Summertime is upon us! Make the most of Chicago’s most exciting season with this eclectic sampling of concerts, exhibitions, and events!
Arbor Evenings
5/28-8/20: Morton Arboretum, $15.00
A series of concerts under the trees of the Morton Arboretum. Genres range from R&B on May 28th, to classical music mixed with rock n roll on June 25th.
Kalayaan Fest
5/31 & 6/1: Brother’s Field, Long Grove IL, free
Two days of music, food, and dance celebrating Filipino culture in Long Grove.
Porchfest Lakeview
6/1: Lakeview Neighborhood, $10.00
Enjoy a plethora of artists performing on various porches throughout the Lakeview neighborhood, all for just $10.
Rush Hour Concerts: Season Opener
6/3: St. James Cathedral , free
The 2025 Rush Hour season opens with music by Reena Esmail and Antonín Dvořák, in one of the summer’s best loved musical traditions.
Reena Esmail
NorthShore Chamber Music Festival
6/4-6/7: The Village Church of Northbrook, $55.00
An annual festival celebrating the wide variety of chamber music, across various ensemble groups.
Chicago Blues Festival
6/5-6/8: Millennium Park, free
Chicago’s annual blues festival, celebrating legendary musicians past and present in the genre.
Bitter Jester Music Festival
6/6-6/28: Highland Park, Port Clinton Square, free
Equal parts summer street festival and battle of the bands, the Bitter Jester Music Festival is a concert experience that specifically shines a spotlight on young musicians. Stay till the end of the night, and the audience can vote on their favorite act of the night!
Lincoln Square Greek Festival
6/6-6/8: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, free
Enjoy a variety of Greek cultural activities – from performances by the Panopoulos Orchestra, to dancing troupes and freshly baked Greek pasteres – over the course of this 3 day festival.
Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
6/7 & 6/8: Burlington Park, free
Celebrate fine arts in an outdoor market, from live performances to art for purchase.
Midsommar Fest
6/13-6/15: Andersonville, $10.00
A popular Chicago street festival celebrating the Scandinavian summer solstice festival with music, arts, food, and more
Night at the Disco
6/13: Nichols Concert Hall, $30.00
A string quartet performs greatest hits from the 90’s, including music from all genres, while illuminated by the glow of neon lights. An intermission raffle will also be held with gift baskets from local businesses.
Old Town Art Fair
6/14 & 6/15: Old Town Triangle Association, free
The Old Town Art Fair marks its 75th anniversary with a wide variey of artists, musicians, food vendors, and a garden walk.
Jazz and Wine Festival
6/15: Cantigy Park, $30.00
A lineup of Chicagoland’s best jazz musicians in the beautiful nature of Cantigy Park.
Make Music Chicago
6/21: various locations, free
Chicago’s citywide festivities for Make Music Day include folk, house, and blues artists, plus the Grant Park Orchestra, and a chance to attend a live WFMT broadcast. At 11am on Saturday, join host Robbie Ellis at Merit School of Music for a live Introductions featuring 18-year-old flute player Jacob Cornejo (free, no reservation required).
Chicago Pride Fest
6/21 & 6/22: North Halsted Avenue, $20.00
The annual celebration of Pride on Chicago’s Halsted street, featuring a variety of performers from all over the United States.
Haymarket Opera Company: Vinci’s Artaserse
6/27-7/1: DePaul University Holtschneider Performance Center, from $60.00
Haymarket welcomes countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim to star in this seldom-performed Baroque era opera.
Kangmin Justin Kim (Photo: Victor Santiago)
Opera Festival of Chicago: Pagliacci
6/27-6/29: Various venues, $32.00
Opera Festival of Chicago’s 2025 season culminates with this opera mainstay, starring Jonathan Burton as Canio.
Common Romance! A New Musical Song Cycle
6/28: Constellation Chicago, $10.00
Chicago composer Michael Oldham unveils his new song cycle, all about summer flings and new beginnings.
