August has arrived so quickly that I’m panicking. Have I been to the beach enough this summer? Played enough tennis? Why haven’t I rollerbladed yet? Fallen in love? Been on a boat? And I know I definitely haven’t had nearly enough ice cream cones (current count: 2) or hot dogs (current count: 7).
But I need to stop frantically grasping at the sunny straws of freedom and be realistic: We still have the whole month of August, plus most of September to enjoy summertime Chicago. There’s so much time left to be a rascal and bike around, jump in the lake, and spill ice cream on myself.
This month, I’ve wrapped up a lot of group bike rides, along with sustainable markets, volunteer opportunities, and educational events centered around advocacy, biking, housing, etc. Some other cool opportunities coming up—especially if you’re artsy and/or handy—are this chance to paint a mural on a viaduct in Logan Square and a more DIY project: Park(ing) Day.
Get outside, meet like-minded people, learn more about how our city moves, and create community with these transportation- and sustainability-minded events.
🎉 Out Our Front Door Monthly Hangout | Tuesday, August 4 | Rainbow Beach (South Chicago)
🎉Big Tent Urbanist Network Summer Party | Thursday, August 13 | Pizza Lobo (West Loop)
📚Strong Towns Chicago Book Club | Sunday, August 16 | New Wave (Logan Square)
🎉EcoShip’s Crosstown Classic Fundraiser | Tuesday, August 18 | Tune-Up (Avondale)
🎉 Dunesday 2026 | Saturday, August 22 | Millennium Station (The Loop)
🎉Chicago Coffee Outside campout | Thursday, August 27 | Vaudeville Urban Farm (Garfield Park)
🎉The Chicago Bike PAC Campaign Trail Party | Thursday, September 10 | Midwest Coast Brewing (West Town)
🚲 Monday Night Intro to Group Rides | Mondays | Lincoln & California (Ravenswood)
🚲 Spidermonkey “Ladies Only” Ride | Tuesdays | Lincoln and Belmont (Lakeview)
🚲 Half Acre Cycling Wednesday Night for Mortals | Wednesdays | Winnemac and Damen (Lincoln Square)
🚲 WTF Social Ride | Thursdays, August 13 and 27 | BFF Bikes (Bucktown)
🚲 Burrito Brigade Chicago Bike Distribution | Sunday, August 16 | Plaza Tenochtitlán (Pilsen)
🚲 Beginner/Intermediate Ride | Sunday, August 16 | BFF Bikes (Bucktown)
🚲 Chicago Bike Sox | Tuesday, August 25 | Queen’s Landing (South Loop)
🚲 Tour de Border | Thursday, August 27 | Triangle Park (Rogers Park)
🚲 Critical Mass | Friday, August 28 | Daley Plaza (The Loop)
🚲 Bike the Drive | Sunday, September 6 | NDSLSD
👩🌾 Garden work days | Saturday, August 1, Sundays, August 9 and 15 | Paseo Prairie Garden (Logan Square) |
No link for this one; just show up 10am-11:30am at 2614 N Kedzie to assist with weeding, trash pickup, watering and planting
🛍️Teacher Supply Fair: A Parlor Pop-up Event | Saturday, August 15 | Grace Church (Logan Square)
♻️ Electronic Recycling Drive | Sunday, August 9 | Colectivo Coffee (Wicker Park)
🛍️Mutual Aid Market | Saturday, September 26 | 2435 McClean Ave (Logan Square)
🛍️The Sustainability Market | Sunday, September 27 | Northcenter Town Square (North Center)
Cleanup Club Chicago clean-ups
🙋♀️CMAP Public Hearing: 2026 Regional Transportation Plan and TIP | Thursday, August 6 | The Old Post Office (West Loop)
🫂Meet Me On Milwaukee | Select Sundays | Wicker Park
🫂Getting The Grid: Volunteer Connect | Wednesday, August 5 | Beermiscuous (Lakeview)
🫂Reduce Waste Chicago Reuse & Recycling Pop-Up | Sunday, August 9 | Independence Park Farmers Market (Irving Park)
👩🎓Fix-a-flat clinic | Monday, August 10 | BFF Bikes (Bucktown)
👩🎓 Transit-a-Thon | Tuesday, August 11 | Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development (The Loop)
👩🎓Keep Families in the City! Building Neighborhoods for Lifelong Chicagoans | Sunday, August 16 | Le Village Cowork (Lakeview)
👩🎓Rightsizing the Role of Traffic Enforcement | Tuesday, August 18 | Virtual
👩🎓Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail | Friday, August 21 | Virtual
🚶♀️South Loop Walking Tour | Sunday, August 23 | 425 S Financial Place Plaza (South Loop)
👩🎓DSA 101: The Socialist Program | Wednesday, August 26 | Elastic Arts (Logan Square)
👩🎓Bike advocacy workshop ($$) | Thursday, September 17 | Illinois Medical District
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