August is the last chance to take full advantage of summer before the weather starts to cool, and Chicago bars and restaurants are making the most of the season. Gaijin is celebrating the local harvest with a plant-based tasting menu, while Ema hosts a Mediterranean wine tasting on the patio and The Duck Inn roasts a whole pig. Festival season is winding down, but you still have the chance to experience neighborhood celebrations like the Jarvis Square Pierogi Fiesta in Rogers Park or the Taste of Andersonville dining crawl. Put on some sunscreen and beat the heat at these 10 August dining events.
Jarvis Square Pierogi Fiesta
Compete in a pierogi toss and try variations on the Eastern European dumplings including potato and cheese or sauerkraut and mushroom along with the celebration’s signature pierogi margaritas. Festivities include live polka music and artisan vendors.
1-10 p.m. Aug. 8 on the 1500 block of Jarvis Avenue; free; more information at jsqevents.com/pierogifiesta2026
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Taste of Andersonville
Sample food and drink along Clark Street at spots including Bar Roma, Pizza Lobo, Big Jones and Devil Dawgs. The annual dining crawl features two routes with at least 10 stops, though those with big appetites can choose to do both. Check in early to explore the Andersonville Farmers Market.
5-8 p.m. Aug. 12 at 5344 N. Clark St.; $35-$65 tickets at andersonville.org/events/taste-of-andersonville
Summer Harvest Plant-Based Tasting Menu
Chef Marcus Rasmussen serves a five-course meal sourced from local farmers and foragers, with Japanese-inspired dishes including tomato tartare, sweet corn chanterelle Osaka-style okonomiyaki and plum kakigori. Optional drink pairings are available for $40.
5-9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Gaijin, 950 W. Lake St.; $70 tickets at gaijinchicago.com/upcomingevents
Air & Water Show Viewing Party
Get a beachfront view of the rehearsal for the big weekend show while enjoying a buffet lunch, frozen cocktails, and a spritz and bloody mary bar.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at Shore Club, 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive; $95 tickets at shoreclubchi.com/chicago-air-and-water-show
Summer Spritz & Sip Patio Party
Sommelier John C. Slatter offers tasting notes while you sample white, rosé, orange and red wines from the Mediterranean. You’ll get a full pour of your favorite along with a welcome spritz and passed bites.
4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Ema, 74 W. Illinois St.; $54 ticket at emarestaurants.com/chicago
Cluck ’N Bubble
Sip sparkling wine while trying spins on fried chicken from restaurants including Hermosa, Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken and Bayan Ko and vote for your favorite to win the inaugural competition, which raises money for the Banchet Awards.
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Noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 23 at The Alston, 750 N. State St.; $150-$250 tickets at thebanchetawards.com/cluck-n-bubble
La Licor Fest
Representatives from 15 Latin American cocktail bars pop up in Logan Square to serve drinks and host seminars on regional spirits, production methods, and emerging trends. Each day pass includes five cocktails, coffee and food.
Aug. 25-30 at La Licor Panamericana, 2521 N. California Ave.; tickets $112 to $140 at lalicor.com
Tropical BBQ & Pig Roast
The monthly summer bash features a whole suckling pig served with Polynesian-inspired sides, jerked chicken skewers and mai tais made with Spam-infused rum, along with traditional dances performed by the Hokule’a Academy.
6-8 p.m. Aug. 27 at The Duck Inn, 2701 S. Eleanor St.; $78 tickets at theduckinnchicago.com
Panda Fest
Billed as one of the largest outdoor Asian food festival in the U.S., the touring event offers the chance to sample more than 200 street food dishes including dumplings, noodles, skewers and desserts. You can also catch music and dance performances.
4-10 p.m. Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 29 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 30 at Grant Park, Upper Hutchinson Field, 200 E. Balbo Drive; $14-$35 tickets at pandafests.com
Community Kitchen Dinner
A fundraiser for The Lotus Flower, an organization that supports women and girls in Kurdistan, the event showcases the food of the Kurdish diaspora and how refugees have been able to keep some recipes unchanged while adapting others to incorporate the ingredients available in their new homes.
5:30-7 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m. Aug. 31 at Marz Brewery, 3630 Iron St.; $25-$100 tickets at coprosperity.org
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Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.