Labor Day Weekend in Chicago

BEST DATE NEWS

Aug. 28, 2025: Best Date News Volume #141

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s edition, you’ll read about Soldier Field’s lineup of concerts, the MSI Golden Ticket promotion, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, PSL Season, what to do in Chicago this Labor Day Weekend and more!

Aug. 28: National Holidays

• National Red Wine Day

• National Bow Tie Day

• National Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

• National Cherry Turnover Day

• National Power Rangers Day

Sponsored by our friends at Hideaway Brew Garden

Hoffman Estates Platzkonzert Germanfest

• Hideaway Brew Garden: Check out the Hoffman Estates Platzkonzert Germanfest from Sept. 5–7 at Hideaway Brew Garden. This one-weekend-only, free to attend Oktoberfest-style celebration is going to be amazing! It’s happening 5–11 p.m. on Sept. 5, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Sept. 6, and 12–5 p.m. on Sept. 7.

• There will truly be something for everyone, including live music, shopping, food and drinks, entertainment and free children’s activities, so add it to your calendar. Entry and parking are free!

• The celebration will feature Hofbräu beer, authentic German food, live music, free kids’ activities and more. You can look forward to the Beer Olympics, Dachshund Races (register your dog) and a Fall Makers Market. See the full schedule of events.

• The Beer Olympics will take place on Sept. 5 and 6 with competitions like stein hoisting, stein carrying, and barrel racing. It will be two days of steins, strength, and silliness. You can register to participate on-site.

Chicago News

• Soldier Field Concerts: The Chicago Bears don’t begin their season at Soldier Field for 10 days (Sept. 8), so the stadium is taking full advantage of the open schedule. Soldier Field will host five huge concerts over the next five days. It kicks off tonight with Oasis & Cage The Elephant, followed by My Chemical Romance on Friday, The Lumineers on Saturday and System of a Down with Avenged Sevenfold closing things out on both Sunday and Monday.

• MSI Golden Ticket: This is pretty fun! The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry just announced they are about to welcome their 200 millionth guest, and that lucky visitor will receive a Golden Ticket good for lifetime membership to the museum. On Illinois Free Days next week, Sept. 2–4, all Illinois residents who visit will also be entered into prize drawings that include a yearlong membership, museum swag, simulator passes, gift cards and more.

• Cubs Schedule: The Cubs just released their 2026 regular season schedule this week. They’ll open at Wrigley Field on March 26 against the Nationals and close the season with a road series in Boston. If you’re a planner and want to see when, and what teams, you may be able to catch games at Wrigley next year, take a look at this graphic.

• Restaurant Eviction: Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna has officially closed after 36 years in Lincoln Square. The longtime spot at 4761 N. Lincoln Ave. was suddenly evicted. People who walked by yesterday noticed the space boarded up while the inside still looked stocked. There hasn’t been an official word yet on why it happened.

• Oberweis: Oberweis just opened a new ice cream shop at 510 Winnetka Ave., marking its first new location in five years. The grand opening was yesterday, and after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, the company has sudden momentum as new owners plan to add a dozen more locations across Illinois, Missouri and Florida over the next two years.

Just For Fun

• Taylor and Travis: The engagement that broke the internet! Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement this week (we had some fun with it), and their collab post now has over 33 million likes... If you want to celebrate them in Chicago you can grab these cookies at Bennison’s, head to Replay Lincoln Park for tonight’s no-cover engagement party, or join a Swiftie Booze Cruise on Sunday.

• PSL Season: The long list of Starbucks lovers just got a +1! Pumpkin Spice Latte season is officially here with the fall favorite back at Starbucks this week along with a new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado and returning drinks like Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai. If you stop by the Starbucks Reserve on Michigan Ave, you can also try exclusive new items including the Tiramisu Latte and Pumpkin Spice Duo Flight.

• Gilmore Girls: Nothing says fall like Stars Hollow, and it turns out the cast and crew of Gilmore Girls are headed back there for a brand new documentary called Searching for Stars Hollow celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary. There will be interviews with the stars of the show and surprises that are still under wraps.

• Magnolia Bakery: Known for their world-famous banana pudding, Magnolia Bakery just launched a new Banana Pudding Bar in Chicago this week. The Loop shop is serving four flavors including Caramel Brownie, Cookies & Cream, Red Velvet and Chocolate Hazelnut with toppings you can customize, available in store daily from open to close.

• Jonas Brothers: The Jonas Brothers had a concert at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park on Tuesday, and they spent some time hanging around Chicago while they were in the area. Check out these pictures of Joe Jonas stopping by Loop Vintage and Big Mini Putt Club.

Weekend Plans

• Final Fireworks: Navy Pier’s Summer Fireworks are almost over, but you still have one more chance to catch a show. The final display takes place Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 p.m. We recommend watching the show from the southeast end of Navy Pier for the best views of the fireworks.

• Music Festivals: Chicago’s Labor Day weekend is packed with three big music events. The Chicago Jazz Festival returns to Millennium Park with free performances from world-class artists all weekend long. Arc Music Festival brings house and electronic beats to Union Park with a lineup of top DJs. North Coast Music Festival takes over SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview with multiple stages, art installations and some of the biggest names in EDM and hip hop.

• Taste of Polonia: Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, Jefferson Park hosts the largest Polish festival in the USA at the Copernicus Center. Taste of Polonia is a one-of-a-kind food festival and four-day celebration with nonstop live music, dance performances, authentic Polish food and beer, exhibitions, local vendors, and a Kids Zone packed with activities. Tickets start at $10.

• Additional Festivals: WingOut Chicago brings unlimited wing tastings and live music to Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville. Meet Me on Milwaukee closes down Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park to cars and turns it into a pedestrian street filled with shopping and live music. The African Festival of the Arts celebrates culture with art, performances, food and marketplace shopping in Washington Park on the DuSable Museum grounds (Sunken Gardens).

• Bike the Drive: This Sunday, Aug. 31, Lake Shore Drive will be closed to cars and opened exclusively for cyclists during the annual Bike the Drive event. Riders can start anytime between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., though it’s best to begin before 8 a.m. to make the most of the ride and take in the skyline and lakefront views. The event costs $78 per person, and you must register to participate.

• AVP Beach Volleyball: The AVP League Championships take over Oak Street Beach this weekend, Aug. 30 and 31. The event is unfortunately no longer free, with tickets starting at $54, but it’s still probably the coolest volleyball court you’ll ever see in Chicago with skyline views right on the sand.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter, we asked which Chicago sports team do you love the most. Here are your favorite Chicago teams ranked in order:

1. Chicago Cubs

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Chicago Bears

4. Chicago Blackhawks

5. Chicago White Sox

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

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

• Sunrise: 6:11 a.m. (6 minutes later)

• Sunset: 7:29 p.m. (12 minutes earlier)

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