Summer is Coming...

Millennium Park Self-Guided Enhanced Audio Tour

Chicago's Millennium Park is an unparalleled center for art, music, architecture and landscape design.

Now you can explore the 24.5 acre Park with its creators as your guide, including architect Frank Gehry, and artists Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa. Discover how and why Millennium Park was built. Learn the secrets that lie beneath the Park floor, and hear the reasons why Millennium Park is one of the world's most spectacular new public spaces.

With the Millennium Park self-guided audio tour, you can go at your own pace and enjoy in any order you choose.

Arab American Festival

June 25-28, 2008
Daley Plaza (50 West Washington)
Time TBD
Free Admission

Asian American Festival

May 19-23, 2008
Daley Plaza (50 West Washington Street)
10am-5pm
Free Admission

Bodies of Work: The Chicago Festival of Disability Arts and Culture

Taking place April 20-30, 2006, Bodies of Work was Chicago's first-ever festival showcasing disability artists and their work. This dynamic citywide festival featured 74 exhibitions, performances and educational programs in 23 Chicago-area venues, which explored disability issues and showcased the work of artists with disabilities

The festival included the work of hundreds of artists, both professionals from the Chicago area and beyond, as well as local non-professional artists. Bodies of Work brought together, for the first time, more than 50 arts, educational, health care and social service organizations that are dedicated to the recognition of disability arts.

Future presentations of Bodies of Work are currently under consideration. Please check the Bodies of Work site for updates.

The 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show!

Three Days of Daredevil Thirlls along the Lakefront
August 15, 16 & 17

The 2008 Chicago Air and Water Show celebrates 50 years with three days of daredevil thrills in the air and on the water at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago's magnificent lakefront August 15, 16 & 17. Over the years, the show has become a summer tradition featuring aviation's top military and civilian pilots. The 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago promises to be like no other for the first time there will be a Friday night show and evening concert at North Avenue Beach.

25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 5-8, 2008

Mark your calendars as the summer of 2008 will be one filled of music not to be missed. The City of Chicago announces a landmark celebration for the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 5-8, 2008. Sweet Home Chicago has never been better, as the Chicago Blues Festival takes over Grant Park June 5-8, 2008. The largest free admission Blues festival in the world, the four-day festival offers the best in national, international and local Blues entertainment on six stages with more than 70 performances, preceded by a month of Blues activities (Blues Season) throughout Chicago. In commemoration of the 25th Annual event, the festival not only will feature a quarter of a century of the blues festival highlights but also celebrate the centennials of Louis Jordan, Tommy McLennan, and Blind John Davis. The Chicago Blues Festival is presented by the Mayor's Office of Special Events with generous sponsors to be announced. For more information, call 312/744-3315.

Countdown Begins For Inaugural Chicago Criterium!

Sunday, July 27, In Grant Park

Cycling fans: get ready for Chicago-style pro-am racing! Mayor Richard M. Daley welcomes cycling's elite to Grant Park on Chicago's beautiful lakefront for the city's inaugural Chicago Criterium on Sunday, July 27. Racing will begin at 7:00 a.m. and continue through the day. The total prize money is $40,000 with $25,000 of that marked for the Pro Category 1& 2 race, the final race of the day starting at 2:25 p.m.

24th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival

Celebrating the Best of Gospels Music's Past Present and Future
May 30 - June 1 in Millennium Park

Gospel music fans rejoice! The 24th Annual Gospel Music Festival welcomes Grammy®, Stellar and Dove award winners The Clark Sisters, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, The Rance Allen Group, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and many more to Millennium Park May 30- June 1. The three day festival includes more than ninety performers on three stages; The Jay Pritzker Pavillion, the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Gospel Youth Tent on the North Promenade and the Walgreens Day Stage on the South Promenade.

Check out the schedule here.

Chicago Commemorates 30th Annual Jazz Festival

With Headliners Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman
August 28-31, 2008

30 never looked so good! The Chicago Jazz Festival, the city of Chicago's longest running music festival, announces headliners Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman for the 30th Annual event, August 28-31, 2008. What was born from concerts to remember jazz greats Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, has turned into an annual celebration of jazz music that is not to be missed. This Labor Day weekend tradition begins with a free evening concert at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion on August 28, and then moves to Grant Park for three days of free music, August 29-31.

	Chicago Outdoor Film Festival
	July 15-Aug 26, 2008(Tuesday Nights) Butler Field in Grant Park at Lake Shore Drive and Monroe Free

Chicagoween 2008

Chicagoween is a City-Wide Celebration of Halloween during the month of October, involving the Park District, Museums, Navy Pier, the Chicago Cultural Center, and other organizations.

Daley Plaza (Washington and Dearborn Streets), hosts the Haunted Village and is transformed into Pumpkin Plaza, with pumpkin decorating, spooky storytellers and more to thrill and chill. Each day there are performances from the high flying aerial entertainers, Midnight Circus: 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday includes evening shows scheduled at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free pumpkin decorating is offered Saturdays and Sundays (except for parade day, Saturday, October 20) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last).

Haunted Village, located at Pumpkin (Daley) Plaza, October 17-31, 2007. Opening night, (October 17) kicks-off at 5 p.m. with two performances from Midnight Circus. The Haunted Village continues through Halloween with hours of Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please note: Extended hours for Friday, October 31 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is FREE.

Taste of Chicago Announces Its Partial Line Up of Entertainment

It's been 20 years since Stevie Wonder last played Taste of Chicago, but he's returning this year to the event's opening weekend. Taste of Chicago, the free admission food and entertainment festival is June 27-July 6 in Chicago's Grant Park.

The confirmed line-up thus far includes:

June 27 Chaka Kahn
June 28 Stevie Wonder
June 29 Plain White T's
June 30 Broadway in Chicago
July 1 Joss Stone
July 2 Fantasia
July 3 Grant Park Orchestra

For more information, click here.

Venetian Night

51st Annual Venetian Night
Saturday, July 26, 2008

7:45pm - Dramatic re-enactment of air/sea rescue
8:25pm - Lima Lima (out of Naperville) flyover
8:30pm - Boat Parade
9:30pm - Fireworks

Approximately 35 boats will be decorated with lights and props as they sail along beautiful Lake Michigan, between the Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Road and the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Street. People of all ages stake out spots along the lakefront as early as 9 a.m. to ensure a good view of the event. With an expected attendance of 675,000, public transportation, walking or biking to Venetian Night is suggested.

Venetian Night is the longest running event that the City of Chicago produces, and was once a multiple day event that featured a beauty pageant and parade on State Street in addition to the lighted boat parade and fireworks show on the waterfront.

12th Annual Chicago SummerDance
June 12 - August 24, 2008

Chicago SummerDance is an eleven-week festival featuring one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors, followed by two hours of live music and dancing on a 4,600 square foot, open-air, recycled dance floor in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave. SummerDance events occur every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, 6 to 9:30 pm, and Sunday afternoon, 4 to 7 pm, weather-permitting. Chicago SummerDance is formatted into themes featuring world music ensembles on Thursdays; "popular nights" including jazz, Latin, country and funk on Fridays and Saturdays; and ballroom/big band on Sundays. For more information, call the Chicago SummerDance Hotline at 312.742.4007 or visit www.ChicagoSummerDance.org. Admission is free and open to the public.

Peruvian Festival

July 23-25, 2008
Daley Plaza (50 West Washington Street)
10am-5pm

Free Admission

Where the World meets Chicago!

Under the Picasso at Daley Plaza features lunchtime performances, ethnic festivals, holiday celebrations, farmers markets and more. All located on Daley Plaza (Washington & Dearborn Streets).

¡Viva! Chicago Latin Music Fest! August 23-24 in Grant Park

¡Que Caliente!

The ¡Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, presented by The City of Chicago and Best Buy, kicks off Saturday August 23-24 in Grant Park. Celebrating its 20th year, the festival features cutting edge performances by Latin music superstars from all over the world. The festival features dozens of performances that include the genres cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, tango, bachata, banda and Spanish Pop!

The Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival is considered one of the largest Latin music festivals in the Midwest and the festival entertains both residents and visitors alike. Viva celebrates Chicago's diversity through music, food, dance, art, and last year 180,000 people attended the festival. Saturday hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 to 8 p.m. (hours are subject to change).

Thanks for joining us... World Music Festival returns September 19 ‑ 25, 2008

Thank you to all who joined us this year. Our city-wide World Music Festival: Chicago 2007 ended on Thursday, September 20th. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago Office of Tourism, this past festival featured more than 63 events (some free, some ticketed) and showcased 50 artists representing 30 countries at 23 venues, which included 11 live radio broadcasts and 7 in-store performances in museums, parks, cultural centers, plazas, theaters, bookstores, clubs and other venues throughout Chicago.

Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival

Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites to take place May 3 and October 4 in 2008!

Lets go fly a kite at Mayor Daley's Kids & Kites Festival! The dates for 2008 have been announced-- Saturday, May 3 on the front lawn of the Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive and Saturday, October 4th at Montrose Harbor in Lincoln Park. Both events take place from 10 am to 3 pm. The entire family is invited to to find out who in the family can fly their kite "up to the highest height, and send it soaring."

If the kids don't have a kite let alone know how to fly one, don't worry. The Mayor's Office of Special Events will provide free kits for children to design and create their own kite. Kite flying professionals will be coming out to demonstrate exactly how it is done, and help you master your kite flying skills.

While the kites are flying high, there will be plenty of family fun here on the ground with storytelling, face painting, and much, much more.

Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival is programmed and produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Please visit us closer to the event for more information.