MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest

Events for "Chicago, IL"

March

  • Restaurant Week (Mar. 19 – Apr 4)

    Chicago, IL

    Time to pack on the calories: More than 370 restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe menus for $25 at brunch or lunch and $39 or $55 at dinner.


June

  • Old Town Art Fair (Jun 12 – 13)

    Chicago, IL

    In the Old Town neighborhood, there will be more than 200 juried fine artists, a garden walk, live music and children's activities.


July

  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 2 – 3)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 7)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 9 – 10)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 14)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 16 – 17)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Chinatown Summer Fair (Jul 17 – 18)

    Chicago, IL

    There's a Lion Dance, Chinese classical dance and music, demonstrations of martial arts and displays of ancient art forms and disciplines plus a petting zoo and pony rides.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 21)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 23 – 24)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 28)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Lollapalooza (Jul 29 – Aug 1)

    Chicago, IL

    This big music festival features dozens of bands and, unlike other Grant Park festivals, is not free. Reserve rooms far in advance.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 30 – 31)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


August

  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 4)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 6 – 7)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 11)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 13 – 14)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 18)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 20 – 21)

    Chicago, IL

    Professional musicians, many of them world-famous, offer free classical concerts in Millennium Park's beautiful Pritzker Pavilion.

    This year, seating is at 25 percent capacity and still is free but must be reserved. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. Mondays before the event.


September

  • Bike the Drive (Sep. 5)

    Chicago, IL

    Along a 30-mile loop, ride car-free on Lake Shore Drive, with a post-ride festival in Grant Park.


  • Riot Fest (Sep. 17 – 19)

    Chicago, IL

    This Douglas Park music festival also features a circus sideshow revue and carnival.


  • Chicago Live Again! (Sep. 24 – 25)

    Chicago, IL

    More than 40 of Chicago's marquee attractions, including the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera and Second City will provide free, outdoors non-stop entertainment at Navy Pier to celebrate the return of live performance to Chicago. 

    On Saturday night, there will be a fireworks display to end the festival. 


  • Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Sep. 25 – 26)

    Chicago, IL

    Listen to non-stop music during this free festival at venues in and around Midway Plaisance, near the Museum of Science and Industry and Lake Michigan.

    This year, the festival is virtual on Saturday, but on Sunday there will be live music on mobile stages in Hyde Park.


October

  • Chicago International Film Festival (Oct. 13 – 24)

    Chicago, IL

    This year's program includes 65 films and nine programs of shorts that are screening at the ChiTown Movies Drive-In in Pilsen.


  • Open House Chicago (Oct. 16 – 17)

    Chicago, IL

    The Chicago Architecture Foundation sponsors this free, behind-the-scenes peek at more than 200 mansions, clubs, churches, hotels and theaters.


  • Arts in the Dark Halloween parade (Oct. 30)

    Chicago, IL

    Floats, giant puppets and performances are part of the 6-8 p.m. parade along State Street.

     


  • Day of the Dead Xicago (Oct. 30)

    Chicago, IL

    In the National Museum of Mexican Art and Harrison Park, families can create ofrendas (altars), eat pan de muerto, listen to musical performances and get faces painted. Admission is free.


November

  • Christkindlmarket (Nov. 19 – Dec 24)

    Chicago, IL

    This is the most authentic Old World Christmas market, with many German vendors who bring over toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade, appearances by the Christkind and entertainment most days. In Daley Plaza in the Loop.


  • Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville (Nov. 19 – Dec 24)

    Chicago, IL

    This North Side satellite of the Daley Plaza Christkindlmarket features ice-skating, wreath-making, music and Santa's Workshop as well as holiday vendors.

     

     


  • ZooLights (Nov. 19 – 24)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


  • Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade (Nov. 20)

    Chicago, IL

    There will be music and family activities on Michigan Avenue, with a  lighted parade from Oak Street to Wacker Drive, followed by fireworks over the Chicago River.


  • Thanksgiving Parade (Nov. 25)

    Chicago, IL

    It's the 86th anniversary of the parade down State Street in the Loop. It starts at 8 a.m. at State Street and Ida B. Wells Drive and moves northward toward Randolph.


  • ZooLights (Nov. 26 – Dec 1)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


December

  • ZooLights (Dec. 3 – 15)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


  • ZooLights (Dec. 17 – 23)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


  • Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville (Dec. 26 – 31)

    Chicago, IL

    This North Side satellite of the Daley Plaza Christkindlmarket features ice-skating, wreath-making, music and Santa's Workshop as well as holiday vendors.

     

     


  • ZooLights (Dec. 26 – 30)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


January

  • ZooLights (Jan. 1 – 2)

    Chicago, IL

    The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at limited capacity again this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reserve in advance.


February

  • Chinese Lunar New Year's Parade (Feb. 13)

    Chicago, IL

    Celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown with a parade, marching bands and lion dancing. It starts at 1 p.m. at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue.