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News and Updates
Summer has officially arrived in Evanston and for some, ACs may already be running at full blast.
As you pack away your winter wear and break out the flip flops, Evanston is about to experience the best of summer. Our beautiful lakefront town is serving up all the best parts of the season: patios perfect for frozen drinks, ice cream cones and lively events in the park.
This season, we're spotlighting all the ways to be outside. We want you to go and enjoy icy lemonades and patio meals to outdoor performances, strolls, and things to do outside after months of winter hibernation.
One thing is certain; we are going to be outside!
Summer BBQ: Soul & Smoke
It's the James Beard Award season in Chicago and one that many has donned as the Oscar's of Food, Monica Eng and Justin Kaufmann of Axios Chicago said that our very own, Soul & Smoke in Evanston was one of the 13 best things they ate during the Beard weekend
Chef D'Andre Carter's restaurant serves up tasty St Louis Style Ribs, Slow-smoked hand pulled pork and Midwest prime brisket among other yummy options on their lengthy menu. The restaurant will reopen on July 1.
Evanston location: 1601 Payne #C
Hours:
- Sunday-Thursday 11 am- 8:30 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday 11 am- 9:30 p.m.
We're Outside: Street Festivals!
The Main Street Fair is a true community collaboration! The event is organized by a coalition of local organizations, working together to create a meaningful and memorable day for all our neighbors.
With three stages of live music, The Main Street Fair will have you dancing in the streets all day long! Curated by School Of Rock - Evanston , the East Stage at Main St and Hinman Ave is a musical medley of genres and generations, featuring 11 unique local acts.
When: June 27
Where: 700 block of Main Street,
East Stage Schedule:
11:30-12:00 OK Party
12:00-12:30 Mung
12:30-1:00 Jonah’s Garage
1:00-1:30 Stargazer Stargazer
1:30-2:00 Maddy Daley Maddy Daley
2:00-2:15 Dylan Wiseman
2:15-4:15 School Of Rock Evanston House Band Showcase
4:25-4:45 Tom Durrenberger Tom
5:00-5:30 7th Period 7th Period
5:45-6:15 Pam & Mico
6:30-7:30 Hasta Mañana Hasta Mañan
We're Outside: Lake Michigan
Did you ever want to see what Evanston might look like from the vantage point of the Lake Michigan?
We got you covered: Northwestern University Sailing School, offers many options to get out on the water with adult sailing lessons and wind surfing, riding catamarans and offerings for the kiddos between 9–15-year-olds.
Location: 1823 Campus Drive (two blocks east of Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue)
Evanston’s Annual Juneteenth Parade
Evanston Present and Future, in partnership with The City of Evanston, Mari Enterprise and Unity Unlimited, proudly announces a landmark evolution in the city's annual Juneteenth celebration.
The celebration is also moving to a stunning new home: Evanston's lakefront. Starting at Arrington Lagoon (1647 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60201) and winding north along the scenic lakefront path toward Northwestern University before looping back south toward Lee Street
Beach, the route offers a breathtaking backdrop for this deeply meaningful walk.
Participants will walk 2.5 miles to symbolize the two-and-a-half years between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the moment when freedom was finally enforced in Texas on June 19th, 1865.
When: Friday, June 19 | noon until 4:00 pm
For more information
Other local Juneteenth Celebrations:
- The Evanston Public Library hosts a free snack-and-paint event from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Robert Crown Branch Library, 1801 Main St.
- The AUX Wellness Collective celebrates its one-year anniversary with a Sneaker Soirée serving as a Juneteenth tribute and fundraising event.
We're Outside: Evanston Drink Terraces
Escape the summer heat and grab yourself a drink or your beverage of choice at one of the many spots around Evanston. Our venues are plentiful for drinking outside.
One of our fave is Five & Dime boasting an open-air rooftop/terrace and a set up for cocktails and casual summer drinks. To this list we add the following:
Have you signed up for the Downtown Sip + Stroll yet?
Join us for a fun evening exploring downtown Evanston! Stroll through downtown visiting local shops, restaurants, fitness studios, and wellness businesses while meeting owners, discovering new favorites, and enjoying complimentary beverages and treats along the way.
