Festivals & special events, Food & drink, Music
Windy City Smokeout
July 8 – 12, 2026 United Center parking lot Country music, barbecue, and craft beer — it’s hard to think of a better way to…
Chicago music
Feel the beat of our non-stop nightlife.
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
World Music Festival Chicago
Free admission • Multiple locations The 26th annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from across the globe. This free, city-wide festival…
Articles, Music
Gospel music in Chicago: history and local events and landmarks
The legacy of gospel music in Chicago is enduring — you can still feel its heartbeat in church pews and historic venues across the city.…
Music, Nightlife
Explore Chicago jazz
Chicago is home to a legendary jazz scene. You’ll find contemporary clubs giving the spotlight to surprising new sounds, a free downtown festival dedicated to…
Music, Nightlife
30+ must-see Chicago live music venues
Mainstream pop, indie rock, hip hop, punk, blues, or jazz — no matter your musical taste, you’ll find it live in Chicago any night of…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago SummerDance
Free admission • Grant Park and parks citywide Enjoy live music and dancing on an open-air dance floor during the annual Chicago SummerDance festival. This…
Festivals & special events, Music, Parks & outdoors
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Free admission • Millennium Park The Millennium Park Summer Music Series offers free outdoor concerts in downtown Chicago, showcasing a diverse range of established and…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park Experience a Chicago summer tradition like no other. The Grant Park Music Festival, now in its 90th season, features an…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s largest free blues festival. Each…
Festivals & special events, Music
Lollapalooza Chicago guide: lineup, schedule, tickets, and more
Grant Park Each year, thousands of fans travel from around the world to experience Lollapalooza in Chicago. Those lucky enough to score tickets to the…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Jazz Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals, the Chicago Jazz Festival boasts an incredibly diverse lineup of jazz legends…
Festivals & special events, Music
Top summer music festivals in Chicago
Music lives large in Chicago, from our neighborhood streets and historic venues to downtown parks and our iconic lakefront. And Chicago’s iconic festival season brings…
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