By Susan Fong
It is that time of year again: summer, when the weather allows for outdoor activity. The Chicago area will provide plenty of special events to make summer 2023 memorable, from live music to great food to other fun filled activities for the whole family to enjoy. Gazette Chicago is happy to provide its readers with this handy guide.
ART FAIRS
The Gold Coast Art Fair will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Grant Park’s Butler Field behind the Art Institute, Monroe Street and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The juried fair will showcase work by more than 200 artists from around the world as well as food, drinks, and live music. Watch the artists in action. For more information, go to https://amdurproductions.com/event/2022-gold-coast-art-fair/.
The 15th annual Millennium Art Festival at Michigan Avenue and Lake Street will be held Friday through Sunday, July 14 through 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse paintings, ceramics, photography, and furniture from more than 120 artists. Log on to https://amdurproductions.com/event/2022-millennium-art-festival.
The Printer’s Row Art Festival, 701 S. Dearborn St., runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12 and 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dearborn from Harrison Street to Polk Street. Admission is free. The juried festival offers a buying opportunity for art lovers of all ages. See art in all price points by 80 painters, street artists, jewelers, upcycling artists, artisans of all kinds, photographers, and mixed media artists. Area restaurants and bars will serve up their Chicago specialties. Go to https://amdurproductions.com/event/2022-printers-row-art-fest/.
DOWNTOWN AND LAKEFRONT
View the 77th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point, on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 19 and 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For programming, log on to https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_air_and_watershow.html.
The Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tour this historical venue, attend free gallery talks and entertainment, or take a fun class. Visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org for updated visitor information, including schedules.
Chicago Greeter and Choose Chicago continue their free guided architecture, landscape, and public art walks. Register at least ten business days in advance for a free two- to four-hour guided walk. Guides customize walks based on your choice of neighborhoods, language, and interests, or take a free hour-long tour of downtown Fridays through Sundays. Explore other parts of the city through Immersive Neighborhoods Tours, which can be customized based on interests, or short guided walks. For information on both programs, go to http://chicagogreeter.com.
NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Weekend will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2, in Grant Park and nearby streets. The two-day racing and music festival will present acts including the Chainsmokers, Black Crowes, Miranda Lambert, and Charley Crockett. For more information, go to nascarchicago.com.
Chicago SummerDance runs select dates from Saturday, July 15, through Sunday, Sept. 10, in Millennium Park and at parks throughout the city. Dancers of all ages and skill levels are invited to enjoy introductory dance lessons by professional instructors, followed by live music and dancing. For exact dates, music and venues, go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_summerdance.html.
Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, 1801 S. Indiana Ave., will host events throughout the summer. Get details at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/chicago-womens-park-and-gardens#Events. Lakeside Bank will present VanderCook College of Music’s Graduate Concert and Jazz Bands on Thursday, July 20, for the 16th annual South Loop Concert in the Park. The Toddlers, Tunes & Turtles program will begin at 5:30 p.m. A family drum circle demonstration, where kids can enjoy interactive creative music making with their families using rhythm, song, and dance, begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, pick a spot to sit, and listen to the sounds of famous marches, showtunes, movie themes, and concert band classics. There will be kids’ activities, a face painter, balloon artist, and giveaways as well.
Fifth Third Bike the Drive, held by the Active Transportation Alliance, will offer nearly five hours of car-free biking on Lake Shore Drive on Sunday, Sept. 3. Register at 53bikethedrive.org.
Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St., offers multi-sensory experiences such as the play garden and bungee area. The center of the skating ribbon holds two structures that form a climbing park. The structure offers a beginner and an advanced wall, accommodating 25 and 100 climbers, respectively. On the skating ribbon, participants may rent micro-scooters, rollerblades, and roller skates. For family fun, enjoy an 18-hole miniature golf course or rent a picnic grove for a family event. Groves not reserved are open on a first-come, first-serve basis daily. For complete listing of times, offerings and programs, go to http://maggiedaleypark.com.
Millennium Park is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the north, and Monroe Street to the south. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., it features the Boeing Galleries, park exhibitions, and Chase Promenades, including Cloud Gate also known as “The Bean,” and the Crown Fountain. For a schedule of events, go tor www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/mp_calendar.html.
