Kicking off the fest-filled weekend early is Taste of Chicago, the five-day grub and music extravaganza that runs through Sunday. Foodies can also hit Roscoe Village Burger Fest and chow down on hearty eats at Irish Fest. Art and music are the focus the rest of the weekend with West Fest, Square Roots Fest, Ruido Fest and Millennium Art Festival.
Taste of Chicago
When: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Grant Park
How much: Admission is free. Performances at the Petrillo Music Shell range in price from $15–$23, with free lawn seating. Performances at the Bud Light Stage are free. Celebrity chef cooking demos are $45 per person. Food and drink tickets are $8.50 for 12. Tickets: tasteofchicago.us
The skinny: Feast on food from nearly 70 of Chicago’s favorite restaurants and food trucks at the 36th annual fest. Along with vets such as Churro Factory, Dia De Los Tamales and Lou Malnati’s, try bites from five-day newbies including Abundance Bakery and Frannie’s Cafe with Italian beef. Popping up for a limited time are 17 restaurants, including 11 new options such as Demera Ethiopian Restaurant (Sunday), Pork & Mindy’s (Friday and Saturday), Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (Friday and Saturday) and Taco in a Bag (Saturday and Sunday). Food trucks Firecakes Donuts, The Happy Lobster and more show face at the fest for the first time, and local chefs including Trenchermen’s Patrick Sheerin and Fat Rice’s Abraham Conlon offer cooking demos (Friday and Sunday, respectively). Along with free live music at the Bud Light Stage (Columbia Drive and Balbo Avenue), catch big names at the Petrillo Music Shell, such as The Decemberists (5:30 p.m. Friday), Billy Idol (4:30 p.m. Saturday) and The Isley Brothers (4:30 p.m. Sunday).
West Fest
When: 5–10 p.m. Friday, noon–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street
How much: $5 suggested donation
The skinny: Take to the streets of West Town for this art and music fest, which expands to three days in its 12th year. Along with live art demonstrations, watch music acts on two stages, including Nashville garage rockers Bully (8:30 p.m. Saturday) and Cleveland indie rockers Cloud Nothings (8:30 p.m. Sunday) at the main stage. Spinning at the DJ stage are Mark Farina (6:30 p.m. Saturday), Derrick Carter (8 p.m. Sunday) and a solid lineup of others.
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
When: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Clybourn Avenue between Diversey Parkway and Wellington Avenue
How much: $10 suggested donation
The skinny: Bring on the beef at this neighborhood fest with a dozen local restaurants, including newbies Dive Bar, Fatso’s Last Stand and VPT. Normally held on Belmont Avenue, the festival’s new location this year is expected to be temporary to accommodate construction. With a burger in hand, jam out to live music on two stages, including Hawaiian alt-pop artist Kawehi (3:20 p.m. Saturday, main stage), Boy Band Review (6 p.m. Sunday, Clybourn stage) and Led Zeppelin 2 (5:30 p.m. Saturday, Clybourn stage).
Ruido Fest
When: 3–10 p.m. Friday, 1–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Addams/Medill Park
How much: $54.98 for single-day general admission; $94.98 for two-day general admission; $149.98 for three-day general admission (prices may change). Tickets: ruidofest.com
The skinny: The Latin alternative music festival from the Riot Fest team is back for a second year, and bringing the noise are nearly 50 national and international acts including ska band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs from Buenos Aires (8:30 p.m. Sunday, AT&T Stage), Chilean rock reggae group Gondwana (6:40 p.m. Friday, AT&T Stage) and Aterciopelados, fusing rock with Colombian and traditional Latin American music (7:30 p.m. Sunday, Coors Light Stage).
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Square Roots Festival
When: 5–10 p.m. Friday, noon–10 p.m. Saturday and noon–9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson avenues
How much: $10 suggested donation
The skinny: The craft beer is as plentiful as the live music at this Lincoln Square fest. Choose from more than 30 pours from Chicago and surrounding breweries, including Temperance Beer Co., Ten Ninety Brewing Co. and Arcade Brewery. Four stages play host to more than 50 acts, such as roots punk artist Lydia Loveless (8:45 p.m. Saturday, North Stage), Mexican folk group Villalobos Brothers (5:30 p.m. Sunday, South Stage) and hip-hop artist Dessa (8:45 p.m. Friday, North Stage). Catch a dance performance from The Booty Movement Coalition (5:15 Friday, North Stage), and head inside for belly dancing lessons (5 p.m. Sunday, East Lobby) and a bluegrass jam (5 p.m. Saturday, East Lobby). For more information, visit squareroots.org.
Irish Fest
When: 6 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday, noon–1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.–midnight Sunday
Where: Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Ave.)
How much: $8 Friday, $15 Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: irishfestchicago.com
The skinny: Plenty of traditional food and beer will have you Dublin’ up at this Irish festival. Between dozens of Celtic music and dance performances, play in a bags tournament (1 p.m. Sunday), compete in a mashed potato-eating contest (8 p.m. Friday), watch men in kilts strut their stuff in the kilt contest (7:30 p.m. Saturday) or vie for the best soda bread recipe (3 p.m. Sunday). Singles have a chance to meet their sweetie at three Hooley Hook-ups, with games on Friday and Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and speed-dating on Sunday (8:30 p.m.).
Millennium Art Festival
When: 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: North Michigan Avenue and East Lake Street
How much: Free
The skinny: More than 100 national artists, from painters and ceramicists to photographers and glassworkers, gather for the eighth annual art fest in the Loop. Mick Whitcomb showcases work inspired by the American machine age, including furniture and light fixtures made from industrial salvage. Plus, try tasty treats from Hey Brothers Ice Cream and others and contribute to a graffiti wall.
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