Although a short list this Fourth of July weekend, it’s certainly not a quiet one. Get down and dancey at the Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic on Saturday, ride a cultural wave of Caribbean, African and Latin American tunes at the three-day International Festival of Life or fill up at a giant Independence Day cookout, the Windy City RibFest.
Windy City RibFest
When:
Noon–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Noon–9 p.m. Sunday
Where:
Lawrence Avenue and Broadway
How much:
$5 suggested donation
The skinny:
Get saucy at this Uptown fest in its seventh year with rib vendors such as Aussom Aussie Australian Barbecue Co., Sweet Baby Ray’s and Porky Chicks BBQ from Arkansas. Catch performances from classic soul group Black Ensemble Theater (5 p.m. Friday), jazz/funk band Liquid Soul (6:15 p.m. Saturday) and alt-rockers Lucky Boys Confusion (6 p.m. Sunday).
Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic
When:
8 a.m.–8 p.m. (park opens at 6 a.m.) Saturday
Where:
Jefferson Park
How much:
$25 in advance, $35 at the gate. Tickets: chosenfewdjs.com
The skinny:
House music is the focus at the 25th annual fest, which started as a small gathering among friends and has grown to attract about 40,000 dance music fans. Grammy award-winning R&B singer Stephanie Mills headlines this year, along with other performers such as Evelyn “Champagne” King and Cory Daye. DJ sets include Derrick Carter, Keith Fobs and Greg Gray.
International Festival of Life
When:
Noon–10 p.m. Friday–Sunday
Where:
Union Park
How much:
Single day: $17 in advance, $20 at gate before 4 p.m. and $25 after. Weekend passes: $39 in advance
The skinny:
Caribbean, African and Latin American cultures come together for the 23rd annual festival of arts, food and music. See Jamaican DJ Josey Wales and others perform Friday (8:45 p.m.), Tessanne Chin from “The Voice” on Saturday (8:45 p.m.) and Chante Moore on Sunday (7:45 p.m.).
Fest survival tip No. 8
We’ve all been there, perfectly situated on a picnic blanket enjoying some jams in the sun when along comes some jerk who puts her fold-out chairs right in front of you. Or maybe you finally found the perfect window to peek at the act you’ve been waiting for all day, only to be pushed out of the way by a Paul Bunyan-sized human who’s so tall, he can’t even hear your polite pleas to move at his altitude. If this doesn’t sound familiar, likely you’re the rude chair disrupter or Paul Bunyan. Let this be a lesson to you: Be conscious of others around you so everyone can enjoy the show.
#ChiFestQuest
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