National Cheese Day

National Hug Your Cat Day

National Cognac Day

National Old Maid’s Day

International Corgi Day

Oak Brook Artisan Market: The twice-a-year Oak Brook Artisan Market returns this weekend. This massive two-day outdoor market is free to attend, kid- and dog-friendly and offers free parking.

What makes this event so unique is that it takes place right in the heart of Oakbrook Center. Where else can you explore a local market of this size that supports small businesses while also shopping all the iconic brands you know and love?

Here's a glimpse of this weekend's free outdoor market, which brings together more than 115 talented local and Midwest artisans showcasing everything from art, jewelry and woodworking to gourmet food, handbags, clothing, sauces and spices, ceramics, dog items and more.

You can visit on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Look for multiple large collections of white tents set up throughout the shopping center.

Buckingham Chairs: Buckingham Fountain just received a new seating upgrade inspired by Paris, Chicago's sister city. As part of a pilot program, 100 movable French lawn chairs have been installed around the fountain to encourage visitors to spend more time relaxing and socializing. The Buckingham Fountain Chairs cost $54,438 in total, with the City of Chicago contributing $24,438 and Lollapalooza covering the remaining $30,000. They'll remain in place through October, except during certain major events in Grant Park.

Horizon Lines: What could Chicago look like in 2050? Six finalists have been selected for Horizon Lines: Visions for Chicago 2050, a competition asking Chicagoans to imagine bold projects that could shape the city's future. The finalists were chosen from nearly 200 submissions and are now on display at the Chicago Cultural Center through Sept. 20. Public feedback is open through July 24, with the winning vision set to be announced on Sept. 15.

Mag Mile Sculptures: A new public art installation featuring 10 sculptures of swimmers has arrived along Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Called Monuments of Stillness, the exhibit showcases the work of internationally acclaimed artist Carole A. Feuerman and will remain on display through November. The sculptures range from life-size to more than 12 feet tall and can be found along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street, with a few additional pieces set to be installed in the coming weeks.

Esquire: A new luxury steakhouse called Esquire will open later this year at 58 E. Oak St. in Chicago's Gold Coast. The restaurant, guided by Japanese precision and built on a French culinary foundation, is taking over the former Cooper's Hawk space inside the historic Esquire Theatre, which originally opened as a movie theater in 1938. The menu will feature an extensive Wagyu program, seafood, sushi, caviar and a four-story wine tower, along with a private members club and a 12-seat omakase experience.

Smyth: A Chicago restaurant has officially been named the best in North America. West Loop's Smyth earned the No. 1 spot on the 2026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants list, which is produced by the organization behind the acclaimed World's 50 Best Restaurants rankings. The three-Michelin-star restaurant is known for its farm-driven tasting menu, natural wines and focus on seasonal Midwestern ingredients.

Madden 27 Cover: Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was announced as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 27 on Wednesday. The reveal included multiple cover versions, including the "Jumpman" edition, which features Williams in front of the Chicago skyline as a nod to Michael Jordan, and the "Iceman" edition, inspired by his iconic celebration after beating the Green Bay Packers last season. Madden NFL 27 is scheduled to be released on Aug. 13.

National Donut Day: Friday, June 5 is National Donut Day and Stan's Donuts has a couple of fun promotions planned. Stan's customers can get a free chocolate dipped donut with any purchase, and some lucky guests will win free donuts for a year or even free donuts for life based on the inside color of the donut they bite into. Plus, for one day only, Fry the Coop locations will be serving a $6.50 Donut Chicken Sandwich in partnership with Stan's.

World Cup Friendly: One of the final tune-up matches before the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in Chicago at Soldier Field this weekend. The United States will face Germany on Saturday, June 6 at 1:30 p.m. in its World Cup send-off match, giving fans one last chance to see the team before the tournament begins. The U.S. opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday, June 12 at 8 p.m.

Free This June: June is packed with things to do around Chicago, and a surprising amount of it is free. We put together a list of 10 June street festivals along with all of June's free museum days. Hopefully this helps you find a few fun ways to enjoy the city affordably this summer.

Frosty Fridays: Friday Morning Swim Club round two? If you missed out on the Friday Morning Swim Club craze, this new lakefront meetup may be for you. Frosty Fridays hosts weekly meetups every Friday at 7 a.m. at the Chess Pavilion, where participants gather for a morning dip in Lake Michigan before starting their day. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Chicago Blues Fest: The largest free blues festival in the world returns to Millennium Park this weekend. Chicago Blues Festival runs June 5–7 and features performances across four stages, showcasing both Chicago's blues heritage and the next generation of artists. The celebration begins this evening with a special kickoff event at Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. Admission is free.

Beyond Wonderland: One of the largest electronic music festivals of the summer returns to Chicago this weekend. Beyond Wonderland takes place June 6–7 at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island and features more than 60 artists performing across four stages. This year's lineup includes headliners like Tiësto, Zedd and Zeds Dead.

Lincoln Park Greek Fest: Authentic Greek food, live music and traditional dancing return to Lincoln Park this weekend as the Lincoln Park Greek Fest takes over St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The festival runs June 5–7 at 2701 N. Sheffield Ave. and celebrates Greek culture with entertainment, family-friendly activities and plenty of delicious eats.

57th Street Art Fair: Around 200 artists will take over Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side this weekend as the 57th Street Art Fair returns for its 79th year. The event takes place Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, and admission is free. Visitors can also enjoy live music programmed by Buddy Guy's Legends, food trucks and family-friendly activities.

Pokémon Go Fest: Grant Park will once again become a gathering place for Pokémon Trainers this weekend from June 5–7 as Pokémon Go Fest returns to Chicago. The event features exclusive gameplay, special experiences and both morning and afternoon sessions each day. Tickets start at $33.

Ribfest Chicago: Northcenter's annual barbecue festival returns this weekend from June 5–7 for three days of ribs, live music and summer fun. Celebrating its 26th year, Ribfest Chicago features more than 20 food vendors and takes place along Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Berteau Avenue.

Southport Summer Jam: Boka Restaurant Group is throwing a free summer party this Sunday, June 7 at the corner of Southport and Henderson. Southport Summer Jam takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. and will feature complimentary bites and sips from Little Goat Diner, Itoko and GG's Chicken Shop. There will also be giveaways, face painting and other family-friendly activities.

Sunrise: 5:16 a.m. (3 minutes earlier)

Sunset: 8:21 p.m. (7 minutes later)