Our Top Picks for Chicago Summer Events 2024
Hey-o, let’s make of the most of summer!
Look, we get it: there’s a lot of pressure to make summer special. We get bombarded with questions about plans, travel, festivals, concerts: “What are you doing this summer?” “Anything fun planned??” “Taking any big trips???”
Don’t let that kind of expectation intimidate you.
There’s plenty of ways to make summer spectacular, right here in our own backyard, including oodles of free activities. With a little intention, you can make this the best summer ever.
Top Free Events
Millennium Park Movie Night
You could spend your Tuesday nights indoors, or you could watch a slew of fab flicks over the summer. This year’s lineup includes classics like E.T. and Jurassic Park, as well as new films like Barbie and American Fiction.
Explore the Full Schedule Here
Grant Park Music Festival
Music lovers rejoice: Free tunes await you at the Pritzker Pavilion, including a night with award-winning artist Common on July 20.
Discover the Grant Park Music Festival
Lakefront Trail
If you haven’t taken a stroll, run, or bike ride down the Lakefront Trail, summer is a great time to fix that. Depending on your speed, you can bike the 18-mile trail in a couple of hours—roundtrip—or walk portions of it over the span of a few weekends.
Free Museums
Chicago is home to world-class museums, several of which have free days throughout the summer. Treat yourself to one of those hard-earned vacation days and spend it at the Field Museum or the Art Institute of Chicago. Even better, kick off your workday a tad early on a Wednesday so you can wrap up in time to get spooky with a free evening exploration of the Adler Planetarium.
Top Paid Events
Lollapalooza
If seeing a music festival is on your 2024 bucket list, look no further than Grant Park: Lollapalooza is a four-day lineup of some of the world’s best musical performances.
Catch a Game
Whether you’re a Sox or Cubs fan, you can’t deny that an afternoon of baseball does a body good. Chow down on a hotdog, hope for a fly ball, and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sometime this summer.
Cubs Tickets
Sox Tickets
Broadway in Chicago
No need to travel to NYC: Broadway is coming to you! Shows range from “The Book of Mormon” to “Back to the Future: The Musical.”
Are you planning a summer event that needs some directional or promotional signage? Fill out this form or call now for a quote from American Signs By Tomorrow!
