Arts Take Center Stage This Week in McKinley Park

A huge lineup of music and performance lands in the McKinley Park neighborhood this week, including all the events taking place simultaneously in McKinley Park on Friday, June 21. It's the summer solstice, which brings Make Music Chicago back to McKinley Park, alongside the performance and interactivity of Drumming in the Park and the grand opening of the Pianos in the Parks program. Rumors abound of an internationally known music and recording star making a surprise appearance at McKinley Park: This may be one day you and your family won't want to miss.

Probably the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride Month event on the South Side is the Chicago Reader Pride Block Party on Sunday, June 23, at Marz Communtiy Brewing. This all-ages, all-day, block-long cavalcade of live music, DJs, performance and more benefits numerous local LGBTQ groups and communities of color. On Saturday, June 22, the McKinley Park public library continues its Pride Month event series with the Carol Film Screening as an afternoon matinée.

Many options for entertainment and fun dovetail off the McKinley Park Farmers Market on Sunday, June 23. Chicago house music legend DJ Jesse de la Pena returns to McKinley Park for his Blue Groove Summer Sessions, an afternoon and evening of DJ mixing and grilling with Jesse and his friends. The Fifty in Fifty theater performance brings live street theater to the farmers market at noon. Want to stretch out? Hit Yoga at the Farmers Market at 10 a.m. Feel a little playful? Head to Bocce Ball and the other farmers market games sponsored by the McKinley Park Advisory Council.

If you're thinking of fixing up your home, the McKinley Park Development Council Meeting on Wednesday, June 19, is a can't-miss opportunity to tap into some great resources. The government-funded Southwest Equity Home Assurance Program will give you $10,000 for a five-year, no-interest home improvement loan, and representative Victoria Gaspar will tell you how you can qualify. How about using that money for solar? Jack Ailey of the McKinley Park neighborhood's own Ailey Solar will present on home solar power and leveraging the soon-to-expire solar tax credit.

It sounds like there's something very wild growing at McKinley Park's Adler & Floyd art gallery, and the Chris Reeves: The Mountain Art Opening will give the public a chance to experience this multi-sensory installation. Head to the cozy second-story apartment gallery off Western Boulevard on Saturday, June 22, and connect with the McKinley Park neighborhood's growing community of innovative young artists.

The McKinley Dog Park Advisory Council Meeting on Monday, June 17, provides the latest quarterly updates on dog park construction and volunteering. Attend and get involved in this coming resource, slated for build-out later in 2019 in McKinley Park.

Namaste Charter School invites the public to its Namaste's Farmers Market mid-day on Tuesday, June 18. Presented by Namaste's food vendor Gorilla Gourmet, the market brings fresh food to stands in the school's parking lot.

Want to help break a Guiness World Record? Join the World's Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday evening, June 20. The McKinley Park swimming pool is now open and presenting a brand-new schedule and family-friendly policies for better enjoyment of this major park attraction: View the Swimming Calendar for the full summer's schedule of Open Swimming, Adult Swimming, Family Swimming and more.

A program to help teens earn job experience and learning credits kicks off on Tuesday, June 18, at the McKinley Park public library. The Junior Volunteer Training is a part of the Chicago Public Library's Summer Learning Challenge, providing opportunities for young people 12 to 17 years of age.

The McKinley Park Stewardship Day brings neighborhood volunteers together every month to help clean up and maintain McKinley Park. Join neighbors and McKinley Park Advisory Council members on Saturday, June 22, for this cleanup that helps our beloved and active park look and work great.

One City Tap continues its regular event series with Loteria Night on Tuesday, June 18, and its Karaoke Night on Friday, June 21. The all-night dance party returns to the tavern on Saturday, June 22, for Sabado Gigante.

Marz Community Brewing Company continues its ongoing events at the tap room this week, including  Jazz on Marz with the Jazzeros on Wednesday, June 19. The weekend DJ lineup includes Logan Bay on Friday night, June 21, and Alicia Serrano on Saturday, June 22. Microdose Sunday: Michael Gillian and Chelsea Welch brings two local DJs together for the multi-sensory brunch at Marz on Sunday, June 23. 

These are just some of the great neighborhood events happening in McKinley Park this week. Check the full calendar, featured events, showcase events and events dashboard for more.