Summer tunes: Where to catch a free concert in the park

Grab a blanket or a lawn chair and some snacks and drinks and head to a free outdoor concert in the suburbs this week.

Saturday, Aug. 12

Gurnee Days: Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. Music from GooRoos at 8 p.m. Saturday and School of Rock Libertyville at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. gurneedays.com.

Live on the Lake music series: 2-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and 2-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Navy Pier Beer Garden, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Music from Meg and The Wheelers at 2 p.m., Jon Stickley Trio at 5:30 p.m. and Mr. Blotto at 9 p.m. Saturday, and Son Monarcas at 2 p.m., DJ Papa G at 4:30 p.m. and TBA at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. navypier.org.

Thirsty Ears Festival: 2-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and 1-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at Wilson Avenue, between Hermitage and Ravenswood, Chicago. Ensembles and soloists perform music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and more on the main stage. lincolnsquare.org/events/details/thirsty-ears-festival-08-12-2023-41403.

Lombard Cruise Nights & Summer Concert Series: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, on South Park Avenue, Lombard. Classic and custom car show. Rocks Off will perform. Free. villageoflombard.org.

Summer Breeze Concert Series: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. The Dynamix-Ultimate Classics Cover Band will perform. Free. prairiecenter.org/.

Sunday, Aug. 13

Music in The Plaza: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Hillbilly Rockstarz will perform. Free. shopthearb.com.

Concerts in the Park: 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, in Kracklauer Park, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein. South of Disorder will perform. Free. mundelein.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 15

Hillside Commons Tuesday night music series: 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, in the Hillside Commons, 4950 Washington St., Hillside. How Rude! and Credence Revived will perform. Food and drinks for purchase. Free. hillside-il.org.

Acoustic Jams in the Park: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Mount St. Mary Park, off Route 31, St. Charles. Rick Weals will perform. Free. stcparks.org.

Bloomingdale Summer Concert Series: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Old Town Park, 111 Third St., Bloomingdale. Anchors Away will perform. Food trucks and kids' activities for ages 4-10 at 6:30 p.m. Free. bloomingdaleparks.org.

Downers Grove Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Fishel Park's Veterans Memorial Pavilion, 1036 Grove St., Downers Grove. Valius will perform. Food and beverage sales at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free. dgparks.org/summer-concert-series.

Huntley Concerts in the Square: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Huntley Town Square on Coral Street, Huntley. Generation performs. Free. huntley.il.us.

Concerts in the Plaza: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Independence Grove Forest Preserve, 16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville. Rico! will perform. Vehicle entrance fee: $10. lcfpd.org/things-to-do/concerts.

Wednesday, Aug. 16

South Elgin Concerts in the Park: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin. Starlight City performs. Free. southelgin.com/pantonmillpark.

Wickstrom Lincoln Concert Series: 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Fool House — The Ultimate 90s Dance Party will perform. Free. shopthearb.com.

Glen Ellyn Jazz in the Park: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Newton Park, 707 Fairview Ave., Glen Ellyn. The Glen Ellyn Jazz Ensemble will perform. Free. gepark.org.

Itasca Outdoor Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Usher Park, off South Walnut Street, Itasca. Whiskey Kitten Band will perform. Bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets. Free. itascaparkdistrict.com.

Bensenville Music in the Park: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Town Center, off Center Street, Bensenville. Classic car cruise nights start at 6 p.m. Generation will perform. Free. bensenville.il.us.

Thursday, Aug. 17

Ravinia District Food Truck Thursdays: 4:30 p.m. to dusk Thursday, Aug. 17, at Jens Jensen Park, on Dean Avenue between Roger Williams and St. Johns avenues, Highland Park. Ben Tatar & The Tatar Tots and Railheart will perform. Free. cityhpil.com.

Pearl Street Market & Music in the Park: 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Veteran's Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St., McHenry. Vendors will sell handmade and homegrown goods from 5-7:30 p.m. and Chicago Latin Groove Band will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Free. mchenrychamber.com.

Taste of Glen Ellyn: 5-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 17-18; and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the College of DuPage, corner of Lambert and College roads, Glen Ellyn. Music from Hairbanger's Ball at 8 p.m. Thursday, Vinyl Goldmine at 8 p.m. Friday and 7th heaven at 8 p.m. Saturday. Free. glenellynchamber.com.

Westmont Cruisin' Nights: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, on Cass Avenue in Westmont. Three blocks will be closed off for the classic car show, family activities and more. The Other Guys will perform. Free. westmontevents.com/cruisin-nights.

Addison Rock 'N Wheels: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Village Green, east of the Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza, Addison. BBI and Fuze will perform. Car show along Lake Street. Free. ithappensinaddison.com/events.

Live at the Lake: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion, 2200 Lee St., Des Plaines. Kaleidoscope Eyes performs. Food truck The Curious Crow will be on-site. Free. dpparks.org.

Plaza Concert Series: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Wheeling Town Center, 351 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. Saturday June will perform. Free. thewheelingtowncenter.com/events.

Hanover Township's Free Summer Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Izaak Walton Reserve Amphitheater, 899 Jay St., Elgin. Ginger Road will perform. Bring chairs and blankets; drinks and snacks for purchase, with proceeds benefiting youth programming. The Ice Cream Overload truck will be on-site. (630) 837-0301 or hanover-township.org.

Rockin' in the Park Summer Concert Series: 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Live The Who will perform. Plus, food and beverage tents and fireworks after the concert. Free. rosemont.com/thepark/events-calendar.

Summer in the Shire Concert Series: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Village Green, 100 Village Green South, Lincolnshire. Class of '68 will perform. Plus, food and drinks, a balloon artist, face painting and a kids' craft. Bring a lawn chair. Free. lincolnshireil.gov.

Summer Sounds on the Green Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. John “Elvis” Lyons performs. Bring a picnic, coolers, food, drinks, chairs, blankets and small tables. Food and beverages for sale. Free. hoffmanestatesarts.com/new-summer-sounds-on-the-green.