Festivals & special events, Music
Top summer music festivals in Chicago
Music lives large in Chicago, from our neighborhood streets and historic venues to downtown parks and our iconic lakefront. And Chicago’s iconic festival season brings…
Chicago music
Feel the beat of our non-stop nightlife.
Music, Nightlife
Explore Chicago blues
If you’re a blues fan, you need to add a trip to Chicago to our bucket list. No one sings the blues quite like Chicago,…
Music, Nightlife
Explore Chicago jazz
Chicago is home to a legendary jazz scene. You’ll find contemporary clubs giving the spotlight to surprising new sounds, a free downtown festival dedicated to…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago SummerDance
Free admission • Grant Park and parks citywide The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill levels together on open-air dance floors…
Festivals & special events, Music, Parks & outdoors
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Free admission • Millennium Park The Millennium Park Summer Music Series features free outdoor concerts, showcasing a wide range of established and emerging musicians in…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
June 11 — Aug. 16, 2025 Free admission • Millennium Park Experience a summer of extraordinary music with dozens of free classical concerts. The Grant…
Festivals & special events, Food & drink, Music
Windy City Smokeout
July 10 – 13, 2025 United Center parking lot Country music, barbecue, and craft beer — it’s hard to think of a better way to…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
World Music Festival Chicago
Free admission • Multiple locations The annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the globe. This free, city-wide festival features…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park Gospel music has deep roots in Chicago. The city helped transform the genre, propelling it onto the world stage. The…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s largest free blues festival. Each…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Jazz Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals boasts an incredibly diverse lineup, which includes free neighborhood concerts leading up…
Music, Nightlife
Your guide to Chicago house music
Chicago boasts a rich musical history and is famous for many sonic innovations including gospel music, drill, Chicago-style blues — and house music. Thanks to…
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