MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest

Events for "Chicago, IL"

January

  • Restaurant Week (Jan. 24 – Feb 9)

    Chicago, IL

    Time to pack on the calories: More than 370 restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe menus for $24 at brunch or lunch and $36 or $48 at dinner.


February

  • Chinese Lunar New Year's Parade (Feb. 2)

    Chicago, IL

    Celebrate the Year of the Rat in Chinatown with a parade, marching bands, lion dancing and fireworks.


  • Auto Show (Feb. 8 – 17)

    Chicago, IL

    This car show at McCormick Place is the largest in the nation and third-largest in the world.


March

  • St. Patrick's Day Parade (Mar. 14)

    Chicago, IL

    In Chicago, they really do dye the river green. Watch the dye job at 9 a.m. from the Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive bridges, then watch the noon parade through Grant Park.


May

  • Kids & Kites Festival (May 2)

    Chicago, IL

    This festival on Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park includes free kite kits for kids, games and a candy drop from kites.


  • Gospel Festival (May 26 – 30)

    Chicago, IL

    This free music festival is in Millennium Park and across the street at the Cultural Center.


June

  • Blues Festival (Jun 5 – 7)

    Chicago, IL

    The largest of Chicago's free music festivals draws 750,000 people to Millennium Park. 


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 10)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Ribfest Chicago (Jun 12 – 14)

    Chicago, IL

    This street festival in the Northcenter neighborhood, on Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Warner Avenue, features barbecue plus indie, roots, rock and alt country music.

    There's a Kids Square with games and a rib-eating contest Friday with professional eaters.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 12 – 13)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Wells Street/Old Town art fairs (Jun 13 – 14)

    Chicago, IL

    Together, the Wells Street Art Festival and nearby Old Town Art Fair two fairs have more than 500 exhibitors and draw 110,000 visitors.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 17)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 19 – 20)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 24)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jun 26 – 27)

    Chicago, IL

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


July

  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 1 – 2)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 4)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Taste of Chicago (Jul 8 – 12)

    Chicago, IL

    The big free festival in Grant Park offers lots of food and music.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 8)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 10 – 11)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 15)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 17 – 18)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Chinatown Summer Fair (Jul 18 – 19)

    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, pony rides and cutest baby and a "hot legs" contest for men.


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 22)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 24 – 25)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Jul 29)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Lollapalooza (Jul 30 – Aug 2)

    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 31 – Aug 1)

    Chicago, IL

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


August

  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 5 – 6)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 7 – 8)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 10)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 12)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Grant Park Music Festival (Aug. 14 – 15)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Air & Water Show (Aug. 15 – 16)

    Chicago, IL

    The 61st annual free show features aerobatics, extreme flying and parachuting off North Avenue Beach.


  • Chicago Jazz Festival (Aug. 29 – Sep 6)

    Chicago, IL

    This free festival features music at the Chicago Cultural Center and  Millennium Park.


September

  • World Music Festival (Sep. 11 – 27)

    Chicago, IL

    There will be more than 80 artists performing at more than 30 venues across the city, including the Chicago Cultural Center. Admission is free. On the last day, World Dumpling Fest will be at Navy Pier.


  • Riot Fest (Sep. 11 – 13)

    Chicago, IL

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


  • Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Sep. 26 – 27)

    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.


  • World Dumpling Fest (Sep. 27)

    Chicago, IL

    The mighty dumpling, comfort food in many cultures, will be celebrated at Navy Pier as part of World Music Festival. There will also be cultural performances and art.


October

  • Open House Chicago (Oct. 17 – 18)

    Chicago, IL

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

     


November

  • Day of the Dead Xicago (Nov. 1)

    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. It's 3-8 p.m. and admission is free.