Cultural Events

If you've been seeking a dream vacation, few places on earth can match Chicago's Cultural Mile free summer festivals celebrating music and dance in the setting of Grant Park's beautiful gardens bordered by the azure Lake Michigan with its wafting breeze.

Every Wed. and Sat. evening there are lakeside fireworks that light the heavens in beautiful colors. For alternate enjoyment, within walking distance there are 6 museums, world famed Millennium Park and the world's largest, Shedd Aquarium with its huge Oceanarium of aquatic life.

Throughout the fall, winter and spring season and continuing into the summer there is a subscription series of concert classical music and dance. Whether it's Handel's Water Music performed by Music of the Baroque at the Harris Theater in Grant Park or Beethoven performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra from its home in Chicago Symphony Center. Or it may be one of the dozens of free performances at the Roosevelt University Auditorium Theatre or the weekly cultural events at the Chicago Cultural Center - you can hear a bit of everything along the sidewalks of the Cultural Mile.

The Cultural Mile rocks all summer with these free Cultural Events.

May: Chicago Gospel Music Festival - A celebration of the music of inspiration in Pritzker Pavilion.

June: Grant Park Music Festival - Holds 12 concerts throughout the summer featuring the award winning Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus in concert with visiting Maestros.

June: Chicago Summer Dance - From June thru August dance programs take place in Grant Park with lessons and dancing to all types of music.

June: Chicago Blues Festival - The largest free blues festival in the world takes place in Grant Park with numerous bands for your listening pleasure.

June: Taste of Chicago - All the culinary delights of Chicago's many cultures may be tasted here.

July: Outdoor Film Festival - Enjoy the open air screens in Grant Park as a five week viewing of selected films. Bring your own popcorn and blanket or chair.

July: Venetian Night Parade - This oldest event at 51 years features a parade of brightly illuminated decorated yachts along the lakefront followed by a fireworks display accompanied by an orchestra playing music. Requires early attendance for a seat on the shore

Aug: Lollapalooza - This wildly popular music festivals fill the air with contemporary music.

Aug: Chicago Air & Water Show - Thundering precision fighter planes and bombers dive to water level with a water show held along the lakefront

Aug: Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival - Meringue, salsa, tango for the Latin lovers.

Aug: Chicago Jazz Festival - Features the best of Chicago's long jazz music history.

Sept: Celtic Fest Chicago - Ten performance areas present music and entertainment from the shrill wail of the Irish fiddles to Scottish heavy athletics competition or learn traditional dance steps with live music at the Gathering Tent.

Sept: World Music Festival: Chicago - Showcases the best of international music in this multi-venue festival of traditional and contemporary music from many diverse cultures.