The 2008 Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park

Each year in June Grant Park plays host to around 750,000 people that travel from various areas to enjoy the Chicago Blues Festival! This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the world's largest free admission blues festival! The festival is sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Special Events, but has many commercial sponsors as well. This years line up will include over 100 performances that will be performed on 6 stages!

The opening night headliners will include guitarist Johnny Winter along with James Cotton on the harmonica. Duke Robillard, Red Holloway and Plas Johnson will perform a tribute to Louis Jordan on Thursday night!

Friday nights entertainment will include the legendary Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine. Other featured entertainers will include such blues greats as Eddie Clearwater, Otis Clay, Lonnie Brooks and Jimmy Johnson.

Buckwheat Zydeco will add some Cajun flavor when he headlines on Saturday night. He'll be joined by Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials. On the last night of the festival Charlie Love and Karen Carroll will headline.

Sunday nights blues entertainment will also feature the famous B.B. King. Other artists performing during this years festivities will include Pinetop Perkins, Little Arthur Duncan, Keith Frank and Tony Joe White!

This years four day festival will run from June 5 - 8, the fun will begin at 11:00 a.m. and last until 9:30 p.m. each day! As always admission to the Chicago Blues Festival and all concerts is totally free!

There will also be an endless bounty of great food, snacks and beverages. Over 65 of Chicago's most popular restaurants will feature food booths throughout Grant Park.

You can purchase beverage and food tickets that will be sold in strips of 12 for $8.00. These tickets can be used at various concession stands set up around Grant Park.

Parking won't be allowed on the grounds, but there's several parking garages nearby that are reasonably priced. Public transportation is also available from your home or motel. And, with the expected crowd the Mayor's Office is encouraging public transportation.

The festival will also feature all kinds of arts and crafts booths. There will also be stands selling tee-shirts and other memorabilia from the festival. The Chicago Blue's Festival has something for everyone of any age group.

You should pack a small bag to carry along with you. Some of the items you may want to have handy are an umbrella, sun screen, insect repellent and sunglasses. And, you'll definitely want to take a camera to get pictures of this exciting event!

You should also take a sweater or jacket in case it gets chilly, after all Chicago is the windy city! Folding chairs are also great if you'll be near your vehicle so you don't have to pack them around the whole time!

Don't take a cooler or ice chest, they're not allowed on festival grounds! They also don't allow any pets, but the family dog would be better off at home anyway!

If you're looking for a little after festival activities, check out the party at the Blues Heaven Foundation. Located at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, Hot Blues Nights will run for 3 days beginning on June 5.

The party will start at 9:00 p.m. and last until around 1:00 a.m. each night. Some of the artists will be the Nellie Travis Band, The Blues Experience, Honeyboy Edwards and David Jacobs. You can visit Dixon Landing Music.com for more information.

Advanced ticket pricing is $75 and general admission at the door is $35, the price includes 2 drinks and your choice of cd's. There are only around 115 tickets available for each night, so you'll want to be sure and try to purchase advanced tickets.

V.I.P. Pass tickets are priced at $125, but along with the 2 drinks and free CD you'll also get to meet the performers personally! They will also allow photographs and autographs!

Grant Park is located in Downtown Chicago at 300 South Columbus.

Be sure to mark your calendars so you won't miss this landmark celebration!

Sources:

http://blues.about.com/od/bluescruisesfestivals/a/ChiBlues08.htm

http://dixonlandingmusic.com/products-page/?category=2

http://chicagofests.com/bluesfest/tips.php