Summer has officially arrived, and downtown is buzzing with ways to enjoy the season! From outdoor dining on your favorite patios to the return of our first Thursday Night Market, June is packed with events that bring our community together. Celebrate Pride at community and business events, enjoy live music during Sunday Jazz at the Square, sip and shop your way through Downtown Sip + Stroll, and discover even more exciting happenings all month long. Grab your friends and family and make the most of these sunny days with us downtown!
Scroll down for all the details and ways to join us this June! Follow Downtown Evanston on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates.
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Join us on Thursday, June 11 from 5-8PM for the first Thursday Night Market of the season! Shop from 20+ local artists, makers, and retailers and enjoy live jazz music in the heart of downtown. It's the perfect evening to discover unique finds, support local businesses, and soak up the summer vibes with friends and family. Please note that this market will take place at the North Plaza but all other markets will take place on the South Plaza.
A special thank you to our sponsors: Byline Bank, Chicago Stars FC, American Vintage Home, Local Pastures and The Wayfair Store.
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Join us on Thursday, June 25, from 4:30-7:30PM for our annual Downtown Sip + Stroll! It's the perfect opportunity to explore downtown Evanston with friends and family while visiting local businesses to enjoy sips of wine, bubbly, and non-alcoholic beverages, along with shopping and dining specials!
The Sip + Stroll event is free, but please pre-register in advance. A suggested donation of $10 at check-in will benefit Kitchen to Community, a youth-centered nonprofit founded by Chef Nicole Henry, owner of Chicky’s Kitchen Creations at The Aux. A special thanks to Evanston Professional Moms for partnering with us on this event and showcasing members at some of the participating businesses.
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Downtown Evanston is partnering with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass to offer Evanston Rides! – a series of monthly adult and family-friendly rides. Check out the upcoming rides below and register here.
- Tuesday, June 2, 5:30PM: Adult Social Ride from Fountain Square to the Chicago Lakefront Trail ride via Rogers Park Greenway
- Saturday, June 27, 10AM: Family Ride from Robert Crown Community Center to Downtown Evanston Farmer's Market
A special thanks to our 2026 sponsors: Alley Gallery, Evanston Community Bank & Trust, Ridgeville Tavern and Wheel & Sprocket Evanston.
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Join us at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston for a relaxing lunchtime at Sunday Jazz at the Square, a weekly live music series showcasing the next generation of local jazz talent. The music will run every Sunday from Noon to 2PM through July 26. Each week, Zach Sorkin will convene a dynamic trio or quartet of young musicians to perform an assortment of jazz tunes. View schedule here.
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Mark your calendars for free, live music, dancing, food trucks and community fun every Thursday, 6-8PM from July 9 to September 3! Learn more here.
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Join us at our 2nd annual Cars & Coffee events featuring vintage classics, muscle cars & more on Sherman Avenue between Church & Clark Streets. Learn more here.
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Plan ahead for Northwestern Graduation and Father's Day celebrations by booking your tables soon! Plus, don't forget to check out our Outdoor Dining Guide to dine al fresco during our summer months!
- JUNE 3, 1-2PM
Mensch's Deli Hosts Author Talk featuring Corned Beef on Rye
Authors Neal Samors and Eric Bronsky will discuss their new book about the rich history of Chicago's Jewish Delicatessens including Mensch's Deli!
- JUNE 3, 5-7PM
LeTour Hosts Cocktails & Connections
Join LeTour on the first Wednesday of the month for an easygoing evening designed to bring people together over great drinks and thoughtful conversation.
- JUNE 3, 10, 17 & 24
Prairie Moon Hosts Live Jazz
Join Prairie Moon every Wednesday from 9-11PM for live jazz music, raw bar & drink specials and a night out with friends! Save these dates: Juliette Gardiner Quintet (6/3), Steve Knight Trio (6/10), Henry Carpender Quintet (6/17) and Sincerely Linus (6/24).
- JUNE 5
Bennison's Bakery Celebrates National Donut Day
Stop by to enjoy a Glazed Cake Donut for $1.70 or pre-order a box to enjoy with friends, family or co-workers!
- JUNE 6, 12-3PM
Graduate Homestead Room Hosts Aya Artpeace Live Activation + DJ
Stop by Graduate Homestead Room for an afternoon of art, music & community on the patio! Grab your family and friends to enjoy brunch beforehand and/or drinks in the bar afterwards (opens at 1PM).
- TUESDAYS AT 7PM
Pizzeria Deville BINGO Night
Grab your friends and family every Tuesday at 7PM for Bingo at Pizzeria Deville! Take part in multiple rounds of bingo with prizes, plus some great food and drink specials.
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- JUNE 4, 11, 18 & 25
Bella Oter Hosts Summer Series
Join Bella Otér every Thursday from 11AM-7PM for a special themed experience with rotating drinks, fabrics, styling moments, music, and little escapes built into the middle of the week. Featured June events are Mosaics & Mocktails (6/4), Tea, Textures & Styles (6/11), White Wine & Cooling Fabrics (6/18) and Pastries & Pages (6/25).
- JUNE 12
Bookends & Beginnings Celebrates 12 Years!
