Aug. 1: Kelly Clarkson
Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont
Kick off August with the original American Idol and her special guests, Pentatonix and Eric Hutchinson.
Aug. 2: The Biggest Loser RunWalk Chicago Half Marathon/5K
Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago
Register today for this half marathon/5K that will also feature a Finish Line Festival with Dan Evans and other celebrity appearances.
Aug. 3: Chicago Children’s Museum
700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Stop by the Chicago Children’s Museum for their summer exhibit “Boats” and let your kids can take their own imaginary trip on Lake Michigan. And save when you book a Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour and admission to the museum.
Aug. 4: Family Fishing
Foley’s Pond, 1268 McDaniels Ave., Highland Park
Learn the basics of fishing, as well as safety tips, before reeling in your own fish. Equipment is provided and the workshop runs from 7-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 4-5: Lake Forest Day
Lake Forest
Enjoy carnival rides, live music and food at West Park. On Wednesday only, participate in the 5K Fun Run at Deerpath Community Park before the parade on Western Avenue.
Begins Aug. 6: Kurios-Cabinet of Curiosities
United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago
Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production is heading to Chicago, ready to take us on a trip through a fantasy world where anything can happen. Runs through Aug. 30.
Aug. 7-9: Chicago Hot Dog Fest
Clark Street and LaSalle Drive, Chicago
Enjoy a Vienna Beef hot dog with beer, music and family-friendly activities.
Aug. 10: “Bleacher Bums”
Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview
Wrigley Field’s Bleacher Bums are famous for their diehard devotion and occasional shenanigans. This play is all about just what happens out in those bleachers in nine innings.
August 11-12: An Evening With Kurt Elling
Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago
Kurt Elling joins the Grant Park Orchestra during the Grant Park Music Festival for an open rehearsal on Aug. 11 before an evening of ballads on love and loss Aug. 12.
Aug. 12-16: Donny & Marie
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora
If you missed Donny & Marie in Aurora last year, this is your second chance to see the duo live. Hurry and buy your tickets today before they sell out.
Aug. 15-16: Chicago Air and Water Show
North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
It’s a summer tradition! You can view the show along the lake from Fullerton to Oak Street, but just make sure you arrive early enough to get a good spot.
Aug. 17: Broadway in Chicago Summer Concert
Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago
Experience the best of Broadway, including, “Disney’s The Lion King,” “Cabaret” and “Dirty Dancing,” for free!
Aug. 18: The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Take a day to explore The Field Museum and their newest exhibits, “Cyrus Tang Hall of China” (permanent) and “Mammoths and Mastodons” (back by popular demand until Sept. 13).
Aug. 19-20: “Second Nature”
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Cafe Brauer, 2021 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago
The Lyric Opera is presenting their new, world-premiere children’s opera at Lincoln Park Zoo, the perfect setting for this performance that imagines a world where the environment is weak and humans live in zoo-like territories.
Aug. 20: Adler After Dark: Build It
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Adler hosts 21+ evenings every third Thursday of the month, and the August hands-on event is all about getting creative.
Aug. 21: Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Start your weekend by checking out the MCA’s newest exhibits, “Out of Office” and “The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now.”
Aug. 22-23: West Loop Art Fest
N. Halsted Street and W. Washington Boulevard, Chicago
This is a brand-new art festival to check out this summer, complete with a music stage and food options.
Aug. 24: Illinois Holocaust Museum
9603 Woods Drive, Skokie
Don’t miss the museum’s “Through Soviet Jewish Eyes: Photography, War, and the Holocaust” exhibit, open through Sept. 7.
Aug. 25: Music on the Esplanade
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Bring a chair and spend a (hopefully) gorgeous summer evening outside with jazz band Nia Quintet. Music on the Esplanade takes place on Tuesdays throughout the summer.
Aug. 26: Twilight Safari
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago
This is your chance to see the zoo’s animals at a unique time of day with a zoo horticulturist and animal expert.
Aug. 27: “The Goonies”
Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
“The Goonies” is Genesee Theatre’s final installment of their summer film series. Other movies include “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (June 11), “Back to the Future” (June 25) and “Vertigo” (Aug. 13).
Aug. 28: #DateMe: An OKCupid Experiment
UP Comedy Club, Piper’s Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago
Get a hilarious glimpse into the world of online dating (one you may already know) with dialogue from actual OKCupid messages.
Aug. 29: History Puppy Crawl
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago
Go on a two-mile walk around Lincoln Park with your pup as you learn about other clever canines. You’ll even get a photo with your furry friend and the Chicago skyline.
Aug. 30: Dan Navarro
SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston
Dan Navarro has written songs for Pat Benatar, Dionne Warwick and more, toured with Eric Lowen as the duo Lowen & Navarro, and is now working on a solo career.
Aug. 31: Movies in the Parks
Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago
Every summer, the Chicago Park District hosts Movies in the Parks. On the last day of August, catch “Batman Returns.” Find a complete list of movies here.
