Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
Bulls Fest 2025
The Bulls won’t open their season ’til October, but you can see red this weekend in the United Center parking lot. Meet Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Will Perdue, Noa Essengue, Lachlan Obrich, Kendall Gill, Jud Buechler, Eddy Curry, and of course Benny the Bull this weekend. Bulls Fest also features clinics and a 3-on-3 tournament. Get your game on.
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 23-24 at United Center, Lot C, 1901 W. Madison St; free tickets at nba.com
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference
The city pays tribute to its role as the birthplace of house music with this annual four-day festival and conference. Panel discussions and dance workshops will give way to a four-stage music festival in Millennium Park on Aug. 23. Headliners include Andre and Tony Hatchett of the Chosen Few DJs, DJ Pharris Thomas, Waxmaster, Tyree Cooper and Ralphi Rosario. It wraps up Aug. 24 with DJ Jerome Baker and Julio Bishop at the Chicago Riverwalk’s Confluence, the park at the Riverwalk’s west end.
Through Aug. 24 in various Chicago locations; details at chicago.gov
Benson Boone
Beautiful things will happen this weekend, as Benson Boone packs the United Center. Maybe even something mystical magical. In May, the mustachioed heartthrob posted on Instagram that tickets to his “American Heart” tour sold out in nine seconds. But there’s always the secondary market.
8 p.m. Aug. 23 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; tickets at unitedcenter.com
“Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern”
Nerds, get your tickets. This interactive experience is back at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place after an earlier engagement in 2022. Expect fantasy-gaming themes and a Gamemaster calling the shots. If you’re not familiar with the “Twenty-Sided” reference in the title, this may not be your show, but it’s fun and the audience gets to help direct the story.
Through Sept. 28 at Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.; www.broadwayinchicago.com
John Legend
The singer-songwriter marks the 20th anniversary of his debut album, “Get Lifted,” with a tour that rolls into Ravinia this weekend. The album, produced by Kanye West, featured “Used to Love U” and “Ordinary People.” It also earned John Legend his first punch on his eventual EGOT ticket, winning the first of his dozen-plus Grammys.
7:30 p.m. (gates at 5 p.m.) Aug. 23-24 at Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; tickets from $74 at ravinia.org
Thirsty Ears Festival
If you’re wandering through Ravenswood this weekend, keep an ear out for Bach. Access Contemporary Music presents a two-day classical music festival featuring works from all eras. Chamber ensembles Lakeshore Rush and Black Oak Ensemble are among the 19 acts expected to perform. For young ones, check out the kid zone, featuring an instrument petting zoo and face painting.
2-11 p.m. Aug. 23 and 1-9 p.m. Aug. 24 around 1758 W. Wilson Ave.; $10 suggested donation; details at acmusic.org
Living Newspaper Festival
Having trouble processing the never-ending onslaught of news? Let Jackalope Theatre help. Since 2009, the Living Newspaper Fest has presented short, original plays inspired by recent news stories. This year’s installment features five, 10-minute plays ranging in topic from immigration raids to fluctuations of Earth’s rotation. Timely stuff.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 21-23, 2 p.m. Aug. 24 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway St.; tickets from $15 at jackalopetheatre.org
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Maren Morris
You know, just meet her in the middle already. You can find the country-pop crossover Maren Morris at Ravinia this weekend on her “Dreamsicle” tour. With her new album, Morris joins the constellation of stars who’ve worked with producer Jack Antonoff.
7:30 p.m. (gates at 5 p.m.) Aug. 22 at Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; tickets from $59 at ravinia.org
Edison Park Fest
More than 50 years after it started as a sidewalk sale, Edison Park Fest takes to the streets this weekend. Play bingo or bags, ride your way through the carnival, stroll the business expo and craft fair or take in live music. School may have started, but summer’s not over yet.
5-10 p.m. Aug. 22 and noon-10 p.m. Aug. 23-24, centered around 6730 N. Olmsted Ave.; $10 suggested donation to benefit the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce; details at edisonparkfest.org
Chicago Triathlon
Ready for a challenge? The Chicago Triathlon invites athletes ages 7 and up to swim, bike and run your way through the city. Compete by yourself or with a relay team. The big races of the weekend — the Sprint and Olympic — will begin early Sunday morning, the Olympic with a 1.5-kilometer swim in Monroe Harbor, a 40-kilometer bike ride down a closed DuSable Lakeshore Drive, and a 10-kilometer run along the lakefront finishing on Columbus Drive.
Aug. 23-24 in various Chicago locations; registration from $145 at by.supertri.com
Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to [email protected].