Audrey Simper Photography

The Wells Street Art Festival is an annual event on the second weekend of June. It is located in Old Town's popular Wells Street corridor and attracts around 50,000 visitors yearly. The festival showcases talented artists from across the continent specializing in traditional painting, sculpture, artisan woodworking, metalsmithing, jewel crafts, digital arts, and more. Additionally, there is a dedicated performance stage where local musicians, performance artists, and cover/tribute bands entertain the crowd throughout the weekend. Moreover, at the corner of Wells Street and Evergreen Street is a children's play area where kids can participate in arts and crafts, watch a performance, or have fun. The festival also has over 20 food and drink vendors who sell a variety of tasty treats. Visitors can try something from all the excellent Old Town restaurants participating.

Buzzed by Zea seems like a fantastic place to treat yourself and unwind in Chicago. Unlike other speakeasies in the city, Buzzed by Zea doesn't conceal its dual identity. It provides a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere where you can relish a refreshing cocktail prepared with fresh ingredients and premium spirits while getting your hair done. Moreover, you can relax at the bar without booking a hair appointment. At Buzzed by Zea, the expert stylists are committed to continuously improving their skills and knowledge through education. They are up-to-date with the latest designs and trends to help you achieve the perfect look, whether you are seeking a subtle change or a complete makeover. While you wait for your hair appointment, feel free to relax with a Manhattan during the day. After hours, the salon transforms into a late-night cocktail lounge with a traditional atmosphere, where you can unwind and enjoy a drink. The unique ambiance of the salon chairs adds to the overall experience.

Hawthorne Race Course is a venue that offers both live racing and simulcasting. It is a thoroughbred horse racetrack with a one-mile dirt oval and a seven-furlong turf oval. The homestretch on the main track is 1,320 feet long, making it one of the longest in the country. Founded in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in Illinois for horse racing, considered America's original sport. The business is family-owned and operated, now in its 4th generation, and has been hosting racing events on the City's border for over a century. The track is famously known as "Chicago's hometown track." Hawthorne is also the only race course in the nation that hosts both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. Additionally, they have the largest network of off-track betting bars in Illinois and offer two PointsBet Sportsbooks and a sportsbook at the track.