Theater
- “The Sandra Delgado Experience” is part spiritual cabaret, part dance party filled with unbridled joy and high-energy cumbias, sultry boleros and reimagined English-language classics. At 7:30 p.m. July 24-25 and 7 p.m. July 26 at Collaboraction Theatre, Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. Tickets: $35-$55. Visit collaboraction.org.
- Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre presents “In the Continuum,” Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter’s drama that tells the parallel stories of two Black women — one in Los Angeles and one in Zimbabwe — who discover they are pregnant and HIV positive. Tuesdai B. Perry and Jewell Redman star; Tim Rhoze directs. From July 25-Aug. 9 at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Tickets: $33. Visit cityofevanston.org.
- “Sunset 1919” is Lookingglass Theatre’s annual art ritual with music, spoken word and movement performed in honor of Eugene Williams, a Black teenager who was killed for crossing an imaginary racial line while on a raft in Lake Michigan on July 27, 1919. At 7 p.m. July 27 at the Eugene Williams Memorial Marker, just north of the 31st Street beach. Admission is free. Visit lookingglasstheatre.org.
- “Dream Devis: The Death and Life Of” features Dream Devis, Chicago’s trans femme South Asian collective, in a romp through time, history, mythology and pop culture via song, dance and comedy. At 7:30 p.m. July 23-25 and 3 p.m. July 26 at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St. Tickets: $33. Visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.
- The Valkyrie Ensemble, a feminist opera collective, presents an all-femme production of Handel’s opera “Acis & Galatea,” which tells the story of the water nymph Galatea (soprano Jessica Adkins) and her mortal love Acis (soprano Ana Marie Miranda). At 7:30 p.m. July 24-25 at Chicago Danztheatre, 1650 W. Foster Ave. Tickets: $35, $55. Visit humanitix.com/acis-and-galatea.
Comedy
- The four-day iO Fest, Chicago’s largest improv festival, features improv, sketch comedy and standup from more than 130 acts plus workshops and talkbacks with headliners. Among the performers are ¡Escandalo!, Claire + Kim, Jackbox Games, 3Peat, Sand, Armando, Improvised Shakespeare Company, Baby Wants Candy, Astronomy Club, Comedy Dance Chicago, and more. From July 23-26 at iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St. Ticket prices vary. Visit ioimprov.com.
Dance
- Chicago Dance Crash presents the world premiere of choreographer Annie Franklin’s “expo/sd,” which investigates how traditional street and contemporary dance forms can exist in conversation while pushing dances to embrace the visceral, the intimate and the imperfect. Also performed are Elijah Motley’s “A 4 Bar Loop” and Cameron McKinney’s “Fall From Grace.” At 7 p.m. July 24-25 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: $25. Visit chicagodancecrash.com.
Music
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival, which honors the city’s enduring legacy as the birthplace of gospel music, features performances by headliners Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship Choir, Ricky Dillard and New G plus The Chicago Unity Choir, The Ladies of Chicago Quartet, Bishop William Murphy, Jabari Johnson and more. From 5:45-9 p.m. July 24 and noon-9 p.m. July 25 at Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. Admission is free. Visit chicago.gov/dcase.
- St. Vincent (Annie Clark) is performing a limited series of concerts with orchestras this summer including a date with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The performances open a new chapter for the artist and her collaborator conductor-arranger Jules Buckley and feature symphonic arrangements of her greatest hits as well as some deep cuts from her songbook. Pakistani American singer Arooj Aftab opens at 8 p.m. July 25 at Ravinia, 201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. Tickets: $55-$129. Visit ravinia.org.
Help Chicago blues music legend Buddy Guy celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday (July 30). Fresh off his ninth Grammy Award for “Ain’t Done With the Blues,” he continues to be a singular force in American music. He has helped shape generations of musicians from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. With special guests Carlise Guy & the Nu Blu Band. At 7:30 p.m. July 25 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. Tickets: $96+. Visit ticketmaster.com. - Back Alley Jazz, an event inspired by the original jazz alley jams on the South Side in the ’60s and ’70s, presents two free performances. From noon-7 p.m. July 25 on the 7200 block of South Luella Avenue with DJ Cordell Johnson, Meagan McNeal, Lenard Simpson Quartet and more. From 1-6 p.m. Aug. 15 at 77th Street and King Drive with Thaddeus Tukes Quartet, Ari Brown Trio and Reginald T. McCants. Visit hydeparkjazzfestival.org.
