Chicago Events

As one would expect with a big, modern city like Chicago, it has a thriving cultural life to offer and there are annual Chicago events to suit everyone. There is particular attention paid to musical events of different genres. The major venue in the city is Grant Park and events there are normally free of admission. The Chicago Gospel Music Festival takes place here in June. There are free concerts as part of the Grant Park Music Festival, which runs from the end of June to the end of August. Entertainment is provided by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. Country lovers have their own celebration at the Country Music Festival, held in July.

Jazz fans too support the Jazz Festival, held over Labor Day weekend. This has been running over twenty years and showcases different types of jazz performed by both local and nationally known acts. Latin music fans are not forgotten and the Viva! Latin Music Festival gets everyone doing the salsa. This event is organized in either August or September, depending on the scheduling of other Chicago events in the year.  It's not just music at Grant Park on the calendar of Chicago events, there is the Taste of Chicago gathering, when over 100 restaurants display their food in the run up to Independence Day. There is an entrance fee for this event, which includes entertainment.

Every city worth its salt these days has its own film festival and Chicago events include this too. The Chicago International Film Festival, held in March on the Gold Coast, is well respected and gives non-mainstream filmmakers the opportunity to show their films to the public. The Festival includes a Children's Film Festival too.

The city is proud of its seafaring history and this is celebrated at Venetian Night, taking place in July at the Navy Pier. Boat owners decorate their vessels and sail along Lake Michigan, which is strewn with festive lights for the occasion. There is a prize for the best boat and then a fireworks display. In August, there is the Chicago Air and Water Show, one of the most popular Chicago events. This is a free of charge exhibition with the Water Show in the morning followed by the Air Show in the afternoon. Aerobatic display teams loop the loop over Lake Michigan.

November is the month for art lovers, when SOFA Chicago takes place at the Navy Pier Festival Hall. It is an international exhibition involving hundreds of artists, specializing in sculpture and other objects.