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Chicago residents have the following deal with the devil: in exchange for putting up with snow and cold in the winter months, we get great summer weather in which to enjoy a myriad of outdoor offerings and activities. Chief among these offerings are the various festivals, parades and events that occur all over the city. While Boi readers are most familiar with the Pride Parade and Northalsted Market Days (August 9-10), there are some other interesting events of note that are sure to peak your interest this summer. Big Celebrations,
Big Crowds -- The other big
events in the city this summer include Venetian Night
(July 28) along In the evenings every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 14 August 26) the very exciting Chicago SummerDance takes place at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. This 11-week participatory dance festival features a one-hour dance lesson by professional instructors that is followed by two hours of live music and dancing on a open-air dance floor. The unique outdoor urban dance experience will feature the sounds of 43 different bands playing popular, traditional and folkloric music throughout the summer. Neighborhood
Festivals -- One of the newest neighborhood festivals in the city, Celebrate Clark Street (July 14-15) occurs in Rogers Park between Morse and Touhy with 17 bands on two stages and over 100 vendors. On the same weekend the upscale Dearborn Garden Walk & Heritage Festival (July 15) takes place at the intersection of Dearborn & Goethe Streets. You need a ticket for this event ($30 in advance at www.dearborngardenwalk.com / $35 at the gate) in order to check out the 20 distinctive rear gardens, go on a narrated architectural walking tour of historic Dearborn Street, and to listen to live jazz and classical performances in select gardens. The World's
Largest Block Party (July 20-21) is a self-explanatory fundraising
Globetrotting
In The Windy City -- There are dozens
of other options to experience in Chicago throughout this summer.
Check out the mayor's Office of Special Events website at http://egov.cityofchicago.org/
for more details and info about the summer schedule. |
If a large crowd with plenty of folks
stuffing their faces with giant turkey legs is your cup of tea,
then the grand-daddy of all Chicago festivals The Taste
of Chicago (June 29 July 8) - is the one for you.
Held in Grant Park the Taste features more than 60 Chicago area
restaurants, the fireworks spectacular (June 3) and musical acts
such as John Mayer (July 4), Cheap Trick (July 7), Frankie Beverly
& Maze (June 29), Kenny Rogers (June 30), and Sara Evans
(July 1). Oh yeah, the turkey legs are being served at the Helen's
Restaurant booth.
Lake
Michigan between the Shedd Aquarium and the Chicago Yacht Club
and the Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach (August
18-19). The major music festival line-up at Grant Park features
the Country Music Festival (June 30 July1), Viva!
Chicago Latin Music Festival (August 25-26), and the Jazz
Festival (August 30 September 2). Finishing up Grant
Park's summer season is the fascinating Celtic Fest (September
15-16), with its focus on music from all of the seven Celtic
nations: Ireland; Scotland; Cornwall; Isle of Man; Wales; Galicia,
Spain; and Brittany, France. 
gathering at Old St. Pat's Church
in the West Loop at the intersection of Adams & Des Plaines.
As cruisy for straights as Markey Days is for gays, the Block
Party has brought many a couple together amidst great food and
music. If you can't find a human mate at the Block Party then
Let's Pet Together (July 22) may be a better option.
Held on Anti-Cruelty Society's Rooftop at 157 W. Grand, this
is THE summer social event for all animal lovers with food, refreshments,
and entertainment. 
July
1) at 2400 N. Racine; Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival
(July 21-22) in Lincoln Park at Webster & Sheffield; Fiesta
del Sol (July 26-29) in Pilsen between 1000 and 1400 W. Cermak
Road; Bucktown Arts Fest (August 25-26) on Oakley Ave.
at Lyndale; and Whole Foods Flavorfest (August 25- 26)
at Jonquil Park in Lincoln Park. As one might expect, the food
at this fest will feature delicious, all-natural foods and products.