- At the age of 12, British singer-songwriter Billie Marten’s career began when a video of her singing went viral on YouTube. Now at 27, she is known for her delicate, lyrical indie folk style that sits well with traditional British folk while also bringing a contemporary new page to the genre. At 8 p.m. July 27 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $45. Visit oldtownschool.org.
Museums
- “Self, Made: Fourteen Modern Artists from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection” includes nearly 40 works including photography, drawing, painting and sculpture that tell stories of self-invention. Artists include Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, William Edmondson, Lee Godie, Joseph Yoakum and more. Through Nov. 9 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
Movies
- Black & Brown Femme Film Festival brings together filmmakers, artists, storytellers and community members for more than 30 film screenings plus panel conversations and other special events. Among the films are Chicago director and “The Walking Dead” actress Aimee Garcia’s “Aimee Comes First,” Ricki Ricasso Nelson’s “Tabula Rasa” and Faith Vera Wood’s “Neutral Buoyancy.” From July 24-25 at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Tickets: $17.85+. Visit bbffilms.org.
- On the occasion of an English translation of French New Wave film director Eric Rohmer’s only novel, “Élisabeth,” the Music Box Theatre is screening his highly influential film series, “Six Moral Tales.” Rohmer called the novel the blueprint for the now classic films: “Claire’s Knee,” “La Collectionneuse,” “Love in the Afternoon,” “My Night at Maud’s,” “Suzanne’s Career” and “The Bakery Girl of Monceau.” From July 24-30 at 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $13. Visit musicboxtheatre.com.
Family fun
- SummerDance, the free social dancing series for all ages, features instructors teaching an array of dance styles including salsa, plena, East Coast swing, vintage swing, square dance, Chicago Steppin’ and more. Check it out through Aug. 29 in neighborhood parks and the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. For more schedule information, visit chicago.gov/dcase.
- Pullman Railroad Days is a family-friendly celebration of trains, technology and more. Learn how transportation helped shape Chicago and step aboard historic Pullman cars plus there are exhibits, interactive demonstrations, pop-ups, miniature train rides and more. From 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 25-26 at Pullman Exhibit Hall, 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Tickets: $20, $25; 12 and under free. Visit friendsofpullman.com.
- The annual ChiTown Exotic Car Show at Sonny Acre Farms features a lineup of luxury and rare vehicles sure to intrigue both the car enthusiast as well as the casually curious. For the kids, there are amusement rides and a petting zoo. From noon-4 p.m. July 26 at 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago. Admission: $5, 12 and under free. Visit sonnyacres.com.
Festival fun
- Chinatown Summer Fair, returning for its 47th year, is a celebration of Chinese culture including food, music, a dragon and lion dance, kung fu demonstrations, arts and crafts, food, a children’s area and more. From 11 a.m.-10 p.m. July 25 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 26 on Wentworth Avenue from Cermak Road to 24th Place. Admission is free. Visit ccc-foundation.org.
- Wicker Park Fest features an indie music lineup with emerging local and top national acts (The Frights, Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Ovlov, Iluka, Liquid Mike, Moving Mountains and more), dance performances, a pro wrestling showcase, interactive arts area, children’s activities and a pet fest. From 5-10 p.m. July 24 and noon-10 p.m. July 25-26 on Milwaukee Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wolcott Avenue. Admission: $10 suggested donation. Visit wickerparkbucktown.com.
- The annual Taste of Lincoln Avenue features Midwest bands, food from local vendors, arts and crafts, a children’s carnival, a dog parade and more. From 4-10 p.m. July 24, noon-10 p.m. July 25 and noon-8 p.m. July 26 at Lincoln and Fullerton Avenues. Admission: $10 suggested donation. Visit tasteoflincolnchicago.com.