Events in North Shore today

Get ready for a fun ice hockey session designed for young players ages 3 to 9. Kids will work on skating skills along with hockey-focused drills and games, with instruction tailored by age and skill level. The program requires full equipment, and four instructors will be on the ice.

Now in its third year under the MATTS banner, this velodrome 4 kilometer time trial brings cycling competitors to Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, Illinois. Participants race the clock over a 4k distance on the track. The event is sponsored by ABD and PACT.

Enjoy live indie pop music for kids and the whole family at Shimmering Summer, featuring The Dreamtree Shakers. The program runs with two daytime sets, so you can catch the music during the garden’s Festival Field activities. Free admission is available, but parking fees still apply.

Immerse yourself in a creative journey of self-discovery as you craft a personal mandala that serves as a doorway to deeper awareness. Through a blend of guided reflection, meditation, and hands-on artmaking, you will explore how your essence, mind, strengths, wisdom, courage, and relationship with the outer world connect and find balance. No prior art experience is needed, since the focus is on expression rather than perfection. All materials are provided in a caring environment that encourages curiosity, insight, and emotional healing. You will leave with a finished self-mandala and a meaningful artwork that can continue to resonate well beyond the session, along with deeper self-understanding and a refreshed connection to your creative and intuitive self. The workshop is led by Cheryl Rausch, a professional illustrator and photographer with more than 30 years of experience creating work for private and commercial clients nationwide, who also shares her expertise through classes and workshops for artists of all ages.

Head to Northbrook Days for a free live performance by School of Rock Glenbrook. It runs from early afternoon through the later part of the event, so come enjoy some energetic music and great show vibes.

Chance the Rapper headlines at Ravinia Festival. The show is set for 7:30 PM local time.

Oliver Hazard brings its indie-folk storytelling and harmonies to Evanston SPACE. The Waterville, Ohio trio features Michael Belazis and Devin East on vocals and guitar, joined by Nate Miner on keys and vocals. One member came back to Ohio after leading camping trips in California and set out to make an album with two childhood friends. A Facebook raffle granted a single-song studio session, yet they performed the entire record straight through in one take, becoming their 2018 debut LP, 34 N River. The Fader praised the release as a standout in folk-pop, and soon the band appeared at Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. In 2019 they followed with The Flood, a six-song EP that Billboard described as a souvenir. Their self-titled second album arrived in July 2023, combining music from the earlier Northern Lights EP with five new tracks, and the Raindrop River EP landed in December 2024. Their songs lift spirits and find beauty in everyday moments, carrying the heart of Waterville into each performance.

Catch Carriers live at Space in Evanston. The show is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM.

This kids’ hockey program is for ages 3 to 9, focusing on skating skills, hockey basics, and fun games. Children will be grouped based on their age and skill level, and full equipment is required. It runs for one hour, with the session scheduled on Sunday.

Start the day with a spirited blend of movement and community as ambassadors from Vuori, Fabletics, and Lululemon team up with top instructors for a high-energy, full-body workout. The session welcomes both seasoned athletes and anyone looking for an upbeat way to get active. Participants can expect to challenge every major muscle group, pick up fresh techniques, and draw motivation from the collective energy of the group. After the sweat session, celebrate your effort with a toast featuring freshly pressed juices, fizzy kombucha, and wholesome bites, along with special giveaways. The gathering is planned outdoors by the glass cube on the green, weather permitting. Capacity is limited for this community-focused event. Wear comfortable workout attire and bring a water bottle, a towel, and a yoga mat if needed.

A lakeside yoga session at Clark Square Park features a rotating lineup of instructors and welcomes all experience levels. Please bring your own mat and any props you like to use. Standard class rates apply, and 30 percent of proceeds support the Evanston Environmental Association. Advance reservations are handled through Mindbody online.

Blues, swing, and soul jazz take center stage when guitarist Joel Paterson leads his Organ Quartet at Evanston SPACE. This one-night appearance features Ben Paterson on Hammond organ, Natalie Scharf on saxophone, and Alex Hall on drums.

Hugh Jackman is bringing his show to Ravinia Festival. Plan to head out for an evening performance starting at 8:00 PM.

Bring your little ones and their caregiver for an outdoor storytime at Drake Park. This weekly event is for kids ages 0 to 5, and drop-offs are not permitted, so adults should stay and be actively involved. If the weather turns bad, the storytime will move indoors to the library.

Part of the Summer Park Pop Up Series, this play focused gathering at Lincoln Park explores how playful moments help people connect, move, and recharge. The series brings free neighborhood events to parks across the community, each one highlighting a different everyday force such as nature, the arts, trees and reuse, imagination, and community. Attendees of all ages can enjoy engaging performances, hands on activities, and interactive experiences that can transform a routine park visit into something memorable. This edition features lively games, approachable challenges, and active movement that celebrate the simple joy of playing together.

Settle in for casual Commander matches arranged in pods of three or four players. There is no entry fee. Check in by signing up through the WPN network. Promotional packs will be available once they arrive.

Enjoy an evening of live brass music at Music on the Esplanade. The group Brass From The Past will take you on a musical journey from late 60s sounds through the early 80s, with a few tunes from the 90s and 2000s to close out the show. Bring your own chairs since the venue has limited seating, and feel free to picnic before or during the concert, or stop by for dinner and drinks at the Garden’s dining locations. Free admission is available, and parking fees apply.

