Chicago Weekender: West Fest, Renegade Craft Fair and more
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
This weekend does not disappoint for Chicago street fest fans with tacos, burgers and beers on the menu.
- Plus, plenty of live theater for those looking to stay inside.
Friday
🎉 West Fest Chicago features live music, local food and vendors, Kid Fest and Pet Fest. | Chicago Avenue between Wood and Damen | Free | Friday–Sunday | Details
🍔 Roscoe Village Burger Fest has burgers from 11 Chicago restaurants, live music and a kids zone. | Intersection of Belmont and Damen | $10 suggested donation | Friday–Sunday | Details
🍽️ The Taste of River North features local restaurants, live music and a children's play area, plus a wine tasting, a Saturday dog parade and street-art painting activities. | Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago | $10–$25 | Friday–Saturday | Details
🌮 Tacos y Tamales celebrates Chicago's rich Hispanic and Latin cultures with authentic foods, street cantinas, live music, dance performances, art and more. | Blue Island Avenue between Wolcott and Ashland | Friday–Sunday | Details
🇨🇴 Colombia Fest features bands, DJs, a 5K run, Colombian cuisine and artisans. | Humboldt Park | $20+ | Friday–Sunday | Details
🎡 The Taste of Highwood festival offers live music, carnival rides, children's entertainers and food. | Highwood | Free | Friday–Sunday | Details
🛍️ Hyde Park Summer Sidewalk Sale brings shoppers savings from local retailers. | Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard | Free | Thursday–Saturday, 9:30am–6:30pm | Details
🎵 Downtown Concerts at Port Clinton pairs free live music with global cuisine. | Port Clinton Square in Highland Park | Free | Friday, 6–8pm | Details
🎶 Raven Theatre's "Octet," featuring chamber-inspired a cappella music by Dave Malloy, examines life online. | The Owen Theatre at the Goodman Theatre | $44–$94 | Through July 26 | Details
🎵 Rock the Rails presents Alex Key. | 28 Mile Distilling Co. in Highwood | Thursday, 7pm | Details
🎶 Sixteen Candles performs at Downtown Alive. | RiverEdge Park | $3–$5 | Friday, 8pm | Details
🎭 Steppenwolf's LookOut Series presents "Nervous Breakdown in G Minor," a solo show by Lewis Rawlinson tracing his journey through queerness, addiction and mental health with live music. | 1700 Theater | $30 | Friday–Sunday | Details
Saturday
🎶 The Silver Room Sound System Block Party returns this year. The South Side music festival moves north to the Salt Shed, featuring headliners Celeste Alexander and Big Daddy Kane. | Saturday, noon–10pm | Details
🍻 The Ravenswood on Tap is a two-day neighborhood craft beer festival with local breweries, live music, artisan vendors, mini golf and other activities. | Ravenswood Avenue between Berteau and Belle Plaine | $10 suggested donation | Saturday–Sunday | Details
🎉 Nordstrom's first-ever Downtown Chicago Block Party features performances, food trucks, kids activities and giveaways. | Pioneer Court | Free | Saturday, 10am–4pm | Details
🧶 Renegade Craft Fair gathers more than 250 artists. | Kedzie Boulevard between Fullerton and Palmer Square | Saturday–Sunday, 11am–6pm | Details
⚽️ France and England compete for third place in the World Cup. | Recess | Saturday, doors open at 11am and match starts at 2pm | Details
🛍️ The Armitage-Halsted-Webster Sidewalk Sale gathers more than 30 local retailers and restaurants. | Armitage from Racine to Howe; Halsted from Armitage to Webster; Webster from Magnolia to Halsted | Saturday–Sunday, 11am–5pm | Details
🏃 The Highwood 5K Family Run, Walk & Stroll raises money for the Oak Terrace Parent Teacher Organization. | Highwood | $45 | Saturday, 8am | Details
Sunday
⚽️ Gather to cheer on Argentina in the World Cup Final in Lakeview. | Bodega Sur | Sunday, 2pm | Details
🥅 Gather to cheer on Spain in the World Cup Final at Ba Ba Reeba in Lincoln Park. | Sunday, 2pm | Details
🏃 The Chicago House Run is a 5K that allows runners to chase the beats of eight DJs, including Bad Boy Bill and DJ Heather. | Soldier Field | $70 | Sunday, 8am | Details
Next week
🍸 Kitty's Cosmopolitan Club hosts Jesse Vida, co-founder of Singapore's Cat Bite Club, for one night only, featuring a four-cocktail fixed menu. | Kitty's Cosmopolitan Club | $75 | Monday, 6–8pm | Details
📝 "The Last Time We Saw Them" by William Glick stages a free reading as part of its New Stages Residency. Reservations open. | Healy Rehearsal Hall at Goodman Theatre | Free but need reservations | Monday, 7:30-9:30pm | Details
📚 Bookbinding Workshop is a hands-on session with Barrovian Books to learn traditional bookbinding techniques and create three handmade notebooks; tickets include a first drink from the Drawing Room bar. | Chicago Athletic Association | $70 | Wednesday, 6:30–8:30pm | Details