Festival listings: July

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July 30–August 5

* FREE Movies in the Park Mon 30–Sun 5. Various Chicago Park District locations; see website (312-742-7529, chicagoparkdistrict.com). Grant Park movies are long gone, but the Chicago Park District has since picked up the slack by beefing up its neighborhood outdoor movie series. More than 100 local parks get their own big screen for a night or two. All movies begin at dusk.

* FREE Grant Park Music Festival Wed 1, Fri 3 at 6:30pm; Sat 4 at 7:30pm. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, 205 E Randolph St (312-742-7638, grantparkmusicfestival.com). • Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph St. Pack a picnic and stretch out on the Great Lawn or grab a chair in the Seating Bowl as you listen to the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus serenade packs of Chicagoans. Food and drink, including alcohol, are permitted. (Yes!)

FREE Chicago SummerDance Thu 2–Sat 4, 6–9:30pm; Sun 5, 4–7pm. Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S Michigan Ave (312-742-4007, chicagosummerdance.org). Cut a rug, or at least learn how to at this annual series of couples dances Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. A professional instructor conducts dance lessons for the first hour before you bust a move on the Grant Park pavement.

* Wisconsin State Fair Thu 2, 8am–11pm; Fri 3, Sat 4, 8am–midnight; Sun 5, 8am–11pm. Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S 84th St, West Allis, WI (414-266-7000, wistatefair.com). $9, seniors $6, kids ages 6–11 $5, kids 5 and under free. Pass through the Cream Puff Drive Thru to get your pastry fix at this classic state fair. Carnival rides, food, music and a daily parade make up the fest. Some events require separate tickets.

FREE Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove Fri 3–Sun 5, 7:30–10:30pm. Elk Grove Blvd at Ridge Ave, Elk Grove Village (773-868-3010, tourofelkgrove.com). Race on down to more than 15 pro and amateur biking competitions. If racing isn’t your thing, join the block party and kids’ fest for music, food and fun. Race times vary; check website.

* Lollapalooza Fri 3–Sun 5, 11am–10pm. Grant Park, from Monroe St to Roosevelt Rd and from Michigan Ave to the lake (312-744-3315, lollapalooza.com). Around $230. The colossal, 20-year-old music fest that’s been taking over Grant Park for more than six years returns. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, and others headline.

Bristol Renaissance Faire Sat 4, Sun 5, 10am–7pm. 12550 120th Ave, Kenosha, WI (847-395-7773, renfair.com/bristol). $19.95, advance $17.95, kids $9.50, advance kids $7.50. Have a jolly olde time and butcher your favorite European accent as you engage in live-action fantasy play, enjoy interactive riddles, cheer on your favorite jousting knight or revel in period performances from 1574. The festival takes place Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day in July, August and early September.

Edgefest Sat 4, Sun 5, noon–9pm. 5900 N Broadway. $5. Art, music and bacon are the highlights as this Edgewater neighborhood event hopes to prove that everything actually is better with bacon. The cured meat will be prepared and served in a variety of ways.

FREE Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival Sat 4, Sun 5, 11am–6pm. Dawes Park, Sheridan Rd at Church St, Evanston (847-448-4311, cityofevanston.org/lakeshore). More than 100 artists invade Dawes Park to showcase arts and crafts for your buying pleasure. Pieces range from jewelry and glass to mixed-media products.

FREE We Are Hip-Hop Festival Sat 4, 1–6pm. Dvorak Park, 1119 W Cullerton St (312-226-7767, proarts.org). This youth-run festival supports local hip-hop artists in the name of peace and anti-violence. Live music along with graffiti and break-dance battles set this party off.

The World of Faeries Festival Sat 4, 10am–7pm; Sun 5, 10am–5pm. Vasa Park, 35 W 217 Rt. 31, South Elgin, South Elgin (815-788-1630, theworldoffaeries.com). $11, seniors $8, kids under 13 free. If you forget your wands or wings, you can always grab a new pair at this fantastical annual fest. If you’re not into wizards, dragons or unicorns, don’t worry—pirates are accepted here, too. Flit around to live acoustic music and check out the fairy art and handcrafts.

Wrigleyville Summerfest Sat 4, noon–10pm; Sun 5, noon–9pm. Seminary Ave at School St (773-665-4682, starevents.com). $5. Wrigleyville is more than just barhopping and Cubs games. Head to the annual fest for food, live music and a kid zone.

Belize Day in the Park Sun 5, noon–11pm. Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S Laramie Ave, Cicero (773-881-0412, chicagobelizedayinthepark.org). $5, kids 6–12 $2, kids under 6 free. Experience Central America with the foods, crafts, music and culture of this country.