{"id":1555,"date":"2015-06-18T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2015-06-18T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2015-06-17T16:37:15","modified_gmt":"2015-06-17T16:37:15","slug":"top-10-events-for-july-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/top-10-events-for-july-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Events for July 2015\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

July might be our consensus pick for best month of the year. Summer is in full swing and there are events, festivals, and shows everywhere you look.<\/p>\n

Here are our picks for the Top 10:<\/p>\n

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\"Taste<\/a>10) Taste of Lakeview
\n<\/a><\/strong>Saturday, July 11th<\/sup> to Sunday, July 12th <\/sup>at 3200 N. Belmont<\/em><\/p>\n

Formerly known as Rock Around the Block<\/em>, the Taste of Lakeview is a lot like the Taste of Chicago, but with some unique differences. Clearly this fest is on a much smaller scale, but it\u2019s able to offer street performances and arts & craft vendors because of that. Of course, these things are just the icing on the cake when you look at the food and music options.<\/p>\n

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\"Chicago<\/a>9) Chicago Craft Beer Festival
\n<\/a><\/strong>Saturday & Sunday, July 18-19 on Sheffield between Webster and Fullerton
\n<\/em>Noon to 10 pm Daily<\/em><\/p>\n

With the popularity of craft beer steadily increasing each year, Chicago Craft Beer Fest has continued to do the same. This will be the fest\u2019s fourth year, and it consists of tented areas that allow you to sample more than 80 different craft beers from local breweries (and microbreweries!). Some of the highlights include Lagunitas, Bells, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, and Magic Hat. You can get tickets and more details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Windy<\/a>8) Windy City Smokeout
\n<\/a><\/strong>Friday, July 10th<\/sup> \u2013 Sunday, July 12th <\/sup>at Grand and the Chicago River<\/em><\/p>\n

Windy City Smokeout is the perfect combo of three things: the BBQ, the bands, and the beer. There are 10 different BBQ vendors<\/a> attending (and one of them is Bub City, my personal favorite). There are no true headlining musical acts, but you can check them all out here.<\/a> Last (but certainly not least) the beer! Goose Island, Shiner, Founders, Bell\u2019s, and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Windy<\/a>7) Windy City Ribfest
\n<\/a><\/strong>Friday, July 3rd <\/sup>– Sunday, July 5th<\/sup> at Lawrence & Broadway<\/em><\/p>\n

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. We love our ribs over at here at the Genie, so this one was kind of a no-brainer. Rib vendors in attendance: Sweet Baby Ray\u2019s, Texas Lightning BBQ, and Chicago BBQ company \u2013 among others. Musical acts headlining the fest include Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press, Trippin Billies, and Lucky Boys Confusion.<\/p>\n

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\"Burgers<\/a>6) Burgers and Beer 5K
\n<\/a><\/strong>Monday, July 13th<\/sup> at Soldier Field
\n<\/em>7 pm to 9pm<\/em><\/p>\n

This one may not be as big as those ranked below it, but it gets bonus points for its amazing concept. Basically, you run a 5K, and you\u2019re greeted with a beer and burger as you cross the finish line. All other 5K\u2019s are officially on notice.<\/p>\n

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