Your Ultimate Weekend Guide: Things to Do Near Berwyn,The West Burbs, & Chicago | August 6–10, 2026

Summer isn't over yet, and this weekend is one of the busiest of August. Whether you're looking for live music, amazing food, family activities, classic cars, or a fun night out, there's no shortage of things to do within a short drive of Berwyn.

Taste Of Elmwood Park

From the 41st Annual Taste of Elmwood Park just minutes away to Oak Park's Thursday Night Out, free concerts at FitzGerald's, and several iconic Chicago festivals, here's your complete Discover Berwyn guide to the weekend.

🌟 Weekend Highlights

• 🍔 Taste of Elmwood Park (Thursday–Sunday)

• 🎶 Thursday Night Out – Oak Park

• 🎺 Free Live Music at FitzGerald's

• 🎉 Berwyn Summerfest In The Berywn Depot District

• 🌈 Northalsted Market Days

• 🎉 Bud Billiken Parade

• 🎵 Maxwell Street Market

• 🎡 Carnival Rides

• 🍺 Beer Gardens

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Activities

  
  

Thursday, August 6

🍔 Taste of Elmwood Park Opens

📍 Central Park – 2430 N. 75th Avenue

🕔 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

One of the biggest neighborhood festivals in Chicagoland returns for its 41st year, and it's only about 10 minutes from Berwyn.

Expect four days filled with:

• Local restaurants

• Beer and wine gardens

• Carnival rides

• Kids activities

• Arts & craft vendors

• Bocce Tournament

• Live entertainment all weekend

For more info read the blog at Taste Of Elmwood Park

Admission is free, making it one of the best values of the summer.

🎶 Thursday Night Out – Downtown Oak Park

📍 Marion Street

🕔 5 PM – 9 PM

Oak Park celebrates the 20th anniversary of Thursday Night Out with live music, outdoor dining and one of the best street atmospheres in the western suburbs.

More than twenty restaurants participate, offering outdoor dining while local bands perform throughout downtown.

Perfect for a summer date night.

🎺 Free Music at FitzGerald's

Berwyn's legendary music venue has another outstanding free patio show.

Brass Queens

🕣 8:30 PM

If you've never spent an evening at FitzGerald's patio, this weekend is a great excuse.

Friday, August 7

🍔 Taste of Elmwood Park

Festival hours continue from 4:30 PM until late evening.

Friday is typically less crowded than Saturday while still offering the full festival experience.

Come hungry.

🌈 Northalsted Market Days

📍 Lakeview, Chicago

One of the country's largest street festivals kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday.

Highlights include:

• Four entertainment stages

• Hundreds of vendors

• Food from neighborhood restaurants

• Live DJs

• National music acts

• Drag performances

• Shopping

Festival Schedule & Hours

• Friday, August 7: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

• Saturday, August 8: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

• Sunday, August 9: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM 

  
  

Highlights & Headliners

• Main Musical Acts: Keri Hilson, Daya, JORDY, and Dawn Richard.

• Entertainment: Four performance areas hosting DJs, dance exhibitions, and drag artists.

• Admission: A suggested $20 donation at the gates supports local charities and community programs. 

  
  

Even if you've never attended before, it's an incredible atmosphere.

🎸 FitzGerald's

The Fran Banish Trio

8:30 PM

Another free evening of blues, funk and rock.

Saturday, August 8

🎡 Taste of Elmwood Park

If you're only going one day...

Go Saturday.

Everything is running:

• Full carnival

• Food vendors

• Beer garden

• Entertainment

• Kids activities

• Live music

It's easily one of the biggest neighborhood festivals of the summer.

🎉 Berwyn Summerfest In The Depot

Head to Berwyn's Depot District this Saturday, August 8, for an afternoon of free family fun at Summer Fest at the Depot. The event features live entertainment, local artisans, food vendors, and community organizations along Stanley Avenue.

Festival Highlights

Schedule & Location

• Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026

• Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

• Location: Stanley Avenue, from Grove Avenue to Clinton Avenue, Berwyn

• Admission: Free

Event Highlights

• 🎶 Live performances

• 🛍️ Local craft and artisan vendors

• 🍔 Food vendors

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly activities in the heart of the Depot District

🎉 Bud Billiken Parade

The 97th Annual Bud Billiken Parade & Festival takes place this Saturday, August 8, 2026, on Chicago's South Side. As the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States, this legendary tradition celebrates Black excellence, community heritage, and the upcoming back-to-school season.

