As we roll into mid-May, the calendar is packed with family-friendly festivals, art markets, and plenty of ways to enjoy the longer days. Whether you’re planning a weekend outing or a casual meetup with friends, Downtown Evanston has something for everyone!
Kick off your weekend on Saturday, May 16 with a trip to the Evanston Farmer's Market and the vibrant YEA! Festival, then stick around for brunch or lunch at your favorite downtown spot. On Sunday, May 17, soak up sunshine and smooth sounds at Sunday Jazz at the Square. Mark your calendars for Evanston ASPA's Umbrella Arts Festival on Saturday, May 30 in downtown, and close out the month at the Chicago Stars game vs San Diego Wave on May 31.
Don't forget to hop on the Evanston Chamber of Commerce's Hop Around Evanston, a free community bus that provides rides throughout Evanston every Saturday from 6-9PM. Learn more and plan your night out!
Read on to discover what’s happening around town, and follow Downtown Evanston on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates!
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Join us for a relaxing lunchtime at Sunday Jazz at the Square, a weekly live music series showcasing the next generation of local jazz talent. Kicking off this Sunday, May 17, the jazz music will run every Sunday, 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:
The event is free and open to the public, with music lovers of all ages encouraged to bring a chair, grab lunch, ice cream or coffee from a nearby eatery, and enjoy top-tier jazz in a relaxed, outdoor setting. More info. |
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- Saturday, May 30, 10AM | Family Ride at Raymond Park with Wheel & Sprocket offering free inspections and safety tune-ups from 9:15-10AM.
- Tuesday, June 2 | 5:30PM | Tuesday Adult Ride at Fountain Square
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Celebrate Asian American Heritage Month at Evanston ASPA's Umbrella Arts Festival on Saturday, May 30, 12-5PM. Located on Sherman Avenue between Church and Davis street, the festival will feature music and dance performances, artist and food vendors, art activities and more to showcase the Asian American culture, history and heritage. The festival is free and for all ages! Learn more here. |
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On Sunday, May 31 at 12PM, join Chicago Stars FC at they face off against San Diego Wave FC at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium! Celebrate the game’s International theme with a special patch giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, plus special ticket offers for Faith & Community groups. |
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- MAY 14, 6-8PM
the reform method hosts The Perimenopause Shift
Attend an evening focused on supporting your body through perimenopause featuring speakers on science backed topics including hrt, peptides, glp-1s, bone density and more.
- MAY 16, 3:30PM
Animal Records Hosts Soul Asylum Spinning & Record Signing
Soul Asylum will be spinning and signing records before their show at Evanston Space at 8PM.
- MAY 17, 10AM
Grateful Yoga Hosts Yoga by the Lake
A rotating cast of Grateful Yoga teachers will teach lakeside yoga classes to benefit the Evanston Environmental Association's canoe launch initiative at the Ecology Center. Enjoy a slow, strengthening hatha yoga flow under lakeside trees of Clark Square Park offered through September 13.
- MAY 17, 2-4PM
Grove Gallery Hosts Artist's Talk Benefitting Alliance for the Great Lakes
Join Grove Gallery for an inspiring afternoon of art and conversation as artists and environmental leaders reflect on the beauty, emotional power, and future of the Great Lakes through the exhibition Horizons: The Waterscapes.
- MAY 18, 6:30-8PM
Pure Barre Evanston Hosts Midlife Women's Health Group
Attend a free workshop created to support women navigating perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
- MAY 21, 6PM
Bookends & Beginnings Hosts Doorways of Chicago Author Talk
Come and hang out with us and Ronnie Frey, who will discuss his new book, Doorways of Chicago, which presents an entirely new way to explore the city. Doors and mini-bar open at 5:30PM.
- MAY 26, 6PM
Bookends & Beginnings Hosts Author Zayd Ayers Dohrn
Join author Zayd Dohrn for a compelling conversation with Alex Kotlowitz about Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young, a powerful memoir uncovering family secrets, political radicalism, and deep Chicagoland roots.
- MAY 27, 6:30-7:30AM
Trufit Studios Morning Strength Training Happy Hour
Enjoy a feel-good, all-levels session designed to help you build strength, move better, and leave feeling accomplished, followed by post-workout bites and refreshments from Patisserie Coralie.
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- MAY 14, 5-8PM
Main-Dempster Mile Hosts Evanston Arts & Craft Beverage Crawl
Visit pop-up art galleries in stores all over Main, Dempster and Chicago Avenue! While you're there, try tastings of craft beverages made in Chicagoland.
- MAY 16, 10AM-3PM
YEA Festival at Raymond Park
View works of art by students throughout Evanston, enjoy musical performances and connect with community members!
- MAY 16, 11:30AM-10:15PM
Dillo Day at Northwestern University
Dillo Day is the largest student-run music festival in the nation featuring music all day long including headliners Daya and Malcom Todd.
- MAY 16, 3-4PM
Evanston Children's Choir Spring Concert
Enjoy an afternoon featuring the ECC Concert Choir, Pop Hits Choir and Pope John XXIII School Choir performing an eclectic mix of songs.
- MAY 22 & 24
Women's NCAA Lacrosse Championship at Northwestern
Don't. miss this opportunity to watch top-level lacrosse right here in Evanston! Get tickets to the NCAA Women's semifinal and final game at Northwestern's Medicine Field.
- MAY 28, 6PM
Evanston Community Foundation Hosts Celebrate Evanston
Join ECF at their annual Celebrate Evanston to invest in a stronger Evanston and deepen our drive for change in the city we all know and love.
- MAY 29, 9-11PM
Northwestern Hosts CIERA Astronomer Evening
Look through the historic telescope and meet and talk with astronomers from CIERA, Northwestern's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics. Free and open to the public.
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Save the dates to attend Downtown Evanston's Thursday Night Markets! Each market showcases artists, makers, and retailers from the regional community. Learn more.
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Celebrate summer on Thursday, June 25, 4:30-7:30PM at our annual Sip + Stroll! Enjoy sips of wine, bubbly, and NA beverages, along with other specials! Learn more.
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Downtown Summer Sounds is a free, outdoor concert series at Fountain Square on Thursday evenings from 6-8PM, July 9 to September 3. Learn more.
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Join us for the 2nd annual Evanston Cars & Coffee, a family-friendly event where you can admire an incredible lineup of vintage and exotic cars. Learn more.
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FREE PARKING during Construction on Chicago Avenue
During construction of The Legacy Apartments and the planned sidewalk upgrade on Chicago Avenue between Church and Davis, all of the restaurants and storefronts on the east side of the street will remain open for business!
To encourage your continued patronage of Tapas Barcelona, European Wax Center, Picnic, Kiara Nail Spa, and Prairie Moon, these five businesses will offer free parking validation in the Church Street Self Park garage from through May 31. In addition, the surface parking lot behind the Evanston Public Library (City Lot #3) will offer free 4-hour parking throughout the duration of The Legacy Apartments construction. Please make a special effort to support these local businesses during the construction period and enjoy the free parking!
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