Events Around Chicago This Weekend

Chicago Blues Festival

This year’s Chicago Blues Festival will feature performances by Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band. Attendees can also enjoy shows marking 75 years of Billy Branch and 55 years of Alligator Records. Over three days, you can catch a variety of live music performances spread across four stages at Millennium Park. The event runs from June 5 to June 7, from noon to 9 p.m. Entry is free, but you can find more details at ChicagoBluesFestival.us.

Pokémon GO Fest

The Pokémon GO Fest coincides with the Blues Festival, but you’ll need to head to Grant Park instead. Enjoy augmented-reality gameplay that includes special eggs, hatch candy, and Stardust. The event is positioned between Tokyo and Copenhagen on the tour schedule. It’s a great time for Pokémon fans. Even if you’re not participating, expect more people than usual looking at their phones around the city. The fest runs until June 7 at Grant Park, located at 337 E. Randolph St. Tickets cost $33 and are available at pokemongo.com.

American Writers Festival

With the Printers Row Lit Fest now a fall event, the American Writers Museum fills the summer reading space. The festival will showcase authors such as 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Kraus, Susan Orlean, and Reza Aslan among others. Expect discussions on topics like free speech and poetry, and panels for sci-fi enthusiasts. This two-day event takes place at the American Writers Museum and the Harold Washington Library Center. Both venues offer free admission, with museum entry included on Saturday. Visit americanwritersmuseum.org for the full schedule.

Talk on the Declaration of Independence

For those interested in history, the Newberry Library hosts a discussion featuring Danielle Allen, a Harvard professor, and R. Scott Stephenson, CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution. Visitors can view artifacts from the museum, including a recreation of George Washington’s tent. Eric Slauter will discuss his exhibition “Free and Independent: The Declaration of Independence and the Words that Made the U.S.” This event is part of the United States 250 Initiative. It takes place on June 6 in Ruggles Hall at the Newberry Library, from 2-3 p.m. Registration is required at newberry.org.

Bleachers Concert

Jack Antonoff’s band Bleachers will perform live as part of their tour for the album “Everyone for Ten Minutes.” Known for producing music for artists like Taylor Swift, Antonoff brings his indie rock band to the stage. Concerts will be held on June 5 and June 7 at Salt Shed Fairgrounds, located at 1357 N. Elston Ave. Tickets start at $75.20, available at saltshedchicago.com.

Melissa Etheridge at Brookfield Zoo

Melissa Etheridge opens the Brookfield Zoo’s “Roaring Nights” summer concert series. The concert ticket includes zoo access before the show, unlimited rides on the carousel, and the Ferris wheel. Catch her performance on June 7 at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, located at 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Tickets start at $65, available at brookfieldzoo.org.

Queer-Coded Hitchcock at the Music Box Theatre

The Music Box Theatre offers a series of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers featuring queer characters in time for Pride Month. Enjoy classics like “Strangers on a Train,” with “Rebecca,” “Rope,” and “Psycho” playing later this month. The series will run until June 27 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are available from $13 at musicboxtheatre.com.

Midwest Haunters Convention

Halloween enthusiasts gather at the Midwest Haunters Convention at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Explore ideas for Halloween decorations and connect with like-minded people. The event runs from noon to 6 p.m. on June 5, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 6, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 7. Tickets start at $40, available at midwesthaunterscon.com.

57th Street Art Fair

Visit the 57th Street Art Fair to meet artists and view their works. The event is family-friendly and features kids’ art activities along with music from Buddy Guy’s Legends. It takes place on June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on 57th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood avenues. Admission is free, details are available at 57thstreetartfair.com.

“Shimmering Summer” at the Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden presents “Evanescent,” an installation of giant iridescent bubbles designed by Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield. This temporary installation begins its run on June 6 and continues through September 20. The opening weekend is June 6-7 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Tickets start at $12.95, children 2 and under are free. Purchase tickets at chicagobotanic.org.