Events

Highwood Evening Gourmet Market Wednesdays June 3 - Aug 26, 2026 4:30 - 9:00 pm Celebrate Highwood is thrilled to announce its 2026 Wednesday Evening Gourmet Market music line-up at […]

Wednesdays, June 3-August 5 • 7-8:30 p.m. • Jackman Park Gazebo Grab your friends and family, bring a blanket or a few chairs and kick off the summer with a […]

June 4, 2026 to September 3, 2026 486 Roger Williams Avenue, Highland Park, Illinois 60035, United States Enjoy a summer evening of food, live music, and community fun at Food Truck Thursdays in Highland Park's Ravinia District. Featuring rotating food trucks, local restaurants, family-friendly entertainment, and weekly live performances, this outdoor event runs every Thursday […]

Now entering its 8th year, Downtown Evanston's Thursday Night Markets showcase artists, makers, and retailers from the regional community. The 2026 market dates are June 11, July 9, August 6, and […]

Now in its third year, Downtown Summer Sounds is a free, outdoor concert series at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston. For nine weeks, from July 9 through September 3, an exciting mix of local and regional bands will perform on Thursday evenings from 6-8PM (see schedule below). In addition to great live music, the concert series is also an opportunity to […]

xperience the vibrant rhythm of summer at Downtown Evanston’s free outdoor concert series – Downtown Summer Sounds – kicking off on Thursday, July 9! Join us every Thursday evening (6-8PM) from July 9 to September 3 to gather under the open sky at Fountain Square to celebrate music, culture, and community spirit. Whether you're a seasoned music enthusiast or simply seeking to enjoy a summer evening with family and friends, get ready to groove, mingle, and make happy memories in downtown Evanston.  By design, Downtown Summer Sounds will feature a wide range of musical genres and performers. In addition to great live music, the concert series is also an opportunity to showcase six local nonprofit organizations. Each nonprofit has one Thursday evening to set up a tent & table and share their story with the community. The nonprofits are also involved in selecting the band for their evening and assisting with general promotion of the concert series.  On the three remaining dates of the 2026 concert series (July 9, August 6, and September 3), Downtown Evanston will concurrently host an outdoor Thursday Night Market, featuring artists, makers, and retailers from the regional community. New this year, there will be a free community salsa dance lesson provided by Trabuco Salsa Band on July 9. And returning this year, there will be free community swing dance lessons provided by Traffic Jam Swing on July 23 and August 27. The free salsa dance and swing dance lessons will all take place from 5:30-6PM, followed by more dancing with the live bands from 6-8PM!  During the concerts, there will be beer for sale from Sketchbook Brewing Co., and wine, beer, canned cocktails, and other soft drinks for sale from Five & Dime. On each evening, there will also be several food trucks and food vendors on site (5411 Empanadas, C&W Ice Cream, Evanston Latinos, Firehouse Grill, La Cocinita, Soul & Smoke), as well as free children's art activities provided by the Ridgeville Park District. Composting during the concerts will be provided by The Urban Canopy.  2026 Downtown Summer Sounds concert schedule (subject to change):  July 9 | Trabuco Salsa Band, presented in conjunction with Downtown Evanston's Thursday Night Market, and featuring a free salsa dance lesson from 5:30-6PM  July 16 | Chicken Bone, presented in partnership with the James B. Moran Center   July 23 | Joel Patterson Swing Quartet, presented in partnership with the Partners of the Evanston Public Library, and featuring a free swing dance lesson from 5:30-6PM provided by Traffic Jam Swing  July 30 | Mixx Company Band, presented in partnership with Evanston Cradle to Career  […]