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Chicago Summer Festivals 2012: Korean Fest, Hot Dogs, Arts & More (8/17-8/19)

This Weekend's Top 5 Street Festivals & Other Events
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Looking for something to do this weekend that won't cause a strained neck from looking skyward for hours on end?

Luckily for you, in addition to a weekend filled with water- and air-based excitement, the city has plenty of land-based options for your amusement meant as well. Better yet, many of them are free.

Each Friday throughout the remainder of the summer, HuffPost Chicago is spotlighting five of that weekend's must-go festivals and other events.

Need still more options? The city also maintains a calendar of neighborhood events taking place throughout Chicago.

Did we miss something great that's on your calendar this weekend? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Before You Go

Chicago Weekend Festivals (8/17-19)
Northside Summerfest(01 of05)
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Northside Summerfest is centered on "the hot dog days of summer," offering up speciality hot dogs from throughout the city along with arts and crafts and music from staples of the Chicago summer street festival scene: Too White Crew, 16 Candles, Sugar High, Wedding Banned and more. Think you have what it takes to down a bunch of dogs? You may want to enter the fest's hot dog eating contest.
Friday, Aug. 17 (5-10 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 18 (12-10 p.m.), Sunday, Aug. 19 (12-9 p.m.)
Lincoln Ave. at Irving Park Rd.
$5 suggested donation
Photo: Facebook
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest(02 of05)
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The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest shines the spotlight on the bustling Far North Side arts district and its many fantastic creations that are available for purchase. The event features more than 100 artists, plus open studios and live entertainment, Of course, there's also plenty of food and drink to be enjoyed on Rogers Park's cobblestone streets.
Friday, Aug. 17 (6-10 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 18 & Sunday, Aug. 19 (12-9 p.m.)
Glenwood Ave. & Morse Ave.
FREE
Photo: Facebook
Chicago Korean Festival(03 of05)
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The Chicago Korean Festival, held annually since 1996, takes over Bryn Mawr Ave. in the city's Albany Park neighborhood this weekend, bringing with it Ssiruem and Taekwondo demonstrations, plenty of dancing -- including the K-Pop dance contest and BBoy battle (pictured) -- and, of course, incredible cuisine.
12-10:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 18-19
Bryn Mawr Ave., between Kimball and Kedzie
$5 suggested donation
Photo: Facebook
Mad Decent Block Party(04 of05)
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The Mad Decent Block Party comes to Chicago with a strong lineup of musicians -- including Tanlines (pictured), Bonde do Role, Action Bronson and Zebo -- playing this free (with RSVP) one-day music festival.
Saturday, Aug. 18 (12-10 p.m.)
Fulton Street (between Ashland and Justine)
FREE with RSVP (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be202dde4b0aeaf24c519c1" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/42402904@N00/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" georgia.kral" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5be202dde4b0aeaf24c519c1" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/42402904@N00/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="6"> georgia.kral</a>)
Chicago Dancing Festival(05 of05)
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The Chicago Dancing Festival begins Monday, and through it does not fall over this weekend, we thought we'd provide a little extra warning to allow our readers to get in the spirit of what should be a phenomenal series of events. The festival's schedule offers the lowdown on all of the events taking place throughout the week, several of which -- "Dancing Under The Stars" on Aug. 23 and "Celebration of Dance" on Aug. 25 -- are free. A surefire highlight will be the first-ever "Bolero" dance, a community-based endeavor bringing together trained dancers and community participants on Aug. 20 and Aug. 25.
Monday through Saturday, Aug. 20-25
Various venues
Various prices
Photo of Martha Graham Dance Company: Cheryl Mann Photography/Facebook
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