Chicago events

Annual Hyde Park Events

57th Street Art Fair
We invite you to visit the 57th Street Art Fair in June. More than 500 artists exhibit their works of art at the oldest outdoors juried art fair in Chicago.

Boulevard Lakefront Tour
Each June, more than 5,000 people take a bike tour of the wonderful Chicago. The tour starts on the Midway Plaisance and finishes at the same place.

4th on 53rd Parade
On the 4th of July, Chicagoans go out on the streets and form an amazing parade. They pass through Hyde Park and stop in Nicholas Park. Come and join them.

57th Street Children's Book Fair
Children who love books are invited to enter the world of their heroes at Children's Book Fair, each September.

Chicago Half Marathon
Also held in September, the Chicago Half Marathon invites you to a 13.1-mile run. The marathon starts and finishes in front of the Museum of Science and Industry. Almost 6,000 people take part in the marathon.

World Music Festival Chicago
The fall festival invites all music lovers to live an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss it.

Thanksgiving Community Service
Hyde Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council and the Rockefeller Chapel created a special program to help children.

January

Winter Celebration in Lights
Winter in Chicago was never that beautiful. Come and enjoy the greatest winter of your life in the Elizabeth Mores Genus Children’s Garden.

February

Around the Coyote Winter Festival
The Wicker Park and the Bucktown neighborhood house valuable works of art belonging to over 400 artists. The Coyote Winter Festival takes place during the first week of February and is sponsored by local artists.

Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Are you an inventor? And if you aren’t, do you wish to become one? The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, taking place on the Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, gives you the chance to build a machine that can complete several tasks.

Auto Show
(312) 791-7000
The Auto Show is one of the oldest and most interesting expos of contemporary cars in the United States. You may visit the Auto Show for two weeks at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lakeshore Drive.

March

Chicago Bike Show
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Avenue
There’s no better place to look for the bike you always wanted. The annual Chicago Bike Show, gathering both bike clubs and bike manufactures is held at the end of March.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
On St. Patrick’s Day, the Chicago River turns green. And is has been so for the past 40 years. The parade starts at noon on Dearborn Street and you are invited to join us.

Golf Around Chicago
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Avenue
(312) 595-7437
If you love golf, then you’ll live a great experience at Golf Around Chicago. Each hole represents a Chicago landmark. All the money is donated to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.

April

April Fools Day; Easter/ Children’s Museum
Navy Pier
700 E. Grand Avenue
(312) 527-1000
Help us tell children a real story, a story about real life, with real people. Reality, just as games, has so much to offer from 10 am to 5 pm.

International Antique Poster Fair
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Avenue
(800) 856-8069
The International Antique Poster Fair, held in the middle of April, offers beautiful vintage posters.

Latino Film Festival
Columbia College
600 S. Michigan
(312) 431-1330
The Latino Film Festival presents great films produced in Portugal, Spain, Latin America and the United States. The festival starts on April 3.

May

Memorial Day Parade
(312) 744-5648
Help us honor the American veterans with a ceremony at the Logan Memorial and a parade starting on Columbus Drive.

Art Chicago
Festival Hall
600 E. Grand Avenue
(312) 587-3300
Art lovers are invited to an extraordinary fair held in the middle of May. The 200 international galleries exhibit great contemporary and modern works of art.

Comedy Festival
(847) 304-6624
Who doesn’t love comedy? Laugh with all your heart at the Chicago Comedy Festival, the last weekend in May. The Chicago Theatre, the Apollo Theater and the Vic Theater house the festival.

June

Chicago Blues Festival; Chicago Gospel Festival
(312) 744-3315
If you are in Chicago the second week of June, do not miss the Chicago Blues Festival and the Chicago Gospel Festival. The greatest musicians will be at the Petrillo Music Shells.

Internet Street Fair
Hubbard Street
(312) 563-1750
Are you interested in the latest internet technologies? If you are, then you shouldn’t miss the Internet Street Fair. Professionals, new technologies, live music and great dishes will all be there.

