There is no shortage of things to do in Bucktown. This Chicago neighborhood has several parks, music venues, and summertime festivals.
Bucktown is quieter and more residential than its neighbors, Wicker Park and Logan Square which have more restaurants, bars, and shops. While the list of things to do in Bucktown isn’t as long as some other neighborhoods, there are some wonderful kid-friendly parks and businesses located here.
Last updated: April 2022
Read More About Bucktown:
The Best Restaurants in Bucktown
Where is Bucktown?
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Bucktown is directly north of Wicker Park. It is bordered by Logan Square to the West and the Chicago River to the East.
Note: the southern border of Bucktown is up for debate. Some people say that the Wicker Park and Bucktown border is North Avenue, others say that it West Bloomingdale Avenue (where the 606 is). We have decided to include this debated area in the guides to both Wicker Park and Bucktown.
How to Get to Bucktown:
The easiest way to travel to Bucktown is to take the train. The Blue Line stops at Damen and Western and the Metra stops at Clybourn.
Parks and Outdoor Activities:
Walk the Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)
This 2.7 mile elevated trail for bikers and runners goes along the southern edge of Bucktown and incorporates art installations and landscape design. Locals tend to call the trail “The 606” but if you want to get technical, the elevated walkway is the Bloomingdale Trail which is a part of the The 606. The 606 includes six street level parks (two aren’t complete yet) and the Bloomingdale Trail. Walsh Park, Park No, 567, and Churchill Field Park are all linked via the Bloomingdales Trail.
Walsh Park
This park at the eastern end of the Bloomingdale Trail has the neighborhood’s best playground. The playgrounds has larger taller play structures with slides and areas to climb that are great for kids 5 and up. There are also swings, but in general, this park is more geared towards kids past the toddler stage. In addition to the playground, this park has an athletic field, basketball hoops, and a dog-friendly area.
Park No. 567
A small green space that acts as an access point to the Bloomingdales Trail.
Churchill Field Park
Churchill Field Park has a baseball field and a dog-friendly area.
Holstein Park
The largest park in Bucktown has an outdoor pool, a wading area, a baseball field, a softball field, a volleyball court, and a playground with a splash pad. The field house has two gymnasiums which host sports, recreation, and social events. An annual Easter egg hunt, Movies in the Park, and a Spring Break Camp are hosted at this park.
Things to Do in Bucktown:
Bizarre Bucktown Walking Tour
Gordon Meyer offers walking tours discussing the history, mystery, and ghosts of Wicker Park and Bucktown.
Diversey River Bowl
This isn’t your ordinary bowling alley, Diversey River Bowl has concert level lighting and sound paired with lasers, black lights, and a bar. During the day the space is kid friendly but after 8 pm the space is 21+.
WhirlyBall
WhirlyBall is a unique team sport that combines bumper cars with lacrosse and hockey. It promises to be the most fun you can have while going 4 miles per hour. The Bucktown location has WhirlyBall courts, bowling, laser tag, giant jenga, connect four, corn hole, ping pong, plus a full bar and restaurant. This place can be busy, especially on weekends, so make reservations online.
Purple Monkey Playroom
An indoor play space where young kids can burn off some energy while staying warm and dry on a cold or wet day. You can rent the space for birthday parties, join a themed playtime, or drop-in for playtime. Public playtimes are on weekdays only.
Music Venues:
Hideout
Hideout is a low-key live music venue hosting a bands that span genres including instrumental rock, power pop, Filipino folk, alt-country, punk and rock. The space also hosts the occasional comedian or trivia night. Tickets to most shows are $13-$20.
Subterranean
A two floor live music venue that hosts a wide variety of bands and events. Not many venues have a reggae concert one night and emo night the next.
Chop Shop
Chop Shop is a restaurant, deli, butcher shop, and event space/concert venue. There are usually a handful of concerts each week.
Theater:
Trap Door Theatre
This theater company devotes itself to staging obscure works. Trap Door got its start as a nomadic troupe that toured Europe before finding a permanent home in Bucktown in the 1990s. 2022 productions include Medea Material and Dinner with Marx. Admission is $20-$25 with two for one admission on Thursdays.
Annual Events in Bucktown:
Bucktown Arts Fest
This festival in Holstein Park has nearly 200 artists and two music stages. In 2022, this festival will take place on August 27 and 28.
Bucktown Garden Walk
A July event featuring tours of neighborhood gardens, live music, activities for children, and a block party. In 2022, the event dates are July 9 and 10.
Chillfest
This pop up music festival involves bands performing in storefronts in Wicker Park and Bucktown. It takes place in February and the goal is to bring music and shopping together while celebrating the neighborhood’s creative roots.
Things to Do in Logan Square - cityguidetochicago.com
Tuesday 26th of April 2022
[…] Logan Square is located in northwest Chicago. It is south of Avondale, north of Humboldt Park and west of Bucktown. […]