Five Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend

This weekend in Chicago features Riot Fest, Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, Cubs games, apple picking, and the opening of Germane Barnes’ art exhibit at the Art Institute.

By Raina Suri
1. Go to Riot Fest

If you like punk and rock music, Riot Fest is the festival for you. This three-day event is taking place in Chicago’s Douglass Park in North Lawndale this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Riot Fest has been a staple of Chicago culture since 2005 and is one of the better-known of Chicago’s music festivals. Notable artists performing include Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Slaughter Beach, Dog, Beach Bunny, and my personal favorite, Jhariah. Buy tickets for the festival here.

Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up

It’s never too early for pumpkin season! On Sept. 19, Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up will be opening its metaphorical doors again. The pumpkin pop-up is a Halloween-themed temporary event chock-full of all the autumn fun you’ll need: ax throwing, carnival games, a giant corn maze, and obviously, pumpkins. So this weekend, head down to Goose Island to partake in some all-ages fun. Learn more here.

Go see a sports game

Weather this weekend will have lows in the ‘60s and highs in the ‘80s, so it’s the perfect weather to go out and watch a sports game. The Cubs will be hosting home games this weekend (both Saturday and Sunday) in Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are ranked lower than the Cubs, with a record of (68 – 82) while the Cubs have (77 – 73). Regardless of whether or not the Cubs win, it can still be fun to get outside and watch a game or two! Buy tickets for the games here.

Go apple picking

Apple picking season in Illinois starts in late August and runs all the way through to mid-October, and with the beautiful orchards only a few hours outside of the city, there’s no better time to go apple picking. If you have a craving for homemade apple pie, cake or butter, be sure to head out to an orchard soon (or buy apples from a grocery store and just spend this weekend baking). Click here to see Chicago Parent’s list of apple orchards near the city.

Attend the opening of a new art exhibit

This Saturday happens to be the first day of the Art Institute’s “Germane Barnes: Columnar Disorder” exhibit, the first solo museum exhibit by Walter Payton’s very own alum, Germane Barnes. Barnes is a designer, artist and architect. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he received his master’s in architecture from Woodbury University. He currently works as an assistant professor at the University of Miami and has had his art featured all around the world. “Columnar Disorder” is a play on traditionally Western architecture with an African reimagining, with a focus on columns and the Black experience. This Saturday, he, scholar Mabel O. Wilson, and curator Lisa Ayla Çakmak will be sitting down to discuss the exhibit. Register for the event here.