Heads up, Chicago! Whether you live on the North, South or West Side, you'll probably step out your door and into a street festival this weekend as seven fests rock neighborhoods from Humboldt Park to Portage Park and Bridgeport to Lakeview. Serving up everything from hip-hop to salsa music and sausages to brisket, these bashes are as diverse as the communities that host them. My advice? Bust out your bike and take a day trip to somewhere new. kbernot@tribune.com @redeyeeatdrink
Where: Randolph Street between Peoria Street and Racine Avenue
When: 5-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
How much: $10 suggested donation
Don't miss: Randolph Street being the white-hot restaurant row that it is, expect lots of for-sale meals from hot spots such as Belly Q, Publican Quality Meats and Grange Hall Burger Bar. Music fans are equally in luck, as Divine Fits (9-10 p.m. Friday) and The Joy Formidable (9-10 p.m. Saturday) headline.
Mini-detours: You'll have your choice of some of the best restaurants and bars clustered in the West Loop, but don't be surprised by lines for tables; instead, try for bar seating at Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W. Randolph St.) or Nellcote (833 W. Randolph St.). Hockey fans will want to head south to Madison Street on Saturday night to check out the Hawks-crazy bars that will be decked out for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Where: Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive
When: 3:30-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday Sunday
How much: 3-day passes from $200; Single-day tickets from $65
Don't miss: This bass-heavy EDM fest is back for a second year, adding a third day of music across four stages to accommodate diverse acts including dubstep master 12th Planet (6:30 p.m. Saturday), house legend Felix da Housecat (5:30 p.m. Saturday) and electronic duo Break Science (4:30 p.m. Sunday). For more suggestions on Spring Awakening's can't-miss acts, check out our preview.
Where: Sheffield Avenue at Addison Street
When: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
How much: $5 suggested donation
Don't miss: Pace yourself as you eat through the sausage offerings from Paulina Meat Market, Genoa Italian Concessions, Chicago's Dog House, Westminster Hot Dog and many more to the tunes of polka band The Polkaholics (2 p.m. Saturday), Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band Fortunate Sons (4 p.m. Saturday) and Chicago Blues All-Stars (2 p.m. Sunday).
Mini-detours: If it's beer you need to wash down the dogs, seek out the patio at Sheffield's (3258 N. Sheffield Ave.) for a top-notch selection of craft beers, or sip on a seasonal cocktail at Uncommon Ground (3800 N. Clark St.).
Where: Marquette Park, 6743 S. Kedzie Ave.
When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday
How much: $5 suggested donation
Don't miss: Rhymefest and Kevin Coval kickoff a night of concerts starting at 1 p.m. following an 11 a.m. peace rally organized by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. The rest of the day is packed with hip-hop acts including Black Star-the duo of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli-(7:50 p.m.) and Brother Ali (7 p.m.).
Where: Division Street at California Avenue
When: 3-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
How much: Free to attend
Don't miss: Plenty of salsa music and dancing continues throughout this celebration of Puerto Rican music, food and culture with performers such as Willie Garcia y su Orquesta Sabor (8 p.m. Thursday) and NG2 (7:30 p.m. Sunday). The parade kicks off at noon Saturday at Division Street and Western Avenue and follows Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, west to Humboldt Park.
Where: Milwaukee Avenue between Irving Park Road and Cicero Avenue
When: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday
How much: $5 suggested donation
Don't miss: Didn't get enough sauce at Ribfest Chicago last week? Fill up on rib samplers, pulled pork, beef brisket, funnel cake and more from 'cue masters including Robinson's No. 1 Ribs and Chicago BBQ Company. Local musicians including Ezra Furman (8:30 p.m. Saturday), Pet Lions (5 p.m. Sunday) and Tom Schraeder & His Ego (7 p.m. Sunday) provide the tunes.
Where: Various locations throughout Bridgeport
When: Friday through June 22
How much: Some events are free; others are ticketed between $15 and $45
Don't miss: Now in its 13th year, this multi-disciplinary festival takes on social and urban issues and promotes cultural works in public spaces. This year's events-including the Above the Pavement City Fair at Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar (960 W. 31st St.; 1-7 p.m. Saturday) and the Benton House Summer Fest (3034 S. Gratten Ave.; 6 p.m.-midnight June 22)-explore the idea of an "urban operating system."
UPCOMING FESTS: June 19-21: Chicago Thai Festival, Loop; June 21-23: Chicago Craft Beer Festival, Old Town; June 22-23: Chicago Pride Fest, Lakeview; June 22-23: Green Music Fest, Bucktown
For more fest goodness, see RedEye's full summer festival planner.