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Check out just a sampling of Chicago’s diverse year-round happenings, from colorful cultural celebrations to lively music and food fests. Go to choosechicago.com/events or simply use your phone’s camera and scan the QR code for a complete, up-to-date events calendar. WINTER NEW YEAR’S EVE December 31 | Navy Pier and citywide choosechicago.com/events Start the new year with an astounding lakefront fireworks display and celebrations throughout the city. CHINESE NEW YEAR January 30 – February 13 | Citywide choosechicago.com/chicago-chinese-new-year This cultural showcase includes culinary events, a colorful parade that rolls through the heart of Chinatown, and performances from Chinese music and dance groups. CHICAGO AUTO SHOW February 12 – 21 | McCormick Place chicagoautoshow.com The nation’s largest and longest-running auto show features debut vehicles, concept cars, interactive exhibits, and more. CHICAGO THEATRE WEEK February 17 – 27 | Citywide chicagotheatreweek.com Experience the thrill of Chicago’s vibrant theatre scene with half-price tickets to the city’s hottest shows. Events subject to change. CHICAGO SPORTS March – November CHICAGO FIRE Soldier Field chicago-fire.com Head to the lakefront Soldier Field to see a fast-paced match played by the Chicago Fire Football Club, winner of the MLS Cup in its very first season. April – September CHICAGO CUBS Wrigley Field cubs.com Watch the Chicago Cubs play at historic Wrigley Field, whether you’re in the sunny bleachers or perched on the rooftops with a bird’s-eye view. April – September CHICAGO WHITE SOX Guaranteed Rate Field whitesox.com Catch a White Sox game at the team’s modern stadium in Bridgeport, and prepare to be awed by the booming home run fireworks. SPRING CHICAGO ST. PATRICK’S DAY March | Loop chicagostpatricksdayparade.org One of the world’s most famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Chicago’s downtown parade and green river dyeing are bucket list events. CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK March 25 – April 10 | Citywide eatitupchicago.com The best time of year to experience Chicago’s acclaimed dining scene, Chicago Restaurant Week features special prix fixe menus at hundreds of local restaurants. EXPO CHICAGO April 7 – 10 | Navy Pier expochicago.com This international exposition of contemporary and modern art brings galleries and artists from around the globe to Navy Pier. CHICAGO GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL May | Millennium Park chicagogospelmusicfestival.us Hear everything from traditional choirs to contemporary gospel groups at this free outdoor festival under the stunning Pritzker Pavilion April – September CHICAGO RED STARS SeatGeek Stadium chicagoredstars.com See soccer action in Bridgeview by the acclaimed Red Stars team, a prominent player in the National Women’s Soccer League. May – September CHICAGO SKY Wintrust Arena sky.wnba.com Join in fun on-court experiences and watch the WNBA Champion Chicago Sky team compete in the South Loop. August – December CHICAGO BEARS Soldier Field chicagobears.com Get ready to hear the rowdy crowd enthusiastically sing the anthemic Bear Down, Chicago Bears every time the team makes a touchdown. October – April CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS United Center blackhawks.com Arrive early for the pregame skate, and keep an eye out for mascot Tommy Hawk, who wildly dances to Chelsea Dagger every time the Blackhawks score. October – April CHICAGO BULLS United Center bulls.com See the Bulls shoot hoops at the United Center, and snap a selfie with the statue of basketball superstar Michael Jordan. SUMMER CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL June | Millennium Park chicagobluesfestival.us A genre with deep Chicago roots, blues is the star of this outdoor summer festival that attracts some of the music industry’s biggest names. CHICAGO PRIDE FEST & PARADE June | Northalsted chicagopride.gopride.com This joyful celebration of LGBTQ+ community and culture takes place in the nation’s oldest official gay neighborhood. JAMES BEARD AWARDS GALA June 13 | Lyric Opera jamesbeard.org/awards The biggest stars of the food world gather in Chicago for this prestigious culinary awards ceremony. TASTE OF CHICAGO July | Grant Park tasteofchicago.us Get a taste of the diversity of Chicago’s culinary scene during one of the country’s largest free-admission food festivals. LOLLAPALOOZA July 28 – 31 | Grant Park lollapalooza.com This iconic music festival takes over lakefront Grant Park with local talent and top acts from around the world. FIESTA DEL SOL July – August | Pilsen fiestadelsol.org This family-friendly festival has been celebrating Mexican culture and music in the Pilsen neighborhood for 50 years. CHINATOWN SUMMER FAIR July – August | Chinatown ccc-foundation.org/summer-fair Celebrate summer in the historic Chinatown neighborhood with cultural demonstrations, traditional dances, and food from local restaurants. MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES August – September Millennium Park choosechicago.com/events Catch a free concert under the stars, featuring local talent and national acts. CHICAGO AIR AND WATER SHOW August | Lakefront