Photo Caption SCOOP INSIDE 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 more than 200 theatres. NIKE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS McCormick Place niketournamentof champions.com Join in the excitement of the NIKE Tournament of Champions, considered to be one of the most important interscholastic basketball events in the world. PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL Union Park pitchforkmusicfestival.com This summer fest features an eclectic range of bands, from indie rock to hip-hop and electronic. Local foods and art are part of the experience. TASTE OF CHICAGO Grant Park tasteofchicago.us Bites from some of the city’s best restaurants, along with concerts and cooking demos, make this 40th annual celebration one of summer’s can’t-miss fests. WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT United Center windycitysmokeout.com Savor smoky barbecue cooked by award-winning pitmasters, sip on ice-cold craft beer, and jam out to country superstars. AUGUST AVP GOLD SERIES – THE CHAMPIONSHIPS Oak Street Beach avp.com Pro beach volleyball players battle it out on the beach, with the two top-scoring teams earning an invite to the AVP Hawaii Invitational. BUD BILLIKEN PARADE Martin Luther King Dr., from 39th St. to 55th St. budbillikenparade.org Rousing drill teams, dance groups, and marching bands are highlights of the largest African American parade in the U.S. CHICAGO AIR & WATER SHOW North Avenue Beach chicagoairandwatershow.us See jaw-dropping aerial and water stunts performed by daredevil teams along Lake Michigan, between Oak Street and Fullerton Avenue. CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center & Neighborhood Venues chicagojazzfestival.us Programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, this free music festival showcases the greatest jazz artists from around the world. NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island northcoastfestival.com The glittering city skyline is the backdrop for this lakefront all-ages music and arts festival with a focus on electronic dance music. NORTHALSTED MARKET DAYS Boystown northalsted.com/ marketdays Chicago’s Boystown is host to the largest LGBTQ+ street fest in the Midwest, with live music, crafts, food and drink, DJs, dancing, and more. SEPTEMBER CHICAGO GOURMET Millennium Park chicagogourmet.org Chicago’s fall foodie gathering features celebrity chefs, cocktail and cooking demos, seminars, themed special events, and food and wine tastings. EXPO CHICAGO Navy Pier expochicago.com This annual exposition hosts more than 130 international contemporary art galleries, as well as panel discussions with leading art experts. REELING FILM FESTIVAL Citywide reelingfilmfestival.org The 38th annual film festival presents screenings of the best LGBTQ+ movies from around the world, including social documentaries and experimental shorts. WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL CHICAGO Citywide worldmusicfestival chicago.org Enjoy global grooves from around the world during this free annual festival. Don’t miss ¡Súbelo!, a celebration of Pan Latin music and culture at Millennium Park. OCTOBER ARTS IN THE DARK Grant Park artsinthedark.org This magical nighttime parade celebrates Halloween as the artist’s holiday, with unique floats, creative puppets, and music and dance performances. BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON Grant Park chicagomarathon.com One of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world features runners from more than 100 countries racing through 29 city neighborhoods. CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AMC River East 21 chicagofilmfestival.com This star-studded celebration of cinema includes screenings of award-winning films from around the world, as well as panels featuring actors and filmmakers. NASCAR WEEKEND Chicagoland Speedway chicagolandspeedway.com Get revved up for four days and nights of racing, watching both new drivers and skilled veterans zoom around the track. PRIDE IN THE PARK Grant Park prideintheparkchicago.com This downtown music festival features big-name talent, local eats and drinks, and a fabulous Pride-themed fireworks display. JULY CHOSEN FEW DJS PICNIC & MUSIC FESTIVAL Jackson Park chosenfewdjs.com More than 40,000 house music fans flock to this annual fest in Jackson Park that showcases some of the genre’s top DJs spinning dance hits. LOLLAPALOOZA Grant Park lollapalooza.com This sprawling music festival features more than 170 bands, from big-name performers to up-and-comers, along with food from popular local restaurants. Bank of America Chicago Marathon 11
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