Millennium Art Festival
6/28 & 6/29: 180 N Stetson Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60601, free
Just a few steps away from Chicago’s Millennium Park is a new festival, one that will feature 110 art vendors, live music, and live art demos!
African and Caribbean International Festival of Life
7/4-7/7: Washington Park, $35.00
Celebrate African and Caribbean culture through music, food, dance and even a celebrity red carpet event!
Experience the Middle
7/6: The Lincoln Lodge, $15.00
A new concert series at the Lincoln Lodge brings together two musical groups to perform their sets, then come up with a new work together on the spot.
JUBA! Master of Tap and Percussive Dance
7/9-7/16: Various, free
An annual celebration of dance forms from all over the world, from Najwa Dance Corps to Trinity Irish Dance Academy, occuring at various Chicago venues.
CSO Opening Night at Ravinia
7/11: Ravinia, from $15.00
Marin Alsop and Bruce Liu team with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to launch the ensemble’s 89th summer residency at Ravinia.
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
7/12: Millennium Park, free
Celebrate the wide variety of musicians working in the gospel genre, from morning till night, across one day in Chicago.
Jazz Up Music Festival
7/12: Downtown Glen Ellyn, free
From student groups in the morning, to decorated ensembles in the evening, the Jazz Up music festival provides a full day of exceptional jazz music for free.
Rush Hour Concerts: Clarinet Quintets
7/15: St. James Cathedral , free
Lyric Opera assistant principal clarinetist Susan Warner takes center stage in this performance of music by Ruth Gipps and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Colombian Fest Chicago
7/18-7/20: Humboldt Park, $25.00
With international musicians, art vendors, and proud local Colombian food vendors, the Chicago Colombian Fest returns for another year of celebration at a new location – Humboldt Park.
Voyage en France
7/20: Cantigy Park, $15.00
Ballet dancers, artists at work, and musical performances abound at the annual event honoring French culture at Cantigy Park.
Out of Space
7/24-7/27: North Field at Illinois Sciene and Technology Park, $64.00
Internationally renowned folk acts are paired up with regional rising stars for this 4 day concert series in Skokie.
Chinatown Summer Fair
7/26 & 7/27: 2200 S. Wentworth Ave, Chicago IL, free
A lion dance procession kicks off the annual Chinatown Summer Fair, which features a variety of Chinese vendors, musicians, and cultural events.
Vintage Days
7/26 & 7/27: 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, free
All things vintage – from art, to games, and even music – are on display for Long Grove’s annual weekend festival.
Fiesta del Sol
7/31-8/3: 1400 W Cermak Rd, Chicago IL, $70.00
Latino festival Fiesta del Sol celebrates its 53rd year with live musicians, expos, and other oppertunities to interact with Chicago latino businesses.
Grant Park Music Festival: Joshua Bell
8/6: Millennium Park, free
Star violinist Joshua Bells joins the Grant Park Orchestra for one night only.
Joshua Bell (Photo: Shervin Lainez)
Garlic Fest
8/13: Everts Park , free
From bread to cookies, cocktails to themed musical acts, enjoy a unique celebration of one of the world’s most popular spices.
Chicago Air and Water Show
8/16 & 8/17: North Avenue Beach, free
The largest free show air show, with pilots performing stunts over Lake Michigan, returns for another two-day event.
Porchfest Roscoe Village
8/17: Roscoe Village Neighborhood, $10.00
Enjoy a plethora of artists performing on various porches throughout the Roscoe Village neighborhood, all for just $10.
Chicago Jazz Festival
8/28-8/31: Millennium Park, free
Local talent stars alongside international stars at the premier festival dedicated to jazz in Chicago.
Art on the Fox
9/6 & 9/7: Main Street, Algonquin, free
Take a live painting class, enjoy musical performances, participate in Art Fest bingo, and so much more over the course of this two day arts festival in Algonquin, IL.
World Music Festival Chicago
9/26-10/5: Various places, free
A mixture of music from all around the world, organized across various free concerts in Chicago.