chicago.gov This lakefront display is one of the largest free events of its kind, with astonishing aerial and lakefront demonstrations. BUD BILLIKEN PARADE August | Washington Park budbillikenparade.org The largest African American parade in the country, this exuberant procession of bands, floats, and student performers has been taking place since 1929. WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT August 4 – 7 | United Center windycitysmokeout.com It’s all about beer, barbecue, and country music at this laidback summer festival. FALL CHICAGO GOURMET September | Millennium Park chicagogourmet.org This high-end food festival features elevated tastings, live cooking demos, and intimate dinners with the country’s best chefs. LITTLE VILLAGE FESTIVAL September | Little Village littlevillagechamber.org/membership/events An annual celebration of Hispanic community and culture, this festival marks Mexican Independence Day with food, music, carnival rides, and a parade. DESTINOS: CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL LATINO THEATER FESTIVAL September – October Citywide clata.org/destinos Discover emerging voices in the local Latino theatre community during this multifaceted festival. BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON October | Citywide chicagomarathon.com Runners from around the world gather for this major marathon that travels through 29 unique neighborhoods. OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO October | Citywide openhousechicago.org This one-of-a-kind free architecture festival offers an intimate look inside the city’s most unique buildings, skyscrapers, and landmarks. ARTS IN THE DARK October | State Street artsinthedark.com This whimsical evening parade celebrates Halloween as the artist’s holiday, with creative puppets, floats, and performances. DAY OF THE DEAD XICÁGO October | National Museum of Mexican Art nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org The National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen hosts this cultural celebration, alongside an annual exhibit featuring traditional altars. BMO HARRIS BANK MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL November The Magnificent Mile themagnificentmile.com/lights-festival A beloved holiday tradition, this spectacular event includes a parade and the official lighting of the trees along iconic Michigan Avenue. CHRISTKINDLMARKET November – December Daley Plaza christkindlmarket.com Feel the magic at this annual outdoor holiday market modeled after traditional German Christmas markets. Keep current on all things Chicago by subscribing to our free newsletter at choosechicago.com/newsletter. Get the scoop → THEATRE chicagoplays.com features upcoming shows for more than 200 theatres, all in one handy calendar. → DANCE seechicagodance.com is a comprehensive source for dance performances and events. → TICKETS hottix.org offers half-price, last-minute tickets for hundreds of theatres around the city. MUST-SEE MUSEUM EXHIBITS THE MARCH Ongoing DuSable Museum of African American History | dusablemuseum.org This virtual reality exhibit recreates one of the most iconic moments in American history, the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. JURASSIC OCEANS: MONSTERS OF THE DEEP February 25 – September 5 Field Museum | fieldmuseum.org Experience an immersive underwater environment that transports visitors back 200 million years to when fierce prehistoric predators ruled the sea. FRIDA KAHLO, HER PHOTOS April 1 – August 7 National Museum of Mexican Art nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org Taken from the artist’s personal archives, this exhibit portrays an intimate history of Frida Kahlo, captured by famed photographers. NICK CAVE: FOROTHERMORE May 14 – October 2 Museum of Contemporary Art mcachicago.org The first career-spanning exhibition of renowned Chicago artist Nick Cave features Spinner Forest, a mesmerizing, site-specific installation. CEZANNE May 15 – September 5 Art Institute of Chicago artic.edu/cezanne The first major retrospective of Cezanne’s work in more than 70 years showcases stunning oil paintings, as well as watercolors and drawings. THEATRE & PERFORMING ARTS PICKS KING JAMES Steppenwolf Theatre Company March 3 – April 10 steppenwolf.org Basketball star LeBron James symbolizes the hopes and dreams of two unlikely friends in Cleveland, Ohio. GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR Goodman Theatre March 12 – April 17 goodmantheatre.org Will & Grace star Sean Hayes plays irrepressible guest Oscar Levant on the late-night Jack Paar talk show in 1958. SIX Broadway In Chicago March 29 – July 3 broadwayinchicago.com/show/six From Tudor queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities. LOOKINGGLASS ALICE Lookingglass Theatre Company May 12 – August 21 lookingglasstheatre.org This circus-infused adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories takes audiences down the rabbit hole. CULLUD WATTAH Victory Gardens Theater June 11 – July 17 victorygardens.org/event/cullud-wattah Three generations of Black women fight to endure the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. → Scan here for the latest Chicago events calendar.
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