Artists of the Wall

Artists of the Wall, the annual festival during which Rogers Parkers paint murals on the concrete bench along the lakefront in Loyola Park Beach, is this weekend from 9am to dusk. Free to watch; more details here.

Custer's Last Stand

The 41st annual Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts runs Saturday and today, June 16-17 in Evanston between Sherman Avenue and Chicago Avenue from Main Street south to Madison Street. Enjoy music on two stages; browse booths featuring art, fashion, antiques and other collectibles; and sample food from more than 30 restaurants. An "EcoVillage" at Sherman and Main showcases green and organic products and services. Admission is $1, benefiting Piccolo Theatre. The festival is open from 10am to 9pm each day.

Show Stage
11am - Native American Dance Troupe
12:30pm - Mark Cleveland Band
2:30pm - Paul Maslin Group
4:15pm - Radio Disney
5:30pm - Angel d' Cuba

Festival Stage
11am - Kent McDaniel Band
12:30pm - John Temmerman Quartet
2:30pm - Evanston Township High School
4:30pm - Dee Alexander Jazz Band
7pm - Chicago Catz

Chicago Alternative Comics Expo

This weekend marks the first-ever Chicago Alternative Comics Expo June 16 and 17. Both days offer panel discussions, workshops and a tabling expo of local, national and international independent comics artists. The event is free and open to the public from 11am to 6pm at 1104 S. Wabash.

Taste of Randolph Street

Taste of Randolph combines food from area restaurants and music on three stages all weekend, June 15-17, on its namesake Randolph Street from Peoria to Racine. The fun goes from 11am to 10pm today. $10 suggested donation.

West Stage:
11am - Signature Voices
1pm - Sanctified Grumblers
3pm - Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra
5:30pm - Hollows
6:45pm Artbeat Live
7:30pm - Pyrotechniq
8pm - The Hold Steady

Center Stage:
noon - Moksha Yoga
4pm - Carla Starla
6pm - Sound Bar DJs

East Stage:
1pm - Santah
3:45pm - Adam Ezra
6pm - David Vandervelde
8:30pm - Ezra Furman

Spring Awakening Music Festival

Chicago rings in its first ever all dance music festival and makes EDM--electronic dance music--history by being the first event of its kind to take place inside Soldier Field. This massive two-day event will boast some of the top local and national talent the genre has to offer spread between four stages and two days.

Spring Awakening Music Festival hits Soldier Field and the surrounding grounds June 16 and 17. Things kick off at 1pm each day and wrap up at 11:30pm. Tickets are $120 for a two-day pass and $75 for a single-day pass. Gapers Block has all the tips you need to navigate the festival successfully.

Cajun Dance Party @ Empty Bottle

The Cajun French Music Association hosts a Cajun dance party at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., today from 1 to 4pm, featuring the Chicago Cajun Aces. If you don't how to dance to Cajun music, there will be people on hand to teach you. $10 at the door. 21+

Chicago Pizza Fest

Why not devote an entire street fest to one of the city's finest exports? Pizza gets the street fair treatment today, noon-10pm at Wilson and Broadway.

Real Men Cook @ Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center

The new Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1250 W. 119th St., hosts Real Men Cook, today from 3pm to 6pm. This annual culinary event, now in its 23rd year, is the ultimate Father's Day food festival, featuring samples served up by volunteer chefs and grillmasters, cooking demonstrations and workshops, and a special musical performance by Grammy award-winning jazz saxophonist, Kirk Whalum. Tickets are $10-$25; for more information, contact whatscooking@realmencook.com.