Festivals & special events

Discover the best of the city’s fests.

Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music

Chicago Jazz Festival

Sept. 1 – 4, 2022 Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals boasts an incredibly diverse lineup, which includes…

Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music

World Music Festival Chicago

Sept. 30 – Oct. 9, 2022 Free admission • Multiple locations The annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the…

Festivals & special events, Food & drink

Chicago’s James Beard Award winners

Chicago is proud to be home to over 50 James Beard Award winners. Since the first ceremony in 1991, this national award has become the…

Festivals & special events

Taste of Chicago restaurants

Prepare yourself for one massive picnic. Taste of Chicago is back with a mouth-watering line-up of local food vendors. This year, the fun is spread…

Entertainment, Festivals & special events, Parks & outdoors

Millennium Park Summer Film Series

July 12 – Aug. 30, 2022 Free admission • Millennium Park Every summer in Chicago, visitors and locals flock to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at…

Arts, culture & entertainment, Blog, Festivals & special events

Celebrate the Year of Chicago Dance

The city has officially designated 2022 as the Year of Chicago Dance, presenting exciting performances and special dance events in venues all around town. This…

Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music, Theatre & performing arts

Chicago SummerDance

June 18 – Sept. 17, 2022 Free admission • Grant Park The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill levels together in…

Festivals & special events, Food & drink

Your guide to Chicago’s food festivals

Get a taste of Chicago’s award-winning dining scene at the city’s packed schedule of food festivals, featuring everything from barbecue to international cuisine to Chicago-style…

Festivals & special events, Free & cheap

Chicago Air and Water Show

Aug. 20 – 21, 2022 Free admission • Chicago lakefront Starting in the summer of 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show has grown to…

Festivals & special events, LGBTQ+

Celebrate Pride month in Chicago

Chicago knows how to party for Pride. The annual LGBTQ+ celebration takes over the city each June, with street fests, concerts, parties, and a massive…