Chicago Blues Festival: A fixture of the summer festival scene, the Chicago Blues Festival will take up residence in Millennium Park this weekend. Buddy Guy headlines a bill featuring some 250 musicians on three stages; promoters are billing it as one of the 87-year-old blues legend’s final Chicago performances. Noon-9 p.m. June 7-9 in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.; free, more information at ChicagoBluesFestival.us
Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas: Chicago’s 46th annual Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Division Street and Campbell Avenue, but the party has already started in Humboldt Park. Expect live music, a carnival, vendors, arts, dominoes, a pageant and plenty of food and drink. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. June 7 and noon-10 p.m. June 8-9 in Humboldt Park, 2800 W. Division St.; festival tickets $12.50-$68.50 at puertoricanfest.com
Andersonville Midsommarfest: Andersonville nods to its Swedish heritage with a street festival featuring dozens of vendors and merchants, kids’ activities and five stages of entertainment. The Swedish American Museum, which has a fantastic children’s area, will offer free admission throughout the weekend as well as Swedish cuisine and activities. 5 p.m.-10 p.m., June 7, noon-10 p.m. June 8-9 on Clark Street, between Foster Avenue and Gregory; tickets suggested donation $10, more information at andersonville.org
“The Enigmatist”: Puzzle-solvers take note: Magician and New York Times crossword creator David Kwong offers a glimpse into his way of thinking in his 95-minute mind-bender of show, inspired in part by a bit of Chicago-area history. Through June 30 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; tickets $59-$110 at chicagoshakes.com
“Stokely”: Snag tickets to Nambi E. Kelley’s biographical play about the life of civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael. The play, which a Tribune review deemed “superbly directed” by Tasia A. Jones, spends most of its 90 minutes exploring Carmichael’s childhood and youth. Through June 16 at the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.; tickets $56-$88 at courttheatre.org
“Ravel Boléro”: Stéphane Denève will conduct Maurice Ravel’s “Boléro” and Claude Debussy’s “Ibéria” at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet will perform Camille Saint-Saens’s “Egyptian” concerto (Piano Concerto No. 5). The program also features Lili Boulanger’s “D’un matin de printemps.” 7:30 p.m. June 6-11 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $35-$350 at cso.org
James Taylor and His All-Star Band: Nothing says summertime like listening to James Taylor under the stars. This year at Ravinia, the cicadas will be backing him up. 7:30 p.m. (gates at 5 p.m.) June 8-9 at Ravinia, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; tickets $77-$230 at tour.jamestaylor.com
“Shout OUT! A Tribute to Gays in Gospel Music”: Lucy Smith and the Lucy Smith Quintet will perform the music of Little Richard (Richard Penniman), Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rev. James Cleveland, Clara Mae Ward and Billy Preston in a concert honoring LGBTQ+ contributions to gospel music. Cheryl Corley, who wrote and narrates the show, will explore the historical role these musicians played in the Civil Rights Movement as well as their relationship to the church. 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. June 9 at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.; tickets $15 at lucysmithjazz.com
Katherine Blanford: Comedian Katherine Blanford brings her confessional brand of stand-up to Chicago for a three-night stand. Known for her “human golden retriever presence,” Blanford’s comedy centers around her Kentucky roots and her awkward adolescence. 7 p.m. June 6 and 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. June 7-8 at Zanies Chicago, 1548 N. Wells St.; tickets (ages 21+) $30 at katherineblanford.com
Godzilla vs. Music Box: Wish Godzilla a happy 70th birthday as the Music Box Theatre joins with the Japanese Arts Foundation to host a film fest celebrating the beloved kaiju. It kicks off June 7 with a double feature of “Shin Godzilla” and last year’s excellent (and poignant) “Godzilla Minus One”—the first Godzilla film to win an Oscar. The festival includes something for everyone: a 24-hour screening, kid-friendly flicks (one hosted by Svengoolie), film historians and, of course, plenty of epic monster battles. June 7-13 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; tickets $12-$35 at musicboxtheatre.com
Have something to do around Chicago? Tell us. Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com.
