The best Chicago summer festivals

For classical music lovers who enjoy taking in a show set beneath Chicago's skyline, the annual Grant Park Music Festival is perennial favorite summer event. This year's series of classical concerts runs from June 15–August 20 with performances ranging from world premiere works and performances of symphonies by Mozart, Haydn and Shostakovich to an evening of classic Broadway arrangements and the annual Independence Day salute. Take a look at the complete schedule of events below and find more information on the Grant Park Music Festival website:

June 15: Mozart Symphony No. 35
June 17, 18: Mendelssohn Reformation Symphony
June 22: Schubert Unfinished Symphony
June 24, 25: Shostakovich Symphony No. 11
June 29, July 1: Britten Spring Symphony
July 2: Independence Day Salute
July 6: Cirque Goes to Hollywood
July 8, 9: Lights on Broadway
July 13: Haydn Drum Roll Symphony
July 15, 16: Beethoven Eroica Symphony
July 20: Dvorak Symphony No. 8
July 22, 23: Rachmaniov Piano Concerto No. 2
July 27: A Gospel Jubilee
July 29, 30: Mahler Symphony No. 9 
Aug 3: A Mariachi Fiesta
Aug 4: 60th Anniversary Choral Spectacular 
Aug 5, 6: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 
Aug 10: Franck Symphony in D Minor
Aug 12, 13: Tetzlaff Plays Shostakovich
Aug 17: Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty 
Aug 19: Haydn Creation

Head to Pritzker Pavilion every Monday and Thursday from June 20–August 18 for the 10-part Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which showcases a wide range of music from both emerging and well-established performers. The series kicks off on June 20 with performances from Afrobeat saxophonist Femi Kuti (son of iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti) and Moroccan-born electronic artist HAT; throughout the rest of the summer, catch acts like Ukrainian folk-fusion quartet DakhaBrakha (July 18), Afro-Cuban artist Cimafunk (August 11) and none other than Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy (July 21), who will perform along with students from The People's Music School as opening act. 

Last summer's inaugural Sundays on State program—which shuts down a strip of State Street spanning from Madison to Lake Streets for activations, performances, food and shopping—brought thousands of visitors downtown to check out everything from outdoor dining and browsing opportunities to pop-up karaoke and barre fitness classes. The event returns on select Sundays this year by popular demand, expanding its footprint to cover State from Lake to Monroe. For a full schedule of vendors and events, check out Chicago Loop Alliance's website.

Head to North Center to dig into more than 50,000 pounds of ribs and BBQ across the streets of Lincoln, Damen and Irving Park. The annual celebration of saucy pork brings together more than 30 vendors, lounges where you can sit down to eat and live music to keep you entertained while you're digesting your second rack of ribs.

Humboldt Park transforms into an outdoor tapas bar during this boozy bash, which pairs bites from local restaurants—like 5411, Tapas Valencia and Azul Mariscos—with pitchers of red wine and chopped fruit. Lay our a blanket to sip sangria on the lawn, put color on a canvas at the festival's painting station or watch live salsa and Brazilian dance music.

Filling a notable void in the Chicago summer festival calendar, Ruido Fest is one of the only large-scale events in the city that champions the diverse sounds of Latin American pop, electro and rock en español. The fest is returning to Union Park this August and features performances from singer-songwriter Cuco, Argentine ska group Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and genre-defining West Coast hip-hop trio Cyprus Hill. 

Chicago's sole chalk festival returns to Rogers Park for the first time since 2019 this August, transforming Howard Street into a lovely, chalk art-covered canvas over the course of a single day. Head east of the Howard Red Line stop between Paulina and Ashland to tour 3-D chalk designs by artists like Amanda-lee Harris, Zach Herndon and Jessi Queen and try food from local vendors, or get in on the action yourself by purchasing a 4x4 square of sidewalk to design for $25—don't worry, chalk is included.

Enjoy the feta, tzatziki, roasted chicken and more signature Mediterranean flavors at this three-day festival in Greektown, where you'll find lots of tasty dishes cooked by some of the neighborhood's most beloved restaurants, like Artopolis Bakery, Cafe and Agora, Athena Restaurant and more. Stick around for performances from Greek and American bands!

Diehard fans of indie, soul, bluegrass and jam bands will descend upon SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this August for the inaugural Sacred Rose festival, a three-day, hippie-inspired music fest that's being billed as a "choose your own musical adventure" extravaganza. The festival's three stages will host a different genre-specific lineup over the course of each day, featuring acts like Phil Lesh & Friends, Khruangbin, The War on Drugs, Black Pumas, Umphrey's McGee and more. In addition to live music over the course of the weekend, Sacred Rose will also feature large-scale art installations, seven padded astroturf fields and an air-conditioned dome for comfortable viewing. 

The second annual ARC Music Festival is scheduled to take over Union Park during Labor Day weekend, celebrating Chicago's house music roots and welcoming an international lineup of dance music artists. Expanding from two days to three days this year, the fest features acts like British techno produce Carl Cox, Swedish DJ Adam Beyer and Chicago native Honey Dijon. Additional Chicago performers include local house music legends Derrick Carter and DJ Lady D. See shows at four stages spread throughout the park, enjoy food from local chefs and catch aftershows at venues like Radius and Prysm.