Schedule & Location

• Parade Start: 10:00 AM

• Festival Hours: Immediately following the parade until 4:00 PM

• Cost: Free for general spectators

  
  

The Parade Route

The historic procession spans two miles down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive through the Bronzeville neighborhood: [1, 2]

1. Kickoff: 39th Street and South King Drive

2. Path: Marches directly south along King Drive

3. Conclusion: Passes 51st Street and enters Washington Park.

2026 Key Highlights

• Grand Marshal: Chicago-born actor and model LisaRaye McCoy leads this year's procession.

• Hometown Hero: Actor Cortez Smith is honored along the route.

• Performances: Features dozens of marching bands, drill teams, and cheer squads from the Bud Billiken Performing Arts League.

• Back-to-School Festival: Held inside Washington Park, featuring local food vendors, family-friendly entertainment, and critical youth resources like school supply giveaways and hiring fairs.

💃 LatiNxt Festival

📍 Navy Pier

Celebrate Latin culture through music, dance, food and performances overlooking Lake Michigan.

Festival Schedule & Locations

• Dates: August 8–9, 2026

• Hours: Roughly 2:00 PM – 11:30 PM daily

• Location: Navy Pier (600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611), utilizing Polk Bros Park, the Ferrara Candy Wave Wall Stage, and the Navy Pier Beer Garden.

• Admission: Free and open to all ages (no registration required).

  
  

Highlights & Lineup

• Curated by: Future Rootz

• Performers & DJs: Features Mr. Pauer, Audry Funk, OKAN, Los Abandoned, Nemegata, Damaris Bojor, Las Cruxes, and a Wave Wall Takeover by Potencia Sonidera.

• Activities: Live cross-cultural music sets, dance spaces, and a mercadito featuring local artisans and small business vendors.

🎶 FitzGerald's Patio

Groove Witness

4:00 PM

A seven-piece Chicago funk band performing outdoors.

Admission is free.

Sunday, August 9

🍔 Final Day of Taste of Elmwood Park

Today's your last opportunity this year to enjoy:

• Festival food

• Carnival rides

• Vendors

• Live music

• Family fun

Hours:

12 PM – 10 PM

🛍 Maxwell Street Market

One of Chicago's oldest traditions continues Sunday.

You'll find:

• Vintage shopping

• Antiques

• Fresh food

• Street vendors

• Live blues music

It's one of the city's hidden gems and worth exploring if you've never been.

🎶 Blues Brunch at FitzGerald's

Jaik Willis

12:00 PM

Grab brunch while enjoying one of Chicago's favorite blues performers.

🍴 Where We'd Go

Best Family Event

🏆 Taste of Elmwood Park

The combination of rides, food, music and free admission makes this our top family pick.

Best Date Night

❤️ Thursday Night Out

Dinner on Marion Street followed by a walk through downtown Oak Park.

Best Live Music

🎶 FitzGerald's

Four days of outstanding free performances.

Worth the Drive

🌈 Market Days

One of Chicago's premier summer festivals.

Discover Berwyn Tip 💙

Don't limit yourself to just one event.

Start Thursday with dinner at Thursday Night Out in Oak Park, spend Saturday at Taste of Elmwood Park, and finish Sunday morning at Maxwell Street Market before enjoying a relaxing blues brunch at FitzGerald's.

You'll experience some of the very best our area has to offer—all within about a 20-minute drive of Berwyn.

Quick Weekend Planner

Day	Event
Thursday	Taste of Elmwood Park • Thursday Night Out • FitzGerald's
Friday	Taste of Elmwood Park • Market Days • FitzGerald's
Saturday	Taste of Elmwood Park • Bud Billiken Parade • LatiNxt Festival • FitzGerald's
Sunday	Taste of Elmwood Park • Maxwell Street Market • FitzGerald's Blues Brunch
Monday	Relax—Cruise Nites return August 17

Plan Your Weekend with Discover Berwyn

Every week we'll round up the best festivals, concerts, family events, farmers markets, and hidden gems happening around Berwyn and the near west suburbs. Whether you're staying close to home or looking for a quick day trip, Discover Berwyn is your local guide to making the most of every weekend.

Have an event you'd like us to feature? Contact us—we'd love to help spread the word!

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Berwyn Insider

If you love food, don't miss the Taste of Cermak in Berwyn August 13.

Catch all the free summer music you can handle 75+ Local Concerts Guide

Berwyn Cruise Nights are back every 1st and 3rd Monday June - August

Learn more about Fitzgerald's

Best Farmers Markets around Berwyn

Your local guide to the best coffee shops around Berwyn

Sources

This guide was compiled using information from official event organizers and local community calendars, including the Village of Elmwood Park, Downtown Oak Park Thursday Night Out, FitzGerald's Nightclub, Town of Cicero, and the event roundup you shared.