It’s summer in Chicago, which means the sun is shining, the temperature is warming up, and there’s an endless list of things to do and see.
Luckily, we’ve rounded up 50 of the best options — free museum days, boat tours, drive-in movies, music festivals, Fourth of July celebrations, and so much more. Check out the top things to do in Chicago this month (and don’t miss the top things to do this weekend!)
Sunset Yoga at Navy Pier (July 6, 13, 20, 27)
Chicago Auto Show (July 15 and 19)
Maxwell Street Market (July 4 and 18)
Windy City Smokeout (July 8 – 11)
Taste of Chicago To Go (July 7 – 11)
American Ballet Theatre at Millennium Park (July 8)
House City (July 8, 16, 23, and 31)
Chinatown Summer Fair (July 17 – 18)
Millennium Art Festival (July 16 – 18)
Southport Art & Music Fest (July 10 – 11)
Evening hours at the Shedd Aquarium (Wednesdays in July)
Fiesta Del Sol (July 29 – Aug. 1)
Lollapalooza (July 29 – Aug 1.)
Rogers Park Taco Crawl (July 15)
Free Instagreeter tours (resumes July 2)
Lot Jams in Albany Park (July 15)
CHICAGO: Where Comics Came to Life (all month long)
Chinatown tour with Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute (July 17)
Tuesdays on the Terrace (Tuesdays and Thursdays in July)
Chi-Town Soul restaurant and history trolley tour (July 17)
Wine tasting cruise from Shoreline Sightseeing (July 15)
Exhibition opening at Stony Island Arts Bank (July 18)
Bronzeville Art District Tour (July 16)
Barrio Arts Fest in Humboldt Park (July 10 – 11)
Bands on Broadway and Beyond in Edgewater (July 23 – 25)
Taste of Lincoln Avenue (July 24 – 25)
Chicago Humanities Festival in-person event (July 24)
The Obama Portraits at Art Institute of Chicago (all month long)
Summer Brews Cruise with Revolution Brewing (July 23)
Neon Summer pop-up experience (various dates)
Fireworks at Navy Pier (Saturdays and Wednesdays in July)
Center Sundays at Hyde Park Art Center (June 6)
Jazzin’ On the Steps (July 25)
Free admission at Field Museum (July 12 and 15)
Free admission at Museum of Science and Industry (July 14)
Grant Park Music Festival (begins July 2)
House City pop-up concerts (July 8, 16, 23, and 21)
American Ballet Theatre Across America (July 8)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia (multiple dates)
Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Chicago (select dates)
Chicago City Markets (various dates)
Free live music at Navy Pier (various dates)
Music Box Garden Movies (various dates)
The Second City live shows (various dates)
Chicago Fire home game at Soldier Field (July 3 and 7)
Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall at Field Museum (all month long)
Gateway to the West Loop Food Tour (various dates)
Art on theMART (all month long)
Outdoor grilling classes at The Chopping Block (various dates)
Historic Theatre Tour at Auditorium Theatre (various dates)
Summer Wine Tasting at the Morton Arboretum (July 17)
Live music series at Epiphany Arts Center (various dates)
Odyssey Chicago River cruises (various dates)
Wendella lake cruises (various dates)
Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise (various dates)
Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes at the Museum of Science and Industry (all month long)
Chicago Architecture Center walking tours (various dates)
Bikes, Bites & Brews tours (various dates)
Chicago Cubs home games (various dates)
Chicago White Sox home games (various dates)