When: Thursday, June 25 | 4:30-7:30PM
Event is FREE with a suggested donation benefitting Kitchen to Community (https://www.ktcprograms.org/) located at The Aux.
Evanston Made Hosts 5th Annual Evanston Plein Air Festival July 11-19
with festival founder Mark Cleveland as Best in Show Judge
This citywide summer arts festival invites plein air the community to attend plein air art events, plein air — the act of painting outdoors, hosted in every neighborhood, accessible and free for all! This mid-summer festival is a vibrant, art-filled experience for arts enthusiasts and patrons.
When: July 11-19, 2026.
Artists can register here
Arts Picks of the Month
Don't miss this fun-filled musical tribute to the Louvin Brothers, highlighting the colorful lives of two of country music’s finest and most influential harmony singers.
Born into poverty in rural Alabama in the 1920s, the Louvins began singing gospel music as a duet while in their teens, later becoming stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1950s and writing songs that have become country classics. Their unique harmonies and songwriting style had a major influence on later artists – from Johnny Cash and the Everly Brothers to Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello.
The show runs approximately 90 minutes without intermission. Visit www.louvinshow.com for more details.
When: Sat Jun 20th 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Where: American Legion Post 42, 1030 Central Street
Hot 8 Brass Band@SPACE
Drawing on the traditional jazz heritage of their hometown of New Orleans, the Hot 8 Brass Band are renowned for including elements of funk, hip hop, rap, and its local variation, bounce in their music.
The collective earned a win in the 64th Annual Grammy Awards 2022 for their feature on John Batistes Album of The Year, following the nomination of their The Life LP for Best Regional Roots Album in 2013.
When: Wed, June 24 | 6:30pm
Where: 1243 Chicago Avenue
For tickets
Meghan Malachi, No Lace Fronts in Iowa City
Meghan Malachi’s debut collection, NO LACE FRONTS IN IOWA CITY (Madville Publishing) explores how community, desirability, and notions of home influence the journeys by which girls come of age. Favorite wigs and reimagined anti-heroines make appearances in this love letter to female kinship.
The book publishes in June, and Dawn Tefft and Tracy Zeman will join Megan for a live reading and discussion. Followed by a book-signing.
When: Sat Jun 20th 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Where: Bookends & Beginnings, 1620 Orrington Avenue
More information
Noyes Cultural Center Exhibition
A Solo Exhibition: Oh Look: Objects, Places and Friends with artist, Mark Lale
" My purpose as an artist is to find the beauty and fascination in the ways appear and are made. I like this quote by Leo Tolstoy, all the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life are made up of light and shade."
When: May 15 - Sept 8, 2026
Where: Noyes Cultural Art Center | 927 Noyes St.
Gallery hours:
Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun - 10am - 5pm
Other Cultural Ways to Enjoy Evanston
Art Exhibitions
Theatre
Business News
Taking a business from an idea to reality is no small task—and growing that business is an even greater achievement.
Join the Evanston Chamber of Commerce for Women in Business: She Started It, a dynamic conversation featuring local women who have built, grown, and led their own businesses.
This event brings together founders and leaders from across industries to share their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. From getting started to scaling a business, the conversation will offer real insight into what it takes to build something of your own.
Whether you’re an established business owner, just getting started, or simply looking to connect with other women in the Evanston business community, this event is designed to be both inspiring and practical.
In addition to a lively panel discussion, attendees will also enjoy time to network, as well as a lunch buffet, coffee and treats.
When: Wed, Jun 17 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Where: 1702 Chicago Avenue.
Have a upcoming event?
Help us add to our calendar! We encourage you to submit all your upcoming events through our website.
Please review the following submission guidelines:
- Only public events may be listed
- Cannot be solely retail in nature
- Cannot be solely religious or political in nature
- Cannot be solely fundraisers or networking events
- Should be leisure time or recreational activities
Event eligibility is also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are only able to accept event listings in English.
 What do YOU enjoy about Evanston?
With ten unique business districts, there is something for everyone to enjoy! We want to hear about your faves. Tell us about your favorite places for health and fitness, your favorite store or art gallery to explore, or your favorite place to eat! Send us an email about your favorite spots at hello@enjoyevanston.com.
See below for local upcoming events! In addition, you can find the full calendar of summer events on the Enjoy Evanston website.
Enjoy other Events around town
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