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…
Articles
Festivals & special events, Food & drink
Chicago’s James Beard Award winners
Chicago is proud to be home to over 50 James Beard Awards winners, honoring the very best of Chicago’s acclaimed dining scene. Throughout the years,…
Holidays
Fourth of July in Chicago
The Fourth of July is one of the best times to experience summer in Chicago. And since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year,…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Jazz Festival
Sept. 3 – 6, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals, the Chicago Jazz Festival boasts an incredibly…
Festivals & special events, Food & drink
Taste of Chicago
July 8 – 12, 2026 Free admission • Grant Park The 46th annual Taste of Chicago is bringing some of the city’s most iconic bites…
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, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
June 4 – 7, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s…
Museums & art
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city’s most popular attractions and the cultural heart of the downtown Loop neighborhood. Known as “The People’s…
Festivals & special events, Music, Parks & outdoors
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Select Mondays and Thursdays, June 15 – Aug. 6, 2026 Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free admission • Millennium Park The Millennium Park Summer Music…
Festivals & special events, Food & drink
Chicago Gourmet
Sept. 24 – 27, 2026 Millennium Park Welcome to Chicago Gourmet, one of the country’s most distinguished food festivals. Each year, Chicago Gourmet celebrates the…
Holidays
Memorial Day weekend 2026 in Chicago
Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of summer in Chicago — and the city knows how to celebrate. Each year, Chicago comes to life…
Articles, Itineraries
24 hours in downtown Chicago
Only have one day to explore downtown Chicago? No problem. You can make the most of your time while still hitting the city’s most iconic…
Explore Chicago hotels, flights, deals, and more
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