The Millennium Park Summer Film Series shows films on Tuesdays from June 13 through Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m.; gates open at 5 p.m. at the Randolph Street and Monroe Street exits. Seating is available at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion or simply lounge on the Great Lawn. Films are projected on a 40-foot LED screen. For a list of films, go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park7.html.
Navy Pier at 600 E. Grand Ave. has new hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free. The pier has an exciting variety of events and free programs such as The State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois. The Pier is open through mid-September. For a complete list of activities, programs, and schedules (including fireworks), visit https://navypier.com.
Pride in the Park will be held Friday, June 23, 3 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, June 24, 2 to 10 p.m. This event will spotlight LGBTQIA performers, artists, and vendors. Two-day general admission passes start at around $100. For tickets, log on to https://prideparkchi.com.
Sundays on State returns Sunday, July 16 and Aug. 13, with portions of State Street closed to vehicular traffic on those dates for a free, interactive, internationally acclaimed Loop block party. Information is available at https://loopchicago.com/events/sundays-on-state/.
Taste of Chicago, is Friday through Sunday, Sept. 8 through 10. Established in 1980, this uniquely Chicago summertime tradition returns with an impressive array of eateries showcasing the city’s culinary excellence and diversity along with three mainstage evening concerts. Prior to the main event, a series of Taste of Chicago pop-ups will return this year in Humboldt, Pullman, and Marquette Parks. Admission is free. For times go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/taste_of_chicago.html.
The United States Sail Grand Prix (SailGP) returns to Lake Michigan Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17. This two-day spectacle of racing will take place immediately adjacent to Navy Pier as rival national teams, including Jimmy Spithill’s United States squad, battle it out in short, intense races competing on the F50 catamaran, a race boat that “flies” out of the water and can reach speeds in excess of 60 mph. Navy Pier will feature stadium viewing—the only way to watch Friday’s and Saturday’s racing from land—with tickets starting at $35. For schedule and ticketing information, go to www.sailgp.com.
MUSIC AND DANCE
The Chicago Blues Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday, June 8 to 11, citywide and in Millennium Park. Three stages set up across Millennium Park will welcome headliners Los Lobos and Blind Boys of Alabama as well as three of Chicago’s own blues legends John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, and the Jimmy Burns Band. Guests will enjoy a blues-inspired food and drink pop-up in the park, Wally’s BBQ Pit. Go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html.
The Chicago Gospel Music Festival on Saturday, June 3, 5:30 to 9 p.m., will kick off the summer season in Millennium Park. The lineup features Choir Nation opening for Grammy award winners Karen Clark Sheard and Tye Tribbett on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. Go to MillenniumPark.org.
The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference will be held on Friday, June 23, at the Chicago Cultural Center, and Saturday, June 24 in the Humboldt Park Boathouse with a dance party. The festival also will bring local DJs to spin at the historic Maxwell Street Market, Sunday, June 25, from noon to 2 p.m. DJs will include Roy Davis Jr., Psycho-B, NoshaLuv, Emmaculate, and DJ V. For detailed information go to ChicagoHouseMusicalFestival.us.
The Chicago Jazz Festival runs Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, citywide and in Millennium Park, celebrating all forms of jazz, including bebop and Latin jazz. Enter the park through Michigan Avenue and at Washington Street or Madison Street. For a complete listing of artists, check after mid-June at www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_jazz_festival.html.
The Grant Park Music Festival runs Wednesday, June 14, through Saturday, Aug. 19, and offers classical music performed by a world-class orchestra and chorus. The festival offers a ten-week season of concerts, artistic development initiatives, radio broadcasts, and community engagement and outreach programs. For a list of dates and artists, go to www.grantparkmusicfestival.com.
Lollapalooza will take over Grant Park Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 3 through 6, on nine stages with more than 170 bands from around the world highlighting alternative rock, punk rock, heavy metal, hip hop, and electronica. Headliners include Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Odesza. Lollapalooza will feature interactive areas with giveaways, merchandise, a food court, and a mini-fest for children running parallel to the main concerts. Go to www.lollapalooza.com/.
