This Week in Lincoln Park & Old Town: Steppenwolf to Bastille Day

Your week-ahead guide to Lincoln Park & Old Town — 5 picks worth planning around

By Raj Singh · Published July 5, 2026.

A theater-and-comedy heavy week: a sharp new play at Steppenwolf, the Best of Second City in Old Town, and a free Route 66 film night at the History Museum. The weekend closes strong with Green City Market on Saturday and Old Town's Bastille Day bash.

SUNDAY 7/5

Catch As Catch Can @ Steppenwolf Downstairs Theater

Mia Chung's wildly inventive play watches a prodigal son's homecoming spiral into a crisis for two blue-collar families. On the intimate Downstairs stage in Lincoln Park; matinee at 3 or evening at 7:30.

Grab a Chicago dog from The Wieners Circle up Clark for the full effect — mind the banter.

MONDAY 7/6

Best of The Second City @ The Second City

Six decades of the sketches and improv that launched Tina Fey, Colbert, and Carell, plus fresh material from the current ensemble. 7 p.m. on the mainstage in Old Town.

Topo Gigio around the corner does the calamari and a cold Peroni before the show.

WEDNESDAY 7/8

Summer Screenings: On the Road Again @ Chicago History Museum

Marking 100 years of Route 66, this free outdoor series leans into the classic road movie. Screening starts at 6:30 on the lawn at the Chicago History Museum in Lincoln Park.

Pack a picnic — Potbelly on Clark does a quick Wreck sandwich for the walk over.

SATURDAY 7/11

Green City Market @ Lincoln Park

Chicago's flagship farmers market runs Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the south end of Lincoln Park on Clark — the best chefs in town shop here, and so should you.

Line up for a farm-egg breakfast sandwich or a Nutella-banana crepe from the market's prepared-food stalls.

SATURDAY 7/11

Bastille Day Celebration in Old Town

Old Town throws its annual nod to the French national holiday — a neighborhood day of food, drink, and festivity rolling into Sunday.

Toast it properly with a kir royale and steak frites at Mon Ami Gabi in Lincoln Park.

Plenty more where that came from — see more Lincoln Park & Old Town events.