The city is bustling for the Independence Day weekend, most notably with the NASCAR race in Grant Park but also with concerts, festivals and fireworks all over the place.
No escaping this event downtown this weekend. The races and qualifying are on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, on Michigan Avenue and in Grant Park but you should be able to hear the engines in, say, the West Loop. Events are July 1-2, with the big Cup Series race at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Televised live and streamed at NBC 5 Chicago and Peacock. Concerts include The Black Crowes (2:30 p.m. Saturday), The Chainsmokers (7 p.m. Saturday) and Miranda Lambert (1:30 p.m. Sunday).
Tickets from $283.86 and more information at www.nascarchicago.com
The top-selling female country music artist brings her Queen of Me Tour to Tinley Park. Country music singer-songwriter Priscilla Block is also featured on the lineup.
7:30 p.m. July 1 at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave, Tinley Park; tickets at concerts.livenation.com
While you can catch fireworks displays at Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday evening from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, this show is a special Fourth of July celebration. There are also plenty of other fireworks displays happening all around the Chicago area.
9 p.m. July 1 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.; free, more information at navypier.org
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Granted, the line “… Was the summer of ‘23″ doesn’t roll so trippingly off the tongue, so you’ll just have to get to Rosemont this weekend to hear the original. Adams is touring behind his new 2022 studio album “So Happy It Hurts” with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
7:30 p.m. July 2 at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont; tickets from $39.50 at rosemont.com
This parade marches west on 53rd Street in Hyde Park and will feature marching bands, floats, community groups and children on decorated bikes. A free festival at Nichols Park follows with music, games, bouncy houses, face painting, a petting zoo and a magician. Performances include the Hyde Park Hot Seven, the Hyde Park Youth Symphony and the Kenwood School of Ballet.
Parade starts at 11 a.m., festival is from noon to 3 p.m. July 4 at Nichols Park, 1355 E. 53rd St.; free, more information at 4thon53rdparade.com
This festival, which celebrates Jamaican, Caribbean, African and American entertainers, is marking its 30th anniversary this year. The event will be held in conjunction with the Jerk, Seafood and Vegan Festival. Headliners include Roody Roodboy, Heatwave, Rich Homie Quan and Capleton & The Prophecy Band. There will also be food, games, arts and crafts.
Noon to 10 p.m. July 1-4 at Washington Park, 55th Street and Cottage Grove; single-day general admission tickets are $25, internationalfestivaloflife.com
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B-Real, Sen Dog and DJ Muggs released their self-titled debut album in 1991, followed by the acclaimed “Black Sunday” in 1993. The band is still recording, and still touring, joined at the Hard Rock by DJ Metro.
7 p.m. July 2 at Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave., Gary; tickets from $39.50 at www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com
Watch the seventh film in the Star Wars saga as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score. David Newman conducts. 7:30 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets are $65-$215, more information at cso.org
The 40th annual American Music Festival is at FitzGerald’s this weekend on the border between Berwyn and Oak Park, with bands all weekend including Dave Alvin, Steve Earle and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and none other than singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams kicking things off.
June 30 to July 3 at FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn; www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
We’re in open-air movie season, Chicago, and the Rooftop Cinema Club in Fulton Market has a full roster of films playing on their 24-foot LED screen on the roof of the Emily Hotel. Titles this weekend include “Goodfellas,” “Lady Bird,” “Monsters, Inc.” and, appropriately enough, “Independence Day.” Family movies play earlier in the day; screenings after 4:30 p.m. are ages 18+. Take the elevator to the cinema entrance on the 6th floor.
Open run at the Emily Hotel, 311 N Morgan St.; tickets $19.50-$27.50 at rooftopcinemaclub.com