Pride Parade
(773) 348-8243
The Annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade is held during the last week in June. Several other events are sponsored by PRIDE Chicago.

July

Taste of Chicago
(312) 744-2400
For two weeks, the Taste of Chicago invites you to try delicious dishes prepared by great chefs from over 60 Chicago restaurants. Have a wonderful time in Grant Park from 11 am to 9 pm.

Chicago Summerdance
Spirit of Music Garden
601 S. Michigan Avenue
(312) 744-1424
Chicago Summerdance transforms the city into a dance floor at the Spirit of Music Garden. More than 40 bands will perform live especially for you.

Dearborn Garden Walk and Heritage Festival
Dearborn Street
(312) 944-1521
Great music, excellent food and lovely gardens make you feel you’ve entered the land of dreams. The festival is usually held in the middle of July.

August

Air and Water Show
(312) 744-3315
We invite you to watch military planes put on a great aerial performance at the Lakefront. The show begins the 3rd Saturday of August and admission is free.

Underground Film Festival
Fine Arts Theatre
418 S. Michigan Avenue
The largest underground film festival in the United States offers you documentaries and experimental movies presenting an original view of the world.

Annual Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival
Grant Park
(312) 744-5648
Salsa, tropical, merengue, traditional food, Hispanic jewelry and artwork are all at the Annual Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival. Make the most of life during the last weekend in August. Free admission.

September

Chicago Jazz Festival
Grant Park
(312) 427-1676
The largest jazz festival in the world has invited local, national and international artists to offer you great performances. The Chicago Jazz Festival is sponsored by the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

County Fair
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park Avenue
(312) 746-5100
Forget your worries and become a child once again. Pie-eating contests, homemade jams, face painting, stone carving, live music and pony rides will make you have a great time.

26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade
26th Street
(773) 521-5387
Street dancing, Mexican food, floats, mariachi bands are all at 26th Street from Albany Avenue to Kostner Street, to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day.

October

SOFA Chicago
Navy Pier Festival Hall
600 E. Grand
(312) 595-5200
If you visit Chicago on the second week in October, then you definitely shouldn’t miss the Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Exposition. We offer you 92 international galleries that combine the decorative with fine arts.

International Film Festival
(312) 425-9400
The first two weeks of October have been dedicated to the International Film Festival. You’ll have the opportunity to watch great films from all over the world at the Chicago Music Box Theatres and Loews Cineplex.

Supernatural Tours
1800 N. Clybourn Road
(708) 499-0300
The ghost hunter Richard T. Crowe will reveal to you Chicago’s haunted sites and ghosts. The tours start at the Goose Island Brewery.

November

Pow Wow Tribute to All Veterans
Chicago Theatre
175 N. State Street
(312) 902-1500
The Pow Wow Tribute to All Veterans lasts for three days and offers you authentic crafts, Native American dancing, authentic crafts and Native American dishes.

Pow Wow
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Pavilion
525 S. Racine
(312) 413-5740
If you wish to see Native American dancing, singing and works of art, we invite you to Pow Wow. The festival is located at the University of Illinois.

Tree Lighting Ceremony
Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington Street
(312) 744-3370
A huge Christmas tree will be covered with hundreds of lights and ornaments. Join us at the Tree Lighting Ceremony, during the last week in November.

December

Caroling to the Animals
Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 North Cannon Drive
(312) 742-2293
Animals also deserve to feel the joy of Christmas. Choral groups will sing carols to the animals at the Zoo and Santa Claus will feed our silent friends.

Christkindlmarket
Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington Street
(312) 644-2662
Admission to this charming European Village is free.

Handel’s Messiah
Symphony Center
220 S. Michigan Avenue
(312) 427-5620
A week before Christmas, we invite you to listen to the Apollo Chorus sing Handel’s Messiah.

Christmas Around the World
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street
(312) 346-3278
The entire world celebrates Christmas. We invite you to see how at Christmas Around the World.

Winter Flower and Train Show
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2400 N. Stockton Drive
(312) 742-7736
Let us take you to the world of dreams, a paradise of flowers and a Christmas town just for you.