Chicago — week of Thursday, October 8, 2026

Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Latino Dance Festival closes with a free show in the Humboldt Park fieldhouse: local troupes, five countries' traditions, 3 to 5. RSVP by Fri Oct 9.

Everything happening 16

Thursday, Oct 8

Chicago Art Fair at the Merchandise Mart her thing ✓ Thu Oct 8 & Fri Oct 9, 11 AM–8 PM; Sat Oct 10, 11 AM–6 PM · Tickets from $27 A new international contemporary art fair, in its first year at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza. Saturday is the short day.via Chicago Art Fair / Choose Chicago / Chicago Gallery News
Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place her thing ✓ Thu Oct 8 – Sat Oct 10; Fri & Sat 9 AM–6 PM · Free, open to the public The marathon's packet-pickup expo at McCormick Place, 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr, with running gear and exhibitors; no race entry needed to browse.via Bank of America Chicago Marathon / NBC Chicago

Friday, Oct 9

Lincoln Park Wine Fest in Jonquil Park her thing ✓ Fri Oct 9, 5–10 PM; Sat Oct 10, 11 AM–10 PM; Sun Oct 11, 11 AM–7 PM · GA from $30 (12 tastings and a glass); VIP from $67.50 Two-hour tasting sessions at 1001 W Wrightwood Ave, 21 and over, GA capped at 600 per session. Sunday is marathon day; check street closures.via Wrightwood Neighbors Association / Eventeny
Stand-up showcase at The Lincoln Lodge her thing ✓ Fri Oct 9 & Sat Oct 10, evening shows · Ticketed The long-running comedy club's weekend showcase at 2040 N Milwaukee Ave in Logan Square. Showtimes and prices are on the club's ticket page.via Choose Chicago

Saturday, Oct 10

Lincoln Brunch Fest on Lincoln Avenue her thing ✓ Sat Oct 10, 10 AM–2 PM · Free Third annual: free brunch samples from local restaurants, live music and author signings on Lincoln Ave between Diversey and Wellington in Lakeview.via Choose Chicago / chicagoevents.com
Riverwalk Fall Fest at Island Party Hut her thing ✓ Saturdays, noon–8 PM (in this window: Oct 10 and Oct 17) · Early-bird tickets from $5 River hayrides, a pumpkin patch, live music and fall drinks on the Riverwalk between Columbus Dr and Lake Shore Dr. Saturdays only.via Island Party Hut / Eventbrite / Chicago on the Cheap

Sunday, Oct 11

Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Grant Park and the course her thing ✓ Sun Oct 11; elite start 7:20 AM · Free to watch Start and finish in Grant Park; the course loops the Loop, the North Side, the West Loop and the South Side, with road closures much of the day.via NBC Chicago / Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Logan Square Farmers Market her thing ✓ Sundays, 8:30 AM–3 PM (in this window: Oct 11 and Oct 18) · Free to browse On Milwaukee Ave near Logan Blvd. The season's last market is Oct 25.via WBEZ / WGN
Chicago Latino Dance Festival closing afternoon, Humboldt Park Fieldhouse her thing ✓ Sun Oct 11, 3–5 PM · Free with RSVP by Oct 9; $20 suggested donation Local troupes performing dance from Venezuela, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Chile and Spain at 1440 N Humboldt Blvd. All ages.via Chicago Park District / International Latino Cultural Center / Choose Chicago

Tuesday, Oct 13

Festival del Arte Popular at the National Museum of Mexican Art her thing ✓ Tue Oct 13 – Sun Oct 18; late hours Wed Oct 14, 5–8 PM · Free admission; crafts for sale Folk artists from Mexico demonstrate and sell their work at 1852 W 19th St in Pilsen.via National Museum of Mexican Art

Wednesday, Oct 14

62nd Chicago International Film Festival her thing ✓ Wed Oct 14 – Sun Oct 25 · Ticketed per screening Opens Oct 14 with A24's "Club Kid"; screenings at AMC NEWCITY 14, the Music Box, the Gene Siskel Film Center and UChicago's Logan Center.via Choose Chicago / WTTW / Chicago Sun-Times

Friday, Oct 16

Mike D at the Riviera Theatre her thing ✓ Fri Oct 16 · Ticketed The Beastie Boys' Mike D on tour, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave in Uptown.via Choose Chicago

