Chicago summers are always a hotbed of activity, with its eclectic mix of events and festivals shaping up to be one of the most exciting and diverse yet. From music and food to art and culture, the Windy City has it all. 2023 sees Chicago become a summer of creativity, community and fun.
The City throws some thrilling events and festivals, all with a distinct Chicago flavour. Get ready to immerse yourself in an unforgettable summer of creativity, community, and pure fun.
From Lollapalooza to Taste of Chicago to the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago is gearing up to put on an unforgettable show.
Lollapalooza
August 3-6
One of the most iconic music festivals in the world, is returning to Grant Park from August 3-6, 2023, and the lineup is nothing short of impressive. With headliners like Billie Eilish, Post Malone, and Tyler, The Creator, Lollapalooza is bringing the best in music to Chicago. But it’s not just about the music, Lollapalooza offers a unique experience with interactive art installations, pop-up shops, and some of the best food vendors in the city.
Tickets are priced from $125. For more information visit www.lollapalooza.com
Taste of Chicago
Pop up events: June 24th, July 15th, Aug 5th.
Grant Park Sep 8-10th
A culinary dream come true. Featuring more than 70 restaurants and food trucks, Taste of Chicago is the perfect opportunity to sample some of Chicago’s famous cuisine. From deep-dish pizza to hot dogs, from Italian beef to tamales, Taste of Chicago has it all. And let’s not forget about the live music that will be playing all day.
chicago.gov
Windy City Smokeout
July 13th – 16th
Expect this July weekend to be filled with country music, barbecue, and craft beer. The outdoor festival for country music lovers takes place in the shadow of the iconic United Centre, featuring the hottest country acts and the world’s best barbecue pitmasters. Tickets can be purchased from one to all four of the festival days, and guests can enjoy the sounds of country music while enjoying food from barbecue pros from all over the country, paired with a cold glass of craft beer from North America’s top breweries, including Chicago’s very own Goose Island.
Tickets are priced from $59.95 windycitysmokeout.com
The Chicago Jazz Festival
August 31–September 3
One of the oldest and largest free jazz festivals in the world. This year’s festival will be featuring some of the biggest names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. But the festival isn’t just for jazz enthusiasts, the cultural significance of the festival cannot be overstated as it celebrates the rich history and heritage of jazz in Chicago.
chicago.gov
Chicago Blues Festival
June 8th – 11th
Blues music is a genre deep rooted in the history of Chicago, with the festival having been a staple for almost 40 years. The annual Chicago Blues Festival is the city’s largest music festival, with more than 500,000 fans gathering in Millennium Park and venues across the city – all free and open to the public. The festival features a diverse line up from revered musicians to up and coming talent. With previous years talent including Etta James, Buddy Guy and B.B King. Admission to the festival is free, and those at Millennium Park can bring along a picnic or pick up refreshments from the on site concessions.
admission is free chicago.gov
NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend July 1st – 2nd
For the first time ever, the sights, sounds, and speed of NASCAR will be coming to downtown Chicago in July as the first street race in NASCAR’s 75 year long history. The historic event will transform portions of the streets in and around Grant Park into a 2.2mile racecourse for the weekend. The festival atmosphere will include live entertainment, culinary experiences, and family friendly activities across downtown Chicago.
Tickets are priced from $269 www.nascarchicago.com
Chicago Gourmet
September 21st – 24th
One of the country’s most distinguished food festivals, Chicago Gourmet, celebrates the diverse dining scene spanning across Chicago’s 77 neighbourhoods. The upscale food festival hosts a series of events on the Harris Theatre Rooftop and at unique culinary venues across the city. One for the foodie lovers, the festival kicks off with showcasing gourmet tacos and mezcals, as well as highlighting a range of Chicago’s best burgers cooked by local chefs, and an afternoon of Oktoberfest style brews and bites. chicagogourmet.org
Open House Chicago
October 14th – 15th
Chicago is a city well known for its outstanding architecture, and this one of a kind free architecture festival takes participants inside the city’s most unique buildings, skyscrapers, and landmarks all over one weekend. The perfect opportunity to gain behind the scenes access and experience the rich history of the city through the unique architecture of Chicago’s neighbourhoods, Open House explores over 150 sites across 20 different neighbourhoods, covering themes of neighbourhood investment, community engagement, and historic preservation.
admission is free openhousechicago.org
