Featured Events in Chicago in August, 2025 (May Updated)

Born in Calcutta and raised in the verdant Himalayan mountains of Kashmir, Shaw draws deeply on the landscapes and memories of his early life, many of which were fractured by political upheaval. Forced to leave Kashmir as a teenager, he relocated first to New Delhi and later to London, where he studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. His work is influenced by a broad range of sources—Mughal and Persian miniatures, Renaissance altarpieces, Old Masters paintings, Japanese arts of the Momoyama period, Kashmiri and Urdu poetry, and Hindu and Western mythology—and yet his visual vocabulary and technique are all his own.

Impressionist artist Gustave Caillebotte (1848–1894)—known and beloved by many Art Institute visitors for his monumental painting Paris Street; Rainy Day—takes center stage in this major exhibition exploring the very personal interests and relationships that shaped his world.

The Savannah Bananas are a member of the Coastal Plain League, and they compete in regular baseball games within the league on weekdays. In the off-season, they will hold their own banana ball exhibition games. "I know we will never win the World Series, and we will never be the best baseball team on the planet, but we can be the most entertaining baseball team in the world. This is our mission and our vision," said Jared Orton, the club's president. The rules include: a two-hour game time limit, no bunts, the batter can choose to steal first, no walking out of the box, no on-base, and a scoring system, where the team with the most runs in each inning gets one point. In addition to the rules, the team brings a series of entertainment performances to almost every field, including choreographed dances, bizarre skits, and players walking around the stands to interact with fans.

Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom presents 25 years of work from artist Paul Pfeiffer (b. 1966, Honolulu, HI; lives in New York, NY), whose practice interrogates ideas of spectacle and mass culture. By repurposing the tools and systems of media production—including editing, staging, and outsourcing—Pfeiffer recontextualizes global celebrities such as pop stars, film actors, and athletes to reveal relationships between audiences and athletes. icons. As the artist puts it, “who’s using who? Is the image making us, or do we make images?”

Stenn began collecting art with his wife, Marcia, in 1971, largely as a way of enhancing their newly renovated Lincoln Park home. Although neither had formal art training, she had a discerning eye, and he enjoyed the hunt for the right object. Together they approached the project as a shared learning activity, and in time, they acquired paintings and sculpture by significant artists of the post-World War II period.

The Lollapalooza Festival, a premier music event, takes place in the heart of Chicago at the iconic Grant Park on August 3, 2025, starting at 12:00 PM. Known for its eclectic lineup, the festival features a diverse range of genres, including rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music, attracting music enthusiasts from around the globe. With a ticket price of 189 USD, attendees can expect an unforgettable experience filled with live performances from top-tier artists, immersive art installations, and a variety of food vendors offering culinary delights. The Lollapalooza Festival not only celebrates music but also fosters a vibrant community atmosphere, making it a must-attend event for those seeking a dynamic cultural experience in Chicago.

Join us for an extraordinary art show that will take place August 9th 2025 at the renowned ODDxSHAD Gallery. Join us for an extraordinary art show that will take place August 9th 2025 at the renowned ODDxSHAD Gallery. This immersive exhibition features 9 art pieces titled The Devine 9. Attendees will be captivated by stunning installations, thought-provoking, and vibrant paintings that challenge perceptions and spark dialogue. Opening night ALL ATTENDEES will have to dress in all Black Formal attire. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience art that transcends boundaries and ignites the imagination! Information Source: ODDxSHAD Gallery | eventbrite

Linkin Park and PVRIS are set to electrify Chicago with an unforgettable performance at the UnitedCenter on August 11, 2025, at 7:30 PM. This highly anticipated event promises a night of unparalleled musical synergy, bringing together the iconic sounds of Linkin Park and the dynamic energy of PVRIS. Fans can expect a diverse setlist that spans Linkin Park's legendary discography, from their groundbreaking debut album "Hybrid Theory" to their latest releases. PVRIS, known for their powerful vocals and genre-blending style, will undoubtedly complement the evening with their own captivating performance. Tickets for this must-see concert range from $55 to $700, catering to a wide array of fans eager to experience the magic live at the UnitedCenter. With such a stellar lineup, Linkin Park, PVRIS Chicago is poised to be one of the standout events of the year, drawing music enthusiasts from all corners to the heart of Chicago.

A deft sculptor and printmaker, ardent feminist, and lifelong social activist, Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) was a defining artist of the 20th century. Across nearly 100 years—from Jim Crow segregation through the Cold War and into Barack Obama’s first term as president—Catlett remained steadfast in her commitment to both her art and her political beliefs.

System Of A Down, Avenged Sevenfold, and Polyphia are set to electrify Chicago with an unforgettable performance at Soldier Field Stadium on August 31, 2025, at 17:30. This highly anticipated event promises to be a monumental gathering for rock and metal enthusiasts. System Of A Down, known for their unique blend of alternative metal and thought-provoking lyrics, will headline the show, delivering a powerful and dynamic performance. Avenged Sevenfold, with their signature heavy metal sound and captivating stage presence, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Polyphia, the instrumental progressive rock band, will showcase their intricate guitar work and innovative compositions, adding a distinct flair to the lineup. Soldier Field Stadium, located in the heart of Chicago, provides the perfect backdrop for this epic event, ensuring an immersive and memorable experience for all attendees. Don't miss the chance to witness these iconic bands come together for a night of unparalleled music and energy.

