Festivals to do near me this weekend

1. “Harry Potter: Magic at Play”

Yer a wizard, Harry! Or at least, you can pretend to be one at this immersive Harry Potter experience that’s popping up at Water Tower Place through May 2023. Visitors are invited to step into Harry’s life at Hogwarts with interactive features like Quidditch lessons, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, sipping sweet drinks at the Butterbeer Bar, Patronus-seeking in the Forbidden Forest and learning their Hogwarts house via the Sorting Hat, among other magical experiences. FYI: In addition to regular operating hours, the exhibition is open on “select” Tuesdays and Wednesdays and may offer different hours around holidays. 

2. Lightscape

The Chicago Botanic Garden hosts this annual (and quick to sell out) display of festive lights, giving guests a host of shimmering reasons to visit the forest preserve during the holiday season. Set along an illuminated path, the after-dark experience features a series of installations to explore, including a 110-foot tunnel made up of 100,000 lights and a group of trees festooned in bulbs that "sing" holiday songs. This year, check out new exhibits like Starscape, a series of more than 700 handmade acrylic stars lighting up a 130-foot-long tunnel.

3. Randolph Street Holiday Market

Wander around with a Bloody Mary in hand at the annual holiday iteration of Randolph Street Market, which always boasts an eclectic smattering of vendors selling vintage furniture, handmade clothing, art, antiques and more treasures guaranteed to make for a memorable holiday gift.  

4. “Don Carlos”

In the mood for a whopping three hours and 50 minutes of opera performance? For the first time, the Lyric Opera of Chicago will present all five acts of Giuseppe Verdi's iconic opera Don Carlos in its original French text (instead of in Italian, as it's typically performed). Settle in for an evening of epic political drama, love and revenge among the royalty of 16th-century Spain.

5. “Mold-A-Rama™: Molded for the Future”

Tap into feelings of childhood nostalgia at the Museum of Science and Industry’s newest exhibit, a colorful glimpse into the world of Mold-A-Rama™ machines. Explore a collection of popular, rare and experimental souvenirs, learn about the history of the machines’ production and breathe in the iconic scent of their plastic toymaking—you can even take home a few new Mold-A-Rama™ souvenirs if you’re looking to expand your collection. 

6. Los San Patricios: The Irish Soldiers of Mexico

During the Mexican-American War, a group of Irish immigrants called the St. Patrick’s Battalion elected to fight against the U.S. invasion of Mexico alongside the Mexican army. Many of the Batallón de San Patricio (as they were known in Spanish) were later killed in battle or executed by the U.S. government. This concert, hosted by Mexican folk music ensemble Sones de México along with fiddle player Seán Cleland and The Irish Music School of Chicago faculty, pays tribute to Los San Patricios using Irish jigs and Mexican son music to tell their stories. 

7. Handmade Market Chicago

Add some shopping to your Saturday morning brunch routine by visiting Handmade Market at the Empty Bottle. You can sip a mimosa while checking out the wares of local vendors selling funky jewelry, clothing, handbags and paper crafts. You probably need a gift for someone—or yourself—right? Handmade Market takes over the Bottle on the second Saturday of the month from October through April.

8. Harry’s House at Replay Lincoln Park

Break out your feather boa for a weekend of Harry Styles-themed partying at Replay Lincoln Park’s latest pop-up, which is dedicated to the pop singer and his latest album. Pose alongside Harry-themed photo ops (including plenty of cardboard cut-outs), sip drinks like “Watermelon Sugar” and “Cherry” and—of course—dance as a DJ plays the star’s biggest pop hits.  

9. Goose Island Proprietor’s Days

For the first time since 2019, Goose Island’s Prop Day festivities are returning for an afternoon gathering on the streets outside of the brewery's Fulton Street facility. There, lucky lottery winners get to pick up bottles of the brand new Bourbon County Stout variant—a banana, coconut, lime and pineapple flavors for a riff on a jungle bird cocktail—while enjoying some drinks. Each lottery winner gets two bottle of the 2022 Proprietor's Bourbon County Stout, one bottle of the Bourbon County 30th anniversary Reserve Stout, one bottle of the 2022 Bourbon County 2-year Barleywine Reserve, a commemorative snifter and access to the Prop Day fest with six tasting tickets. Didn't get a chance to enter the lottery? You can snag bottles of this year's Bourbon County beers when they officially drop on Black Friday. 

10. “Measure for Measure”

Director Henry Godinez’s production of this Shakespeare “problem play” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater shifts the show’s setting to 1950s Cuba on the brink of Fidel Castro's rise to power, reimagining the story—in which the puritanical judge Angelo, once appointed as head of the city, hypocritically abuses his power behind the scenes—among the sensual environs of Havana. Get to the theater early to hear live mambo, bolero and Afro-Cuban jazz performances meant to mimic the sultry feel of Havana nightclubs. 

11. “Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery”

Delve into the often-mystifying process of death in this surprisingly life-affirming exhibit at the Field Museum, which explores dying through a variety of natural and cultural processes. Attendees can explore highlights like a full-sized ofrenda made by Chicago artist Norma Rios-Sierra, a replica of a whale's body on the ocean floor and check out a variety of interactive media and soundscapes to help ponder some of life's big questions about death. 

12. “The Twenty-Sided Tavern”

Immerse yourself in the world of tabletop roleplaying games at The Twenty-Sided Tavern, an interactive theater show that guides audiences through a story that "might involve dungeons, and might involve dragons." In addition to audience engagement (like the type you might find at an improv show), The Twenty-Sided Tavern uses Gamiotics, a browser-based software that guests use to vote to make decisions on where the story will go. The result is an ever-changing, fantastical show, so come prepared for an adventure. 

13. “Immersive King Tut”

Lighthouse Immersive's latest interactive show centers on the life of Egyptian pharoah King Tutankhamun, telling the story of the Amduat (an ancient Egyptian funerary text) with colorful videos and imagery—explore history through moving images of King Tut's golden death mask, elaborate burial chamber and sculptures of gods like Osiris. 

14. “Wicked”

The Broadway smash hit Wicked arrives in Chicago for an extended stint at the James M. Nederlander Theatre as part of its North American tour, chronicling the unlikely friendship of the green-skinned outcast Elphaba and popular blonde Glinda (who would go on to become the "wicked" and "good" witches, respectively, of The Wizard of Oz). This production is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. 

15. “Nostalgia for My Island: Puerto Rican Painting from the Museo de Arte de Ponce (1786-1962)”

Working in partnership with the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is bringing a stunning selection of paintings to Chicago—some of which have never been shown outside of Puerto Rico—for an exhibition highlighting several of the island's most important artists. Centered around three curatorial themes (“My Home,” “My People” and “My Island”), the works span from the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century, showcasing artists like José Campeche, Francisco Oller, Miguel Pou and Myrna Báez, among others. Tickets to the exhibition are free, but you might consider a small online donation to the Museo de Arte de Ponce, which is still recovering from damage sustained in a 2020 earthquake.  

16. “David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020”

Using his iPad and a custom app, renowned British painter David Hockney captures the technicolor emergence of spring in Normandy, France—observed en plein air during a trip to the region in early 2020—in this new exhibition of 116 works, including digital "paintings" and two animated videos. Completed amid the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns across the world, Hockney’s vividly rendered works provide a cheerful, celebratory contrast to the loneliness and grief experienced by many people in the early days of the pandemic. 

17. “The Color Is: Fashion Exhibition”

Inspired by Black aesthetics and couture throughout history, artist Nick Cave worked with his brother (fashion designer Jack Cave) and a series of collaborators to create this showcase of genderless couture looks and fashion objects that pay homage to everything from New York City's byegone ballroom scene to the Ebony Fashion Fair in this companion exhibit to the MCA's ongoing "Nick Cave: Forothermore" show. 

18. “The Art of the Brick”

Want to see recreations of Van Gogh's “Starry Night,” Da Vinci's “Mona Lisa” and Michaelangelo's “David” constructed with Lego bricks? The Museum of Science and Industry's latest exhibition collects the work of Nathan Sawaya, a former lawyer who turned his passion for tiny plastic bricks into contemporary art. “The Art of the Brick” include more than 100 of his creations, include a 20-foot-long T.rex skeleton and a life-sized sculpture of a man pulling his chest apart. The traveling show is the first major museum exhibition to use Lego bricks as its sole medium—and a testiment to the creativity that can be achieved with hundreds of thousands of tiny pieces of plastic.

This Museum of Science and Industry exhibit rquires a seperate ticket for entry, in addition to regular museum admission.

19. Bye Bye Liver: Chicago's Longest Running Drinking Play!

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

20. “Prince: The Immersive Experience”

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to say that a purple-hued world has opened up on Michigan Avenue, thanks to the arrival of a new Prince-themed immersive exhibition inside the sprawling Shops at North Bridge complex. Step inside to experience everything from a lilac-scented imitation of the bathroom in the “When Doves Cry” music video to a realistic version of Prince’s Paisley Park studio, painstakingly recreated with details like a shelf stocked with the 5-Hour Energy shots Prince kept on hand for recording sessions. And because this is an immersive experience, many of the rooms are equipped with some kind of interactive element, whether you prefer to experiment with sound mixing “Let’s Go Crazy” in the studio, take a personality quiz to get a custom playlist of Prince’s deep cuts or pose for photos atop a replica of the famous “Purple Rain” motorcycle.  

21. Newport Peek-Easy: Burlesque, Drag, Variety and More!

Settle in for an evening of burlesque performers, belly dancers, drag artists and variety entertainers during this weekly show at Newport Theater. The hour-long show features speciality cocktails and intimate seating arrangements, making this feel like a clandestine speakeasy experience. Bring some singles so that you can tip performers throughout the night!

22. “Wild Color”

Explore the colors of the natural world in the Field Museum's latest exhibition, which examines the meaning and function of some of the brightest hues in the world. “Wild Color” explores how plants and animals use color to ward off predators or attract maters, and how the color of gems and minerals can offer clues about their formation. The 7,000-square-foot exhibition is filled with specimens from the Field Museum's extensive collection, including a platypus that fluoresces under UV light and birds in every color (including "super black").

23. The Infinite Wrench

For more than 30-years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. Returning to in-person programming (attendees must be vaccinated and masked) after more than a year spent in the virtual realm, the company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

24. The Paper Machete

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

25. “Human+Nature”

See eight towering sculptures by South African artist Daniel Popper at the Morton Arboretum's new outdoor exhibition, which spreads the 15- to 26-foot-tall works throughout the natural area. Made of glass-reinforced concrete, wood, fiberglass and steel, the one-of-a-kind pieces in "Human+Nature" depict human figures that evoke the natural landscape they're set amid, including a pair of 36-foot-long hands reaching out from a grove of oak trees and a maternal figure that springs up amid magnolia trees.

Access to "Human+Nature" is included as part of timed-entry admission to the Morton Arboretum, and there's a map that will allow you to easily plan your visit and spot all eight  sculptures along the way.