Saturday, Oct 17

Open House Chicago, citywide her thing ✓ Sat Oct 17 & Sun Oct 18; hours vary by site · Free; no reservations More than 200 buildings in 30-plus neighborhoods open their doors, 20 of them new this year, including the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum in Kenwood.via Chicago Architecture Center / Chicago Sun-Times / WTTW
Loop Arts Fest on State Street her thing ✓ Sat Oct 17, noon–6 PM · Free A one-day street festival on State St between Jackson and Madison, closed to traffic. Bring a chair or blanket.via Chicago Loop Alliance
Sweetest Day Comedy Jam at Wintrust Arena her thing ✓ Sat Oct 17, 8 PM · Ticketed Cedric the Entertainer and Earthquake headline at Wintrust Arena, 200 E Cermak Rd, next to McCormick Place.via Choose Chicago

Sunday, Oct 18

Chicago Artisan Market at Morgan MFG her thing ✓ Sun Oct 18 · Advance tickets More than 115 local makers, food and goods at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N Morgan St in Fulton Market.via Choose Chicago

Planned dates

The Move of the Week

Sunday Oct 11: the Logan Square market, then the Latino Dance Festival in Humboldt Park

A late-season market, then folk dance in a Humboldt Park fieldhouse, free with an RSVP

Cost: Free with RSVP; $20 suggested donation each; market lunch extra

her kind of night ✓ Wicker Park & Logan Square

Sunday, Oct 11, 12:30 PM: Sundays only, 8:30 AM to 3 PM Logan Square Farmers Market, Milwaukee Ave near Logan Blvd — Three Sundays left in the season (Oct 11, 18 and 25). Lunch off the stalls and leave by 2:15.
Sunday, 2:15 PM South to Humboldt Park — Head south from Logan Square to the fieldhouse at 1440 N Humboldt Blvd, in time for the 3:00 start.
Sunday, Oct 11, 3:00–5:00 PM: one afternoon only Chicago Latino Dance Festival closing afternoon, Humboldt Park Fieldhouse, 1440 N Humboldt Blvd — The International Latino Cultural Center closes its fourth festival with local troupes dancing traditions from Venezuela, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Chile and Spain. Free; RSVP by Fri Oct 9 on the center's site. $20 suggested donation each.
Sunday, 5:15 PM: sunset about 6:18 A walk through Humboldt Park — Free, with about an hour of light left before the 6:18 sunset.

Weather backup: Can't do Sunday? The market runs again Sunday, Oct 18, 8:30 to 3; the dance festival does not. Saturday's Lincoln Brunch Fest in Lakeview, 10 to 2, is the free alternative.

Wednesday Oct 14: Festival del Arte Popular after hours, then dinner at HaiSous

A weeknight among Mexican folk artists in Pilsen, then Vietnamese dinner a mile east on 18th Street

Cost: Free; dinner is the only spend

her kind of night ✓ West Loop & Pilsen

Wednesday, Oct 14, 5:30 PM: the festival's one late night, 5 to 8 Festival del Arte Popular, National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St — Folk artists from Mexico demonstrate their crafts and sell their work, Oct 13 to 18. Admission is free. Wednesday is the only evening session. Give it 90 minutes.
Wednesday, 7:00 PM: about a mile east, 20 minutes on foot The walk along 18th Street — Head north a block to 18th St and walk east on 18th St past the murals and taquerias to the restaurant. About a mile; you arrive by 7:20.
Wednesday, Oct 14, 7:30 PM HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, Pilsen — Vietnamese dinner in Pilsen. Check Tock for a Wednesday table.

Weather backup: Can't do Wednesday? The festival runs through Sunday, Oct 18; check Tock for a HaiSous table that night.

Saturday Oct 17: Open House Chicago in the Loop, then the Loop Arts Fest on State Street

A morning inside buildings that are usually closed, then an afternoon on State Street with the cars gone

Cost: Free; lunch and drinks are the only spend

her kind of night ✓ Downtown & River North

Saturday, Oct 17, 10:30 AM: Saturday and Sunday only; hours vary by site Open House Chicago, Loop sites — More than 200 buildings in 30-plus neighborhoods open for free, no reservations, first come first served. Filter the site directory to the Loop, check each building's hours, and pick three. Two and a half hours is about right.
Saturday, around 1:00 PM The hop to State and Madison — Enter the festival at State and Madison, its north end.
Saturday, Oct 17, 1:00 PM: the festival runs noon to 6, one day only Loop Arts Fest, State St between Jackson and Madison — The Chicago Loop Alliance closes three blocks of State St to cars for street activations and performances. Free. Some seating is provided, or bring a blanket. Sunset is about 6:10, right as it wraps.

Weather backup: Open House Chicago runs Sunday, Oct 18, too; the Loop Arts Fest is Saturday only. On Sunday, pair Open House with the Chicago Artisan Market at Morgan MFG in Fulton Market.

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