CHICAGO — Good news for anyone looking forward to warmer days and Chicago’s fun summer season: On Thursday Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events released its list of summer festivals and other events.
Last year, the Chicago Gospel Music Festival kicked off the season on June 1, followed by the Chicago Blues Festival the next week. This year, Blues Fest will be the first major event of the summer, running June 5-8, with performances Downtown and at Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre. Gospel Fest has been moved to July.
Taste of Chicago will continue to hold a few satellite neighborhood events — this year in Marquette Park, Pullman Park and Albany Park — in addition to its main event Downtown.
The crowd at the Chicago House Music Festival. Credit: Walter S. Mitchell/City of Chicago
Here are the official DCASE-produced festival dates for your summer calendar:
- Chicago Blues Festival (Ramova Theatre, Jay Pritzker Pavilion and throughout Millennium Park) June 5-8
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival (Jay Pritzker Pavilion) July 12
- Chicago SummerDance (Citywide, including pop-ups and special events) select dates TBA June–September
- Chicago Air and Water Show (North Avenue Beach & Lakefront) Aug. 16-17
- Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, Spirit of Music Garden and Riverwalk) Aug. 22-23
- Chicago Jazz Festival (Citywide including the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park) Aug. 28-31
- Taste of Chicago (Grant Park) Sept. 5-7 There will also be three additional neighborhood Taste events in Marquette Park (June 28), Pullman Park (July 19) and Albany Park (Aug. 9).
- World Music Festival Chicago (Citywide including the Chicago Cultural Center) Sept. 26-Oct. 5
Other upcoming summer events include citywide farmers markets, including the one at Daley Plaza; Millennium Park Summer Workouts on the Great Lawn Saturdays; and Millennium Park’s Summer Music Series and Film Series.
Full event details and updates are available on the DCASE website.
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