Jitish Kallat’s site-specific installation, Public Notice 3, returns to the Art Institute of Chicago’s Grand Staircase this fall after a 14-year hiatus. Initially unveiled on September 11, 2010, the work connects two significant historical events separated by 108 years: the First World’s Parliament of Religions which began on September 11, 1893, and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. At the earlier event, the World Parliament of Religions, held in an auditorium that encompassed the area that today includes both the museum’s Fullerton Hall and Woman’s Board Grand Staircase, a young Hindu monk, Swami Vivekananda electrified audiences with a powerful speech calling for an end to religious fundamentalism, intolerance, and bigotry.

Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me is the first major survey of internationally renowned artist Wafaa Bilal (b. 1966, Najaf, Iraq; lives in New York, NY). Working in performance, sculpture, and with online and interactive technologies, Bilal’s interdisciplinary practice investigates the dynamic between international and interpersonal politics while highlighting the tension between his home in the United States, which he has deemed the “comfort zone,” and the “conflict zone” of Iraq. The exhibition covers the breadth of Bilal’s versatile career by exploring his performance practice, the use of power in Saddam Hussein’s regime, and Iraqi history and antiquity. It will feature archival displays of his iconic month-long performance Domestic Tension (2007) and year-long performance 3rdi (2010–11), as well as two new works including a sculptural commission for the MCA.

This exhibition focuses on a single artwork by Pipilotti Rist (b. 1962, Grabs, Switzerland; lives and works in Zürich), the 2001 video installation Supersubjektiv. Rist filmed the video footage featured in Supersubjektiv using a handheld digital camera during a month-long trip to Japan in December 2000. The hallucinatory video, presented in the Turner Gallery as a multichannel installation accompanied by sheepskin seating and an artist-made pillow, offers viewers a dream-like space for contemplation and curiosity. Paired with an ambient electronic soundtrack with lyrics sung in English and Japanese, the artwork examines nature, the built environment, and technology with wide-eyed wonder. Visitors are encouraged to relax and lose track of time as they take in Rist’s audiovisual meditation on longing for connection in our vast, globalized society.

Learn the untold history of four Kumu Hula (master teachers of Hawaiian Hula) who perpetuated, preserved, and protected Hula as a way of life. Listen to the voices of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) as they tell their own history and learn how their community continues to thrive in Chicago and beyond. Chicago- and Hawai`i-born Native Hawaiians continue these practices together and act as co-curators for this limited-time exhibition.

For this iteration of the Atrium Project series, artist, author, and activist Edie Fake transforms the two-story lobby wall in the museum’s second floor atrium with his mural The Free Clinic for Gender Affirming Care (2024–25). An imagined facade of a clinic for free transgender healthcare, the mural offers a majestic counterview to the present reality in the United States, where transgender and nonbinary people are under constant threat of political repression, restriction, and scapegoating. The mural, with its layered architectural motifs and undulating prismatic colors, invites visitors into Fake’s utopian vision of access and open expression. Following his earlier Memory Palace series—examples of which are included in the exhibition City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago, on view at the MCA from July 5, 2025, through May 31, 2026—wherein Fake reimagined the facades of historic queer and feminist establishments in Chicago, this work underscores the artist’s shift in focus from the past to the future, from what was to what could still be.

Art and science intersect on the three-foot-tall pages of one of the world’s rarest books.

Iman Issa’s Heritage Studies are displays based on historical artifacts, which attempt to communicate their significance to the present moment. In her process, the objects are altered: Issa changes their materials, scale, and color to a degree that the resemblance between the historic artifact and Issa’s work can be difficult to discern. Despite these dissimilarities, the artist insists on the equivalence of these objects, almost like the equivalence between a photograph and its subject.

H. C. Westermann’s work combines a graceful mastery of materials, rough and tumble physicality, commonsense philosophizing, acrobatic wit and wordplay, and a sensitive worldview shaped in equal measure by the horrors of wartime and the devotions of love. He used a wide-range of materials but was most dedicated to woodworking, once stating that wood was his “whole life.”

City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago is an intergenerational group exhibition that highlights Chicago’s essential, yet often underacknowledged, role in the story of queer art and activism. The exhibition examines this history from the mid-1980s, when activists radically mobilized in response to the US government’s disastrous handling of the AIDS crisis. In this moment of change, activists reclaimed the historically pejorative epithet “queer” as a liberatory term, encompassing all who purposefully deviate from heteronormative society. Drawn from the MCA’s collection and other local collections, City in a Garden follows this paradigm shift in LGBTQ+ history by bringing together work from over 30 artists and collectives working in Chicago from the 1980s to the present.

