Have fun in Chicago this weekend: Aug 10-12

Looking for fun things to do in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered with this selection of events in the city and suburbs. Our top suggestions:

• Fest for Beatles Fans
• Urban camping in Northerly Island
• The Queen Bey and Jay-Z
• The Bud Billiken Parade
• A Whitney Houston Show

And more. Read on!

Friday, August 10

Beatles Fans!

WHAT: The Fest for Beatles Fans

The 42nd annual incarnation of this hugely popular gathering features everything from a Fest Shop, Beatles Marketplace and a Beatles ’60s dance party to a Battle of the Beatles Bands, Kids Korner and Beatles Museum. Among this year’s special guests: master of ceremonies/legendary Chicago radio DJ Terry Hemmert (WXRT), famed producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, Blue Oyster Cult and John Lennon’s “Double Fantasy” album), Peter Asher & Jeremy Clyde, Roy Orbison Jr., Billy J. Kramer and tribute band Liverpool

WHEN: Aug. 10-12

WHERE: Hyatt Regency O’Hare Rosemont, 9300 Bryn Mawr, Rosemont

TICKETS: $27 – $199 for a 3-day pass

MORE INFO: Visit fest website or Facebook.

Camping in the city!

WHAT: Camp Northerly

Spend a night in a tent at Northerly Park, with beers, dinners and snacks, a “roaring campfire” and sunrise yoga. Organized by the Chicago Parks Foundation, this is a great opportunity to try a little urban camping and spend a night on Chicago’s Lakefront. Ticket proceeds support Chicago parks. The event is 21+over only.

WHEN:4 p.m. Aug. 10 to 10 a.m. Aug. 11

WHERE: Northerly Island, Chicago

TICKETS: $95 evening only, $125 if you bring your own tent, $150 for a pre-set tent

MORE INFO: Visit the Chicago Parks Foundation website

Queen Bey and Jay Z in concert

WHAT: Beyonce and Jay-Z’s On The Run II tour concert

The Grammy Award-winning pair headline Soldier Field this weekend, along with DJ Khaled and Chloe x Halle. The Saturday performance was added after “overwhelming demand” for their Friday show. They will most likely be performing from their most recent critically-acclaimed albums, Jay-Z’s “4:44,” Beyonce’s “Lemonade,” and their joint project, “Everything is Love,” in addition to their previous hits.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. both nights

WHERE: Soldier Field, Chicago

TICKETS, MORE INFO: Ticketmaster

Saturday, August 11

The back-to-school Bud Billiken parade

WHAT: The annual Bud Billiken Parade and festival, billed as the oldest and largest African-American parade in America, steps off at Oakwood Blvd. and Martin Luther King Drive at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade dates to 1929, with a route traveling through Bronzeville and WashingtonPark, celebrating “back to school,” family values and African-American life. The parade ends at a picnic/festival with food vendors in Washington Park

WHEN: 10 a.m. Aug. 11; festival in the park runs 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE:Oakwood Blvd. and Martin Luther King Drive

TICKETS: Free

MORE INFO: Visit fest website.

The Whitney Houston Show

WHAT: The Greatest Love of All: The Whitney Houston Show

This show re-creates Showtime Australia’s acclaimed music production starring Belinda Davids. Accompanied by a six-piece band, backing vocalists, dancers, gorgeous costumes and an extravagant light/video show, the evening will be filled with Houston’s greatest hits, including I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing,” “Didn’t We Almost Have it All,” “One Moment in Time” and many more.

WHEN: August 11th at 8 p.m.

WHERE: Rosemont Theatre, 5400 River Rd., Rosemont

COST: $25-$75

MORE INFO: Visit the website

Off to the Races

Photo courtesy Arlington International Racecourse

WHAT: The Arlington Million/International Festival of Racing: The three-day festival of horse racing kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday, but the jewel in the crown is the annual Arlington Million. The 36th running of the prestigious race features some of the best thoroughbreds and jockeys from around the globe competing for a $1 million purse. Weekend events include live music, a “best-dressed” contest, food/beverage specials, and more.

WHEN: Aug. 11; First post: 12:15 p.m.

WHERE: Arlington International Race Course, 2200 Euclid, Arlington Heights

COST: Festival packages – $24-$200 (children under 3 free)

MORE INFO: Visit the website.

Sunday, August 12

Music in the Park

WHAT: Millennium Park Summer Music Series: The series continues with performances by Whitney and NE-HI. Described as combining “the wounded drawl of Townes Van Zandt, the rambunctious energy of Jim Ford, the stoned affability of Bobby Charles, the American other worldliness of The Band, and the slack groove of early Pavement,” Whitney released its debut CD, “Light Upon the Lake” in 2016. The guitar-driven NE-HI was formed in Chicago’s Northwest Side and in 2017 released its second album, “Offers.”

WHERE: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12

COST: Free

INFO: Visit the website

Other suggestions:

• The Marriott Theatre is performing Pinkalicious, based on the New York Times best-selling children’s book of the same name, which follows the story of a girl so named who can’t stop eating pink cupcake and eventually turns pink from head to toe. Suitable for kids (and parents) of all ages. 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Illinois; tickets from $50; show times and tickets on the website

Other Sun-Times guides:

• Looking for something a bit cheaper (or even free)? Check out this weekend’s guide to free and cheap things to do in Chicago.
• Need to plan ahead for the summer? Check out the Sun-Times’ 2018 Summer Guide with all the best things to do in Chicago
• If none of this strikes your fancy, why not check out what you can do at your local farmers market with our Sun-Times 2018 Farmers Market Guide?