Enjoy a dynamic evening of flamenco-inspired performance where music, percussion, and movement blend with blues, jazz, and rap. Clinard Dance’s Flamenco Quartet Project brings together artists across genres, creating collaborative compositions built around the history, art, and structure of flamenco. The lineup includes vocalist Joan Collaso, rapper King Mossa, flamenco percussionist Diego Alvarez, flamenco singer "Cachito" Jose Diaz, blues legend Billy Branch, tap artist Jumaane Taylor, guitarist Andrea Salcedo, and flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard.

ERIK'S organizes a group cycling ride in Skokie suited to riders who can maintain an average speed of about 20 to 21 mph. Participants should bring a bicycle and a helmet. Plans are weather dependent.

Leah Lomar Park hosts a Starlight Concert featuring the Cecy Santana Band, offering smooth bossa nova colored by Brazilian roots, refined jazz accents, and vibrant Latin rhythms. The City of Evanston Mobile Food Program will provide food on site, and beer and wine can be purchased.

Join Brian McKnight and Gladys Knight for an evening of vocal jazz, soul, Motown, and classic R&B at Ravinia Festival. The show starts at 7:00 PM local venue time.

Dale Watson brings the Ameripolitan sound he created to Evanston SPACE, weaving honky-tonk, outlaw country, western swing, and rockabilly into a focused, unfiltered mix. For more than forty years, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor has upheld classic country traditions with a commanding voice and the presence of a seasoned bandleader. His release Unwanted reflects that spirit with songs steeped in heartache, hard-won insight, and life on the highway, including Willie Waylon and Whiskey, If You Really Loved Me (Outlive Me), and Life is Like a Song.

Sporcle Live Trivia brings a friendly competition where you can play solo or form a team and take on other players for a Village Inn gift certificate. A Half Price Pizza deal is available.

New specials roll out each Wednesday, with rotating products and changing prices, so there is always something different to explore week after week. Find premium halal meats, fresh seafood, farm-fresh produce, and a wide selection of deli and international grocery items. Everything is 100% halal and fresh daily, and the sale is family friendly.

Gamers World Old Orchard hosts an Advanced Format Yu-Gi-Oh! event with local OTS gameplay. The entry fee is $5. Participants receive a current OTS pack when they take their seats, with additional OTS packs awarded as prizes. The current ban and restricted lists apply.

A creative LEGO event for families invites builders of all experience levels to tackle themed challenges, collaborate, and let imaginations run wild. Make everything from sky-high towers and speedy cars to whole new worlds using a variety of bricks. Registration is per household, and all children must be accompanied by a registered adult. For ages 5 and up. Price is $15.

At Ravinia Festival, Joe Bonamassa delivers the kind of high-energy concert that has made him a leading live act. Internationally celebrated as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation and cited by Guitar World Magazine as “the world's biggest blues guitarist,” he performs with a seasoned band of renowned musicians. The set features songs from his album Breakthrough along with favorites from across his catalog, highlighting a career that boasts 30 number one Billboard Blues albums, more than any other artist, and a driving force in bringing blues-rock to the mainstream.

Deepen your Reiki practice with an advanced class focused on distant healing. Learn to share Reiki beyond physical distance to support loved ones, clients, pets, and your own well-being. The experiential curriculum includes two additional distant healing symbols, attunements to expand your abilities, the Hands of Light empowerment, the Place of Light technique, practical methods for sending energy to yourself and others, and exploration of the Column of Light along with principles of mystical anatomy. This offering is intended for Reiki practitioners with a working knowledge of Reiki and familiarity with symbols. Guided by Billie Topa Tate, Reiki Master Teacher, Native American author and teacher. Available in person and online, with a video recording provided.

At Evanston's Fountain Square, experience a special set from Funkadesi members that highlights the band's Bollywood and Desi side, featuring Pavithra Anand. The evening is presented in partnership with Evanston ASPA, with an information tent sharing details about their work in the community. Families can enjoy no cost art activities hosted by the Ridgeville Park District. Expect lively music, a friendly neighborhood feel, and market finds that add up to a fun outing for all ages.

Enjoy an outdoor summer concert at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston featuring Funkadesi. The band blends Indian bhangra and Bollywood influences with reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean grooves. This Downtown Summer Sounds show is free to attend.

Players compete in a constructed format tournament with a $10 entry fee. Registration is handled through the Bandai App.

Enjoy a free live trivia night presented by Pub Trivia USA at Village Inn Pizzeria Sports Bar and Grill. Teams play for nightly prizes in the form of Village Inn gift certificates. Pub Trivia USA also hosts area tournaments that award big cash prizes to local teams. Bring friends, savor good food and drinks, meet new people, and dive into a fun, friendly competition.

The Watson Twins bring two decades of close-knit harmonies to the SEEING DOUBLE tour, channeling the live energy captured on their concert album made in East Nashville. The music spans their career with selections from Southern Manners EP, Fire Songs, Talking To You, Talking To Me, DUO, and HOLLER, blending honky tonk drive, vintage country ballads, high spirited soul, and contemporary Americana, all grounded in their southern songwriting and identical sister chemistry. Rooted in the same live in the room approach that shaped HOLLER, the performance highlights spontaneous interplay and synchronized vocals. Their acclaimed rendering of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven, once described as "a sweet, gentle, and notably different approach to the gothic rock love song," reflects their strength as interpreters alongside their original material.

Catch the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with Darrel Walls and Jules Buckley also on the bill. The show begins at 7:30 PM.