Riders seek out the cool of an evening bike trip.
Riders seek out the cool of an evening bike trip. Cook County Forest Preserves hosts an evening bike ride through Busse Woods on Aug. 26, 2023. Justine Tobiasz / WBEZ

The best things to do in Chicago from Aug. 24 to Aug. 29, 2023

Don’t miss out on enjoying the last of summer in Chicago! Here are five fun things to do this weekend around town.

Riders seek out the cool of an evening bike trip. Cook County Forest Preserves hosts an evening bike ride through Busse Woods on Aug. 26, 2023. Justine Tobiasz / WBEZ
By Bianca Cseke
Riders seek out the cool of an evening bike trip.
Riders seek out the cool of an evening bike trip. Cook County Forest Preserves hosts an evening bike ride through Busse Woods on Aug. 26, 2023. Justine Tobiasz / WBEZ

The best things to do in Chicago from Aug. 24 to Aug. 29, 2023

Don’t miss out on enjoying the last of summer in Chicago! Here are five fun things to do this weekend around town.

By Bianca Cseke
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

August may be almost over, but don’t worry — there are still plenty of summer events left in the season. Thursday brings the inaugural indie music fest Pool Party, hosted and curated by Beach Bunny frontwoman Lili Trifilio. The weekend brings more music — including a block party from one of the city’s most famous music venues — plus a car show in Berwyn, Taste of Greektown and more.

Here are five picks for the weekend and into next week.

For more ideas, see the full WBEZ Summer 250, our curated guide of 250+ events for planning the waning weeks of Chicago summer, with easy sorting to help you pick what’s right for you. You can also text “SUMMER” to 312312 for weekly picks in one of three categories: family-friendly, outdoor concerts or the best of all events.

Thalia Hall music venue at night
Thalia Hall hosts its second annual block party on Aug. 26. K’von Jackson for WBEZ

Thalia Hall Block Party

Aug. 26

Thalia Hall is one of Chicago’s more high profile music venues, and organizers’ second annual block party promises a slew of local acts and DJs on Allport Street. On the lineup: Lady Wray, V.V. Lightbody, Smut, Modern Nun and George Arthur Calendar. 1807 S. Allport St. Free.

Busse Night Ride

Aug. 26

Ride your bike along the Busse Woods trail from sunset until dark and cap the night off with live music and a bonfire. Busse Lake Boating Center, E. Higgins Road/Route 72, east of I-290/Highway 53, Cook County. Free.

Chicken on a grill at Taste of Greektown
An array of authentic Greek food vendors prepare food at Taste of Greektown. Courtesy of Special Events Management

Taste of Greektown

Aug. 25-27

Halsted’s most Hellenic weekend is during Taste of Greektown, where you’ll find classics like Mr. Greek Gyros and artisan baked goods from Artopolis. Hellas 2000 will grace the stage with a blend of old Greek hits and modern music. 315 S. Halsted St. $10 suggested donation.

A visitor looks at a car at the Berwyn Route 66 car show
Expect more than 175 vehicles at the Berwyn Route 66 car show. Courtesy of Berwyn Development Corp.

Berwyn Route 66 Car Show

Aug. 26

You’ll find more than 175 pre-war and customized cars, trucks, motorcycles and even bicycles lined up along the historic Route 66 in Berwyn. The event isn’t as fussy as other car shows; award categories like “fabulous fins” and “pleasin’ paint” focus more on fun and less on mint condition rides. Elvis impersonator Rick Saucedo performs. 6746 Ogden Ave., Berwyn. Free.

Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Aug. 29

Haven’t made it to an outdoor movie yet this season — or eager for another? Don’t miss this one. This genre-bending film swept nearly every Oscar category all at once this year, nabbing a golden statue for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. The plot zig-zags between worlds as one woman fights for the fate of the multiverse. Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free.

Bianca Cseke is a digital producer at WBEZ.