Since 2007, Pixy Liao (廖逸君) has collaborated with her partner, Takahiro Morooka (諸岡高裕, nicknamed Moro), on a series of staged, often humorous self-portraits. These works wryly examine the power dynamics between artist and muse, prod at conservative gender roles, and document the evolution of their relationship.

Can you think of a moment in your life when turmoil and darkness brought meaningful insight? That was one of several questions that artist and educator Pablo Helguera posed to a group of 20 Chicago artists, writers, activists, and educators in the fall of 2024. The group had converged at the MCA as part of Helguera’s work on a new exhibition of the museum’s permanent collection. Their conversations, which ranged from the role of art in moments of uncertainty to the ways that confusion or misalignment can lead to creative possibilities, form the basis of Collection in Conversation with Pablo Helguera. Curated by Helguera and representatives from the MCA’s curatorial and learning teams in response to the group’s discussions, the exhibition spans all three floors of the museum’s iconic stairwell galleries and explores themes that emerged during conversations with participants. Accompanied by the voices of the individuals whose unique perspectives on the present informed the selection of works, Collection in Conversation with Pablo Helguera presents well-known works from the collection in an entirely new context—a conversation between Chicagoans reckoning with the present.

Experience The Art of Spoken Word, a captivating performance by poet Jay Martinez. This one-of-a-kind show blends vivid storytelling, rhythm, and raw emotion, creating an immersive experience that speaks to the soul. Each poem is a brushstroke, each verse a masterpiece, painting emotions and perspectives in a way that only spoken word can. Accompanied by music, Jay Martinez brings his words to life, taking the audience on a journey through love, struggle, triumph, and self-discovery. Whether you’re a poetry lover or new to the art form, this show promises to inspire and move you. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of creativity and expression! Information Source: eventbrite

We are the Illinois Brewery Running Series® and we run for beer! See you at Illuminated Brew Works on August 9! 🏃‍♂️🍻 Join us for a 5K-ish fun run that starts and ends at Illuminated Brew Works. Run, walk, jog - whatever goes! This event is for all ages and fitness levels. Move at your own pace, enjoy some fresh air, and then celebrate with a locally made, cold craft beverage at the finish line! 🎉 Event Details: When: August 9 at 10:30am Where: Iluminated Brew Works in Norwood Park Course: We’ve mapped out a 5K-ish course that winds through Chicago, showing off the best of Norwood Park. Celebrate at the finish line!Registration includes: A craft beverage (1) of choice from Illuminated Brew Work 🍺Your choice of a collector's pint glass or series swag item from the Brewery Running Series 🎁Access to the day's festivities like live music, food trucks, games with our partners and sponsors 🎉And more!Our Mission: Be active. Have fun. Give back. A portion of all proceeds from this event support local nonprofits, helping to make a positive impact in our community. 🙌 Over $500k raised to date! Important Event Details: This is an untimed fun run – all walkers, runners, and joggers are welcome! 👟Open course: The event takes place on public roads, so you are responsible for obeying traffic laws and being aware of your surroundings.ID required: Bring a valid ID or driver’s license. You don’t need to be 21 to participate, but you must be 21+ to enjoy the beer. Underage participants will receive a token for a non-alcoholic beverage. 🍹Rain or shine: The event will go on, no matter the weather! 🌧️☀️Registration is limited to the size of the taproom, so sign up today to guarantee your spot! 💨 Keep an eye on your inbox! We’ll send final details and reminders the week of the event, including anything else you need to know to participate. Questions? Reach out to us at: serena@breweryrunningseries.com Let’s run, drink, and give back together at Illuminated Brew Works! 🌟 #LifeIsBrewtiful #BreweryRunningSeries #ChicagoRunning #RunFarDrinkLocal #RunForBeerIL Important details: This is an untimed, fun-run. All levels of walkers, runners and joggers are welcome.This is an open course, meaning roads will NOT be closed. You are responsible for obeying all traffic laws and regulations.We create each route to start and end at the brewery and to show off the surrounding neighborhood. The course will be marked with arrows to help you know where to go.You must bring a valid ID or driver's license. You do not need to be 21 to enjoy the event, but you must be 21 to enjoy the beer. Please drink responsibly. Registered, underage participants will receive a token for a FREE non-alcoholic beverage.Our events are rain or shine! If conditions become unsafe to run, we will still hang out and drink beer.There will not be a bag check; please plan accordingly and dress appropriately for the weather.Dogs and strollers are welcome on the course, with care and caution. Please remember - you are running at your own risk on city sidewalks / streets / trails, which might not be suitable for your 4-legged and /or pint size running buddies. You will also want to check with the brewery to make sure you can abide by their dog / underage policies. Please make the best decision possible for your crew.Please drink responsibly. We always encourage carpooling and safe, designated drivers.Keep an eye on your inbox - we will send you all final event details via email the week of this event and share anything else you might need to know to participate. Questions? Check out our FAQ | Contact us at serena@breweryrunningseries.com Cheers to beers! We’ll see you at Illuminated Brew Works! Information Source: Illinois Brewery Running Series® | eventbrite