
Festivals & special events, Food & drink
Chicago’s James Beard Award winners
Chicago is proud to be home to over 50 James Beard Awards winners, honoring the very best of Chicago’s acclaimed dining scene. Throughout the years,…


Chicago is proud to be home to over 50 James Beard Awards winners, honoring the very best of Chicago’s acclaimed dining scene. Throughout the years,…

The Fourth of July is one of the best times to experience summer in Chicago. And since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year,…

Sept. 3 – 6, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals, the Chicago Jazz Festival boasts an incredibly…

Aug. 27 – 30, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond The Chicago House Music Festival is an annual celebration of Chicago house music…

July 8 – 12, 2026 Free admission • Grant Park The 46th annual Taste of Chicago is bringing some of the city’s most iconic bites…

Get a taste of Chicago’s award-winning dining scene at the city’s packed schedule of food festivals, featuring everything from barbecue to international cuisine to Chicago-style…

June 4 – 7, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s…

Round out summer in Chicago with a long weekend of outdoor fun, waterfront sightseeing, and unique local festivals and events. Bucket list: Labor Day weekend…

The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city’s most popular attractions and the cultural heart of the downtown Loop neighborhood. Known as “The People’s…

Select Mondays and Thursdays, June 15 – Aug. 6, 2026 Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free admission • Millennium Park The Millennium Park Summer Music…

Sept. 24 – 27, 2026 Millennium Park Welcome to Chicago Gourmet, one of the country’s most distinguished food festivals. Each year, Chicago Gourmet celebrates the…

Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of summer in Chicago — and the city knows how to celebrate. Each year, Chicago comes to life…