Celebrate 12 years in business by purchasing a very limited-edition run of the “Evanston’s Speakeasy For Books” t-shirts, and hoodies along with fun activities on June 13!
- JUNE 13, 12-4PM
Artem Pop Up Gallery Second Saturdays with Tim Mikus
Stop by Artem to meet ceramic artist Tim Mikus of Sway Concepts who creates one-of-a-kind sealife art that is inspired by nature and crafted by hand.
- JUNE
Wheel & Sprocket Flash Deal on Electric Bikes
Get up to $750 off popular Trek FX+ Electric Bikes to enjoy this summer! Shop online and pick up in store.
- JUNE 17, 4PM
Bookends & Beginnings Hosts Live Reading of Trans History
Attend an engaging evening of reading, discussion, and celebration centered on LGBTQIA+ youth, young adults, and their families. Together, we'll explore the acclaimed graphic novel Trans History: From Ancient Times to Present Day in partnership with CCNS and Womencare Counseling.
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- JUNE 4, 5:30-6:30PM
First Northern Credit Union "A Smarter Approach to Vehicle Buying"
Attend a free workshop to learn from local experts how to find the right vehicle within your budget, create affordable monthly payments, and determine whether refinancing your current auto loan could help you save money.
- JUNE 5, 4-6PM
In the Absence of Space Exhibition Opening at The Grove Gallery
In the Absence of Space is a group exhibition exploring how artists respond to exclusion and invisibility by imagining and building spaces of presence, connection and community. The exhibition is on view through June 28 with a variety of special programs throughout the month.
- JUNE 5, 5-7PM
One River School Hosts Teen Art Show
Attend the opening reception for the Teen Spring Student Show, celebrating the incredible artwork created by teen students all inspired by the same artist, Daniel Heidkamp.
- JUNE 6, 5-8PM
The Saw Room at The Alley Gallery Hosts Opening Reception
Meet artist Damien James and celebrate the closing of his exhibit The Writing on the Wall featuring drawings, spray paintings, and stencils from the last decade.
- JUNE 12, 3PM
Chicago Duo Piano Festival at Nichols Concert Hall
Festival Co-Founders and Music Institute Piano Duo in Residence Claire Aebersold Neiweem and Ralph Neiweem kick off the Festival with performances of works by Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, and Charles Ives.
- JUNE 27, 4-5:30PM
Evanston Public Library Hosts Drag Queen Bingo
Join the EPL for the ultimate inclusive event—Drag Queen Bingo with the fabulous, fierce, and talented Miss Coco Sho-Nell! There will be tons of fun, fabulous prizes, and plenty of moments to laugh your glittery socks off. Ages 12 and older.
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- JUNE 10, 12-1PM
Evanston History Center Curiosity Cafe: Evanston's Queer History
Learn about Queer History in Evanston including Kinheart Center, historic legislation, the founding of Evanston Pride, and more. Free event.
- JUNE 14, 2-5PM
Interfaith Family Pride Festival
Celebrate Pride Month at the 3rd annual Interfaith Family Pride Festival featuring live performances, music, Drag Story Time, community booths, and activities.
- JUNE 19, 10:30AM
Evanston Juneteenth Parade & Celebration
Celebrate Juneteenth and Ms. Opal Lee at the annual parade featuring a 2.5 mile walk along the lakefront followed by a celebration at Arrington Lagoon.
- JUNE 20, 10AM-12PM
Celebrate Jens Jensen Day
Join the annual celebration of Jens Jensen and the powerful vision that shaped the gardens at the Harley Clarke Mansion as well as so many other transformative landscapes, including the Chicago Park District and the Indiana Dunes.
- JUNE 20, 7PM
Celebrate with The AUX at their Sneaker Soiree
Join The AUX for a night of joy, movement, music, and intention as they celebrate one year of The AUX and raise funds to support what comes next.
- JUNE 21, 7:30AM
YWCA Evanston/North Shore Hosts the 27th Annual Race Against Hate
The Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate is more than a run/walk—it’s a movement and a cherished community tradition. Held annually on Father’s Day, this family-friendly event brings together thousands from across Chicagoland and beyond in solidarity, proving that change happens when communities unite. Learn more & register here.
- JUNE 24, 6:30PM
Evanston History Center Hosts Nuestras Historias en Evanston
Join us for pan y cafecito as we listen to diverse Latinos – including Paula Cofresi-Silverstein, author of Bomba Spirit, the leaders of Puerta Abierta Preschool, and bilingual family engagement advocate Celia Carlino – share their experiences of building lives and community in Evanston.
- JUNE 27, 11AM-9PM
Celebrate Summer at the Main Street Fair
Join the community at the 2nd annual Main Street Fair featuring live music across three stages, local artists and makers, delicious food, family-friendly activities, and entertainment for all ages.
- JUNE 28, 12-5PM
Evanston Environmental Association Hosts Evanston Garden Walk
Enjoy a walk through some of the most creative, beautiful, and personal gardens Evanston has to offer. All ticket proceeds help provide scholarships for children to attend the Evanston Ecology Center's summer camps.
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