Viva! Chicago Latin Music Fest
Saturday-Sunday
We challenge you to sit still when Grant Park grooves to the sounds of mariachi, merengue, cumbia and salsa at this year’s celebration of Latin music from around the world. Highlights include Cubanismo, a thowback to the big-band sound of 1950s Havana, and Andy Montanez, a legendary Puerto Rican singer.
Saturday
Jackson and Columbus stage: 10:45 p.m.: Buscando Estrellas – Alexito; 12:05 p.m.: CHK; 12:45 p.m.: Lucy; 1:20 p.m.: Rico; 2:10 p.m.: Conga Jazz
Petrillo Music Shell: 2:15 p.m.: Banda 007; 3:10 p.m.: Nenas de Cana; 4:15 p.m.: Ninel Conde; 5:10 p.m.: Limite 21; 6:20 p.m.: Cubanismo; 8 p.m.: Andy Montanez
Sunday
Jackson and Columbus stage: 10:45 a.m.: Buscando Estrellas – Alexito; 12:05 p.m.: Onix; 12:45 p.m.: Rico; 1:20 p.m.: Alacranes Musical; 2:10 p.m.: Calibre Norteno
Petrillo Music Shell: 2:20 p.m.: Felito Felix; 3:20 p.m.: Domingo Quinones; 4:25 p.m.: Gato Barbieri; 5:35 p.m.: Quinta Cuadra; 6:15 p.m.: Los Hermanos Mora Arriaga; 7:20 p.m.: Jose Julian; 8:30 p.m.: Palomo
Festival runs 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Free. Grant Park, 300 S. Columbus Drive, 312-744-3370.
Bucktown Arts Fest
Saturday-Sunday
This annual event isn’t your typical art fair. Sure, there are paintings, jewelry, ceramics and furniture to peruse, but don’t miss the belly dancing and tai chi lessons, open-mic poetry and live music, including Devil in a Woodpile (2 p.m. Saturday). 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Senior Citizens Park, 2300 N. Oakley Ave. 312-409-8305.
DeKalb Corn Fest
Friday-Sunday
Free sweet corn is enough of a draw for many cob cravers, but this fest also features a wine and beer garden, live music and a carnival. It’s also a favorite for locals and NIU students–one of the few times the groups intermingle. Don’t miss the corn boil in a vintage steam engine from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and the corn cook-off at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Noon-9 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. 2nd Street and Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, 815-748-2676.
Taste of Greece
Saturday-Sunday
It’ll be a feta fete at this celebration of Greek-American heritage with food from area restaurants, entertainment, dancing and arts and crafts. Noon-11 p.m. Halsted Street, from Monroe to Van Buren Streets, 847-509-8050.