Make Music Chicago, known internationally as Fete de la Musique, is a free, citywide, do-it-yourself celebration of the musician in us all to be held on Wednesday, June 21. It will celebrate the Summer Solstice across 800 cities in 120 countries. Unlike a typical music festival, Make Music Chicago is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician—young and old, amateur and professional—will take to the streets, parks, plazas, and porches of Chicago to share music of all genres with friends, neighbors, and strangers. To find locations, call (312) 265-0754 or go to http://makemusicchicago.org/.
The Millennium Park Summer Music Series happens on select Mondays and Thursdays from Thursday, June 22, through Monday, August 21, 6:30 to 9 p.m. in Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Gates open at 5 p.m. with a pre-show at 5:30 p.m. Entrances are on Randolph and Monroe Streets. This series presents a wide variety of music from established and emerging artists. Log on to https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park9.html.
The Ruido Music Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 19 and 20. This Latin alternative music festival has moved to the Chicagoland Fairgrounds at 2801 S. Washtenaw Ave. in the Little Village community. The show opens Saturday with Kali Uchis and Sunday with Juanes, with more bands yet to be announced. Log on to https://ruidofest.com/.
Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., will host the Pitchfork Music Festival Friday through Sunday, July 21 through 23. This rock festival focuses primarily on independent artists from the alternative rock, electro-pop, and hip-hop genres. Single day general admission tickets start at $130. For more information, go to https://pitchforkmusicfestival.com. The ARC Music Festival runs Labor Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, Sept. 1 to 3, with house music and a new immersive dance music event. Log on to http://arcmusicfestival.com for the artist lineup.
The Windy City Smokeout runs Thursday through Sunday, July 13 through 16, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. This “bands, barbecue, and beer” country music festival draws in the industry’s top names including Zack Bryan, Darius Rucker, and the Zac Brown Band and presents top pitmasters from all over the country highlighting styles from Kentucky and Missouri as well as Nashville and Chicago. Log on to www.windycitysmokeout.com/ for information and tickets.
OUTDOOR FUN
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), 111 W. Wacker Dr., offers new and updated exhibits in its 10,000 square feet of galleries, presenting scale models of new building designs from around the world. Its current exhibit is ReFramed: The Future of Cities in Wood and ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy. CAC also offers new walking tours and 90-minute river tours on the boat Chicago’s First Lady to tell the history of more than 50 buildings and how Chicago grew to become a world class city. See www.architecture.org.
The Chicago Park District offers classes, events, and entertainment for young and old throughout Chicago’s neighborhood parks. Check the website for a complete listing. Register early, as many classes and events have limited spaces. Go to https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
The Chicago Riverwalk’s hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The 1.25-mile walk includes four districts along the Chicago River: the Confluence, Arcade, Civic, and Esplanade. Its continuous path from Lake Street to the lakefront also provides a vertical connection from Upper Wacker Drive down to the waterway. Go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/chicagoriverwalk/home.html.
Farmers Markets throughout Chicago sell fresh seasonal produce, flowers, prepared foods, unique Chicago-made products, and rare finds. Visit Chicago’s longest running farmers market on Daley Plaza and check out the historic Maxwell Street Market and a dozen more community markets in neighborhoods across Chicago. Enjoy a market for every day of the week through the end of October. For locations, dates, and times, go to www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/farmers_market.html.
The Garfield Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., is open Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to its permanent display houses featuring landscape architecture, the conservatory hosts dynamic exhibits and installations from Chicago-based artists, community members, and conservatory staff. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Log on to https://garfieldconservatory.org
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
The Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave., offers a variety of one- and two-week camps from Thursday, June 8, through Friday, Aug. 18. Children can learn all facets of theater craft basics, from writing to set design; other programs include family events, virtual learning, and community programming. For a list of summer camps, in-person classes, and other offerings, call (773) 227-0180 or log on to chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
The Chinatown Summer Fair, 2200 S. Wentworth Ave., will be held Saturday, July 29, noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This neighborhood street festival will open with a lion dance procession at 12:30 p.m., followed by Asian-themed performances including kung fu demonstrations. Enjoy a petting zoo and children’s area at 24th Place and Wentworth Avenue. Log on to www.ccc-foundation.org/summer-fair/ or call (312) 326-5320.
