Summer Festivals in Chicago

Summer Festivals in Chicago

The free parties get started the last weekend in May. Mayfest Chicago is the region’s annual German festival, so you know what that means. Get ready for lots of loud music, plates of Wiener schnitzel and other heavy foods, plus an offering of the finest brews the Germans have to offer. For more culture, try the many foreign fests in August: Armenian, Croatian, Korean, Belize, and Greek!

On June 5-6, visit the family-friendly 57th Street Art Fair, the Midwest’s oldest juried art show. The displays are everything from glass to printmaking to ceramics to jewelry to fiber and more. There is plenty of opportunity to entertain the kids at this alcohol-free event, whether its hands-on, kid-friendly crafts or the many nearby parks. For more artsy fun from July 14- August 25, watch a movie with your family in Hyde Park for absolutely free each Tuesday night. Watch the classics under the stars.

Of course, just one week later you have the largest outdoor blues festival in the world, the 26th Annual Chicago Blues Festival. There are many stages with all of the modern legends helping you soak up that summer sun. If you’re into down-home music, visit the Chicago Ribs’n’Soul Festival from August 14-16. Speaking of ribs, you do not want to miss the world-famous Taste of Chicago on August 29-30.