Photo: William DeShazer/Chicago Tribune
 

The South Shore Drill Team performing during the Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic down South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in 2011.

Festivals, Parades, Parties

BUD BILLIKEN PARADE Free! Child Friendly
8/10 at 2 Barack, Kanye, R. Kelly, both Daleys—they’ve all made appearances at the nation’s oldest and largest African American parade. Drill teams, marching bands, and local luminaries celebrate school’s return. Martin Luther King from 39th to Washington Park. budbillikenparade.com.

CHICAGO AIR AND WATER SHOW Free! Child Friendly
8/17–18 Planes perform air gymnastics at the biggest free show of its kind. 10–3. North Avenue Beach, cityofchicago.org.

NORTHALSTED MARKET DAYS
8/10–11 It’s a major ’90s redux at the gayest outdoor festival that isn’t Pride. Bubblegum-pop star Aaron Carter, trio Wilson Phillips, and David Cassidy perform. N Halsted between Belmont and Addison. $8 suggested donation. northalsted.com.

RANDOLPH STREET MARKET FESTIVAL
8/24–25 In addition to browsing hundreds of vendors plying everything from artisanal cheese to vintage jewelry, you can trade old treasures for new ones at the fest’s vinyl swap. 10–5. $25. $20 in advance. 1350 W Randolph. randolphstreetmarket.com.

Gardens, Parks, Zoos

BROOKFIELD ZOO
8/10–11 Zoo Brew. The craft beer craze finally hits the zoo. Sample more than 40 types of the hop stuff, bid on items at a silent auction, and gain free admission to all the zoo’s exhibits at this 21-and-over party. 6:30–10:30. $75. $150 couples. Zoo open Mon–Fri 10–5, Sat–Sun 10–6. Free (kids under 3) to $15. Parking $10. 8400 W 31st, Brookfield. brookfieldzoo.org.

GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY
8/10–11 FIGMENT Chicago. The conservatory pairs up with the organization Figment to encourage everyone to make art.
8/25 at 3 The Comedy of Errors. Chicago Shakespeare Theater mounts the popular play. Open daily 9–5, Wed 9–8. Free. 300 N Central Park. garfieldconservatory.org.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO Free!
8/13 Zoovies. Watch the 2001 comedy Zoolander under the stars at this new outdoor movie screening series that launched in June. At dusk. Open Mon–Fri 10–5, Sat–Sun 10–6:30. Free. Lakeshore and Fullerton. lpzoo.org.

Sports & Rec

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN Free! Child Friendly
8/10–11 Kite Festival. The Chicago Fire Kite Team and the Kite Society of Wisconsin and Illinois provide aerial entertainment. There’s ice cream and beverages too. Open 7–9 daily. 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe. chicagobotanic.org.

CHICAGO SUMMERDANCE Free! Critic’s Pick
Through 9/15 Get a quick one-hour lesson in swing, waltz, tango, and other styles (depending on the week), then show off what you’ve learned. Thu–Sat 6–9:30, Sun 4–7. Spirit of Music Garden, Grant Park, 601 S Michigan. Details, schedule: chicagosummerdance.org.

Miscellaneous

AMY SCHUMER
8/9 at 8 Breast cancer, masturbation, one-night stands—nothing is off-limits for the hilarious New York–based potty-mouthed comic. Horseshoe Hammond, 777 Casino Center, Hammond, Ind. horseshoehammond.com.

More events:
Music: Folk, Country, World | Music: Classical, New Music, Opera | Theatre: Dramas
Music: Rock, Pop, Hip Hop | Theatre: Comedies | Music: Classic Rock, Blues, Soul
Theatre: Musicals | Art Galleries | Museums | Best of the Rest