The annual Dragon Boat Race for Literacy at Ping Tom Memorial Park, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., will be Saturday, June 24, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For decades, Chicago’s Chinatown Chamber of Commerce has held the races to promote culture and raise funds for its neighborhood literacy programs. Log on to www.chicagochinatown.org or call (312) 326-5320.
Fiesta del Sol, the largest Latino festival in the country, runs Thursday through Sunday, July 27 through 30, on eight blocks of Cermak Road in the Pilsen Historic District. Enjoy four days of Latin food, performances, and amusement park rides and games. See www.fiestadelsol.org or call (312) 666-2663.
The architecturally unique, 19th century Glessner House, 1800 S. Prairie Ave., offers visits and 75-minute guided tours by trained docents on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Reserve tickets at http://glessnerhouse.org.
The 38th Printer’s Row Lit Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 and 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in historic Printers Row on South Dearborn Street, between Ida B. Wells Drive and Polk Street. For a list of 2023 authors, artists, and performers, see https://printersrowlitfest.org.
Taste of Greektown will be held on the 300 block of South Halsted Street between Van Buren and Adams Streets from Friday through Sunday, Aug. 25 through 27. Events occur Friday and Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Log on to https://chicagoevents.com/events/taste-of-greektown/.
Onesti Entertainment is planning for the return of the Taylor Street Festa Italiana Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 17 through 20, on Taylor Street east of Ashland Avenue. Enjoy Italian food, entertainment, and merchandise. Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. See https://oshows.com/little-italy-festa-taylor-street/.
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, AND ZOOS
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., offers both in person and virtual programs. The Planetarium is home to frequent pop-up exhibitions and permanent exhibits where you can learn more about the universe. Whether onsite or online, you can explore the galaxies. Check for summer dates and times at www.adlerplanetarium.org.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., features Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape. The exhibition explores the impact the northwestern suburbs outside Paris had upon the boundary-pushing painting techniques developed by five post-Impressionist artists as they documented changes in the landscape as industry took over recreation spaces. Also this summer, visit one of the Art Institute’s special events, attend a lecture, explore the permanent collection, or enjoy an online gallery with thousands of artworks. For more information, go to www.artic.edu or call (312) 443-3600.
The Chicago Artists Coalition, 2130 W. Fulton St., (312) 491-8888, is a non-profit arts organization that supports contemporary artists and curators by offering residency programs, exhibitions, professional development, and resources to promote Chicago’s thriving cultural environment. For upcoming exhibitions, go to https://chicagoartistscoalition.org.
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., is open Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum’s newest exhibit is Water City, celebrating water as the perfect plaything. Children of all ages and abilities can determine their own experiments, narratives, sensory experiences, and explorations of water’s physical properties. Visitors also can enjoy many other traveling and permanent exhibits. For more information, go to www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org.
The Chicago Museum of Illusions, 25 E. Washington St., (312) 722-6780, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Illusions challenge us to see things differently through the museum’s illusion rooms, installations, and images designed to tease the senses and trick the mind—a wonderful mix of entertainment and education. For ticket information, go to https://moichicago.com.
The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temporary exhibits include The Rise of Europe’s First Kings, Perspectives on Life and Death, and Chicago’s Hula Legacy. Permanent exhibits include Native Truths: Our Voices and Our Stories (about native communities), the Griffin Hall of Evolving Planets, and more than 27,000 square feet of exhibits telling the story of evolution. Call (312) 922-9410 or go to www.fieldmuseum.org.
The Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., (773) 324-5520, helps develop, support, and exhibit works of emerging artists. An incubator for artists and the community, it develops ideas, helps effect social change, and makes connections. For information on current exhibits, go to www.hydeparkart.org.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., (312) 742-2000, offers a place for children and adults to learn about animals and discover the wonders “where nature isn’t just an escape, but a priority,” according to zoo officials. Learn about animal care, conservation, and community. For a complete schedule of daytime and evening offerings, go to www.lpzoo.org or call (312) 742-2000.
At the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., (312) 939-2438, visit the newest exhibit, Look Nature in the Eye, to behold wonders of the aquatic animal world. The museum offers 4-D experiences, tours, and touch experiences. Advance ticketing is required. Hours differ based on the day of week. For the most up-to-date schedule, log on to www.sheddacquarium.org.