Chicago's 2026 Festival Calendar

BEST DATE NEWS

Jan. 29, 2026: Best Date News Volume #163

Welcome to Best Date News, your go-to guide for what’s happening in Chicago! This week, we’re diving into 2026 Chicago festivals, the Banchet Awards, Megalodome Golf, Mike Ditka’s 1985 sweater, United Airlines trolling American Airlines and more.

Jan. 29: National Holidays

• National Puzzle Day

• National Corn Chip Day

• National Curmudgeons Day

• National Carnation Day

• National Freethinkers Day

Chicago News

• 2026 Chicago Festivals: The 2026 Chicago festival lineup was announced this week, and the biggest news is that Taste of Chicago is officially moving back to its traditional July dates after being held in September in recent years. The city’s signature food festival will return to Grant Park from July 8 to 12, marking its 46th year and a shift back to the summer calendar following the NASCAR Chicago Street Race.

• Banchet Awards: The 2026 Banchet Awards, Chicago’s top local food honors recognizing the best in the city’s culinary scene, were announced this past week. River North’s Indienne was named Restaurant of the Year, while John Manion of El Che and Brasero took home Chef of the Year. Feld earned Best New Restaurant, and Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea received a lifetime achievement honor. Check out the full list of nominees and winners by category.

• Megalodome Golf: The world’s first fully playable indoor 9-hole golf course could be coming to the Chicago suburbs in 2027. Megalodome Golf has launched a $50 million investment fund for a proposed complex to be built in Oswego. Plans call for four interconnected, climate-controlled domes, allowing golfers to play year round regardless of weather. The project would include a 9-hole Par-30 course along with a clubhouse offering food and beverage service. Take a look at these renderings.

• Teatro ZinZanni: This Saturday, Jan. 31 will be the final performance of Teatro ZinZanni’s current Chicago show following a decline in ticket sales. The multi course dinner theater, known for its cirque style performances, has been located in a custom Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel downtown since opening in 2019. While the production is ending, the company plans to keep its lease and is aiming to bring the main show back this fall. There are still a few tickets left for tonight’s show. The rest are sold out.

• 5 p.m. Sunsets: Yesterday marked the first 5 p.m. sunset of 2026 in Chicago, a small but meaningful milestone after weeks of early darkness. It also kicked off a stretch of 277 straight days with sunsets at 5 p.m. or later, running through Nov. 1. In other words, the darkest part of the year is officially behind us.

Just For Fun

• Mike Ditka’s Vest: The sweater vest Mike Ditka wore during the Super Bowl while coaching the 1985 Bears is now up for auction. The auction opened at just $2,500 and has already drawn more than two dozen bids ahead of the Feb. 7 closing date. See the price it’s now up to. The vest comes with a signed letter from Ditka confirming it was worn during the championship game. One of the most iconic pieces of Bears history is officially up for grabs as Chicago celebrates the 40th anniversary of Super Bowl XX.

• United vs American: Chicago-based United Airlines rolled out a new digital billboard campaign across the city this week trolling American Airlines, with ads reading “AAdvantage, United.” The billboards are appearing around O’Hare and across Chicago as competition between the two airlines at the airport continues to heat up. United recently announced its largest-ever summer schedule at O’Hare.

• Shedd Free Days: The Shedd Aquarium will have 12 Illinois Resident Free Days during February: 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26. After February, it returns to a handful of free evenings per month, so February is the time to go. If your schedule allows, take advantage of these upcoming free days while you can.

• Concert Announcements: Two old school shows go on sale tomorrow. Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire are bringing their Sing A Song All Night Long tour to the United Center on Friday, June 26. The Wallflowers are bringing their Bringing Down the Horse 30th Anniversary Tour to the Vic Theatre on June 11. Tickets for both shows go on sale tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.

• $5 Bowl Day: Korean inspired fast casual spot SeoulSpice is celebrating the grand opening of its Wicker Park location with a $5 Bowl Day on Tuesday, Feb. 3. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., guests can grab $5 bowls, with limited edition merch giveaways for the first 100 people in line, plus games and chances to win prizes. The new location is at 1480 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Weekend Plans

• Groundhog Day: The 3rd Annual Harold Ramis Day takes place Monday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. at Harry Caray’s on Navy Pier, honoring the legendary Chicago filmmaker behind Groundhog Day and National Lampoon’s Animal House. This year’s Groundhog Day celebration features an Animal House crossover, with cast members in attendance, themed food and décor, photo ops, and a live ceremony featuring Chicago Harry the groundhog. The event is free, open to the public, and it will also have a Facebook Live stream available.

• Norge Ski Jump: The Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament takes place this weekend, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove. Fun fact, Norge is the oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States. Expect some incredible ski jumping, with presale tickets available for $20 through tomorrow or $25 at the gate.

• Chicago Boat Show: The Chicago Boat Show runs through Sunday, from Jan. 28–Feb. 1, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont, marking its 94th year as the Midwest’s largest annual boating event. There will be hundreds of boats, fun family-friendly activities, food, drinks and music. Tickets are available online, with kids 12 and under free with a paid adult.

• Winterfest Lake Geneva: It’s a great weekend for a quick trip up to Wisconsin as the 31st Annual Lake Geneva Winterfest takes place this weekend. The festival is home to America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational, where 15 teams from around the world compete to create massive snow sculptures. Events also include the Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, Bonfires on the Beach, live entertainment and more.

• Wicker Park Farmers Market: The family-friendly Wicker Park Farmers Market returns this Sunday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club. Along with local food and drink vendors, the indoor market will feature activities like Storytime and a Craft, shuffleboard, tropical mocktails, games and more.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last week, we asked if you plan on visiting at least one spot for Chicago Restaurant Week. 67% of you said yes, and some of the places you are excited to check out include Boka, Perilla Steakhouse, Big Jones and Southern Chicago.

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 7:05 a.m. (6 minutes earlier)

• Sunset: 5:01 p.m. (8 minutes later)

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