Chicago Events

March

St. Patricks Day Celebration

Grab your green sweatshirt, paint your face with shamrocks and head down to this green extravaganza featuring a pleasing parade, the dyed emerald green Chicago River and the Parade Queen Contest.

June

Grant Park Music Festival

The Grant Park Music Festival, held in Millennium Park, showcases the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The festival features nearly three-dozen concerts in Grant Park between June and August, and another 60 concerts take place in neighborhood parks during July and August.

Taste of Chicago

This annual festival features more than 60 local eateries providing tasty samples of their menus including ethnic food, family favorites, exotic treats, Chicago specialties, and more. A gourmet-dining pavilion, musical entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and a children's entertainment area. Each day a different musical genre is featured in-concert as well.

July

Irish American Heritage Festival

The Luck of the Irish is in full force with artisans selling Irish clothing, music and jewelry, local and international performances, demonstrations of Irish instruments, dances and sing-a-longs as well as the Hooley Happy Hour, matchmaking and dancing, a Mashed Potato Eating Contest and the Irish-American Idol Contest. Three days of music on 5 stages keep attendees tapping their toes.

Chicago Folk & Roots Festival

Celebrate cultural harmony at its finest with folk, Cajun, Gypsy, jazz, country, blues, Latin West African, Afrobeat, bluegrass and children's music as well as many hands-on adventures for children in the Kids' Tent. The fest is held at Welles Park.

August

Ginza Festival

The Waza, master craftsmen, visit from Japan to demonstrate their skills and share their creations. The event showcases the cultural heritage of those who founded the Midwest Buddhist Temple with traditional Japanese art forms, crafts cuisine and performances. The fest is held the second weekend in August in historic Old Town Chicago.

Chicago Air and Water Show

The Chicago Air and Water Show features daredevil pilots performing heart-stopping maneuvers and displays, military and civilian acts, breathtaking skydivers, and the Shell Extreme Water Show, where participants compete for the best wipeout and the coolest moves. The show is held at North Avenue Beach.

September

Chicago Jazz Festival

Jazz, jazz and more jazz. This free event has become one of the most popular jazz festivals in the country, featuring nationally known acts including Grammy Award-winner jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Head to Grant Park for this musical event.

German American Fest & Parade

The German American Fest offers a great parade, traditional cultural programs, singing and dancing for your pleasure. You can enjoy authentic  food and beverages as well.

Oktoberfest

Chicago keeps the tradition alive with a beer garden, Um-Pah bands, pop and rock bands, KindeFest activities for kids and homemade brats for you! The event is held in and outside of St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago's West Lakeview neighborhood.

November

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Not in the Holiday spirit? This is sure to charge your imagination and fill you with Christmas spirit with more than a million brilliant twinkling lights, stage performances by characters for children, cheesecake decorating, a petting zoo and carolers.

McDonalds Thanksgiving Parade

This parade features giant helium balloons, fabulous floats, award-winning marching bands, talented equestrian units, unique performance groups and local and national celebrates. You can attend the parade Thanksgiving Day on State Street.

December

New Years Eve Fireworks

Head to Navy Pier for great fireworks shows on Lake Michigan, one show at midnight and the other earlier and great for families.