders in a whole new light with this immersive journey.
Where: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to see prices and purchase tickets in advance.
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago this week. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are planning ahead, you can find more things to do in Chicago in July.
