Guide to Chicago Festivals

Chicago hosts a variety of festivals year round that drives thousands of Chicagoans and visitors to venues throughout the city. Most of the festivals take place during the summer, some of the festivals are so popular that Chicago is forced to shut down parts of downtown to street traffic, and others are still largely undiscovered.

In truth, Chicago just likes any excuse to get together and celebrate--and we do it well. The following is a guide to the best festivals hosted by Chicago, make sure you plan to attend at least one this year.

Chicago Blues Festival
Staged in Grant Park, the Chicago's Blues Festival is a three day long event featuring the best performers the nation has to offer. Held annually during the first week of June, the festival's free concerts with over 70 performers is reason enough to park yourself on the grass in the park. Make sure you arrive early to claim a spot and take advantage of the city's public transportation because parking around the area is extremely limited.

Taste of Chicago Festival
This is the Chicago's biggest festival and it continues to grow every year. Held the week leading up to the Fourth of July, the idea behind the festival is to literally give everyone a little taste of Chicago. Restaurants from all over the city set up food tents in Grant Park and serve their specialties to the masses, be on the lookout for Eli's cheesecake, Chicago Style Pizza, and a whole lot of grease.

I recommend waiting till early evening when the crowd thins out, the temeprature drops, the musical quality improves and on the final night you are in the perfect spot to view the firework show.

Chicago Outdoor Film Festival
For a little over a month in the summer Grant Park becomes the biggest movie theater in Chicago. Every Tuesday a different classic film is showed on a giant screen for the masses that fill the lawn. Again, arriving early is a must since lawn space is limited and families and groups are out staking their patch of grass with blankets and lawn chairs.

A note to couples: This is a great date idea and its absolutely free so you can splurge on dinner after.

Chicago Air and Water Show
The Chicago Air and Water Show packs the crowds onto the beaches lining Lake Michigan and the entire area surrounding the lakeshore. During the final weekend of August North Avenue beach is the stage for a water show featuring motorboats, emergency response teams, and jet skis. The best part of the show takes place in the sky. Acrobatic planes, military jets, and the Blue Angels show off their moves and impress the crowd.

Some tips to keep you sane: Its summer and pretty hot, so make sure you prepare for heat and sun exposure. Parking is non-existent during the weekend so take public transportation into the city. Plan on attending for the entire day since the show runs into the afternoon and you can sit in traffic for hours after without moving. My advice is to attend and then find somewhere nearby to enjoy a meal, by the time you are done traffic should be crawling--pedestrian traffic included.

Tall Ships Chicago
The Tall Ships Festival is held at the end of July but not annually. Around thirty tall ships sail to Chicago from all over the world and dock along the Chicago River or on Navy Pier. The festival itself is free to the public but if you want the chance to board the ships you must purchase a wristband that will give you access to every ship in the event. Every festival is different, new boats are added or cannot make it every year and with crew changes on each boat a constant factor you never know who you will meet or learn from. This is a great family event and the perfect time to sail Chicago's very own tall ships, Windy and Windy II on Lake Michigan.

Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival
The performers that Viva! attracts every year continues to amaze me, big name performers are added to the list every year. Just about every genre of Latin music is represented in the Chicago Latin Music Festival which is held in Grant park during the third weekend in August. If you arrive during the day free dance lessons are held by some of the best dance instructors in the city and even when there are no informal lessons being taught there are even more informal dance lessons taking place all over the park. How can you not dance?

Chicago Jazz Fest
Immediately following Viva! is the Chicago Jazz Fest so don't get comfortable, there is still plenty of dancing to be done. The Jazz Fest is one of Chicago's veteran festivals and has a huge following in terms of performance and attendees. Grant Park is the stage, and the show is ALWAYS good.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Held in November the Mag Mile Lights Festival is Chicago's time to shine! If you need help getting in the Holiday Spirit stand outside in Chicago for about an hour. It will be well worth it when Santa and his parade come strolling down Michigan Avenue and Water Tower lights up. No matter how old you are you will feel the magic.

If you made it through the list you can appreciate the variety. Chicago knows how to have fun and the only thing to do now if find out ways to have more. The list of festivals hosted by Chicago grows every year and the existing ones get bigger and better every year.