The summer will kick off an extra busy season in Chicago with a slate of citywide, high profile events that run the gamut from the Democratic National Conventionto the James Beard Awards to the return of NASCAR Chicago Street Race. Choose Chicago invites visitors to come and discover award-winning restaurants, iconic attractions, stunning outdoor spaces, a rich cultural scene, vibrant neighbourhoods, and a welcoming and inclusive Midwestern spirit. Visit ChooseChicago.com for more information and travel inspiration.

Accommodations

Bringing one of Asia’s most prominent and beloved hotel brands stateside for the very first time, South Korea’s largest hotel group LOTTE HOTELS AND RESORTS introduces vibrant, lifestyle-centric L7 HOTEL to downtown Chicago (225 N. Wabash at E. Wacker Place). Located just steps from the Chicago Riverwalk and designed by award-winning design firm AvroKO, the aesthetics of the property reflect both its brand origins in Korea as well as the surrounding spirit of Chicago with 191 guest rooms (including 22 suites), unique wellness-focused amenities, a curated contemporary art program featuring Chicagoan, Korean, and Korean-American artists, and a signature ground-floor restaurant, PERILLA korean american steakhouse, from acclaimed local restaurateurs and ambassadors of Korean fare, Executive Chef Andrew Lim and Partners Thomas Oh and Alvin Kang. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

Loews Chicago Hotel and Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, proudly announce the debut of their Free Spirited by Loews Hotels program. As one of the pioneering hotel brands to embrace the growing trend of mindful consumption, Free Spirited by Loews at Loews Chicago and O’Hare Hotels will provide elevated and bespoke hotel bar programming for those who choose to imbibe less or not at all. (Neighbourhood: Streeterville)

Food + Libations

Chicago Brew Pass, in partnership with The Choir of Man, a program designed to promote exploration of Chicago’s award-winning craft brewery scene, has relaunched for the summer season. Through the Brew Pass, locals and visitors can check in at breweries across the city and earn points that can be redeemed for limited-edition prizes. A total of 32 breweries are participating this year, with other notable updates including the extended timeline (from 6 months to 8 months) and new prizes. (Multiple Neighbourhoods)

Newly Open:

Bar La Rue is a brand-new concept at 820 W. Fulton Market Street that celebrates French-American cuisine with an inventive cocktail program in the heart of the neighbourhood. The stylish new location also boasts a beautiful all-season, streetside pergola bar and dining area which will stand out as a much-desired destination for al fresco dining. (Neighbourhood: Fulton Market)

Tre Dita (401 E. Wacker Drive, 2nd Floor) and Bar Tre Dita are now open at The St. Regis Chicago. A collaboration between award-winning Chef Evan Funke (Funke, Mother Wolf, Felix) and Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Tre Dita marks the Los Angeles-based chef’s first Chicago restaurant. Italian for "three fingers," Tre Dita is a nod to the precise thickness of a properly cut bistecca Fiorentina, which the “cucina Toscana” serves from its open-hearth, wood-fired grill, along with handmade pastas and more. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

Coinciding with the 15th anniversary of its debut in River North, Chicago’s second Sunda New Asianlocation has opened in Fulton Market (333 N. Green Street). By creatively melding the many cooking techniques and flavours found throughout Southeast Asia, Sunda creates new culinary experiences that feature a modern New Asian twist. (Neighbourhood: Fulton Market)

Opening Soon:

This summer, as part of Parachute’s ten-year anniversary, Chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark will debut a new high-fidelity music bar and restaurant, Parachute Hi-Fi. The chefs will bring a new and exciting experience to the neighbourhood that fuses together culinary cocktails, high-fidelity sound, creative Korean-American cuisine, and affections for future nostalgia. (Neighbourhood: Avondale)

Umaga Bakehouse, a reimagined Filipino bakery, is set to open its doors this spring at 4703 W. Foster Avenue. Located in the vibrant North Mayfair neighbourhood, Umaga Bakehouse offers a fresh and innovative take on the traditional Filipino bakery experience. (Neighbourhood: North Mayfair)

Exhibitions (Immersive Art + Museums)

The Art Institute of Chicago has announced its spring/summer programming. (Neighbourhood: The Loop): Georgia O'Keeffe: "My New Yorks" (June 2-September 22, 2024) - Famed for her images of flowers and Southwestern landscapes, Georgia O’Keeffe spent several years exploring the built environment of New York City with brush in hand. O’Keeffe called these works “my New Yorks” and through them investigated the dynamic potential of New York’s cityscape; János Megyik Photograms(through July 8, 2024) - The first US museum exhibition of the artist’s work, János Megyik Photograms includes 12 large-scale photograms and one wall construction, his sculpture Corpus; and Threaded Visions: Contemporary Weavings from the Collection (through August 26, 2024) - This exhibition, drawn entirely from the Art Institute’s permanent collection, explores the beautiful diversity of this ancient and global practice through the works of 13 contemporary textile artists from five countries. 

Chicago Architecture Center will present a new exhibition, Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns, this spring. Chicago’s Loop is an inflection point, emerging from the pandemic on shaky footing but also with abundant opportunity to transition to something more vibrant, resilient, and livable. Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns holds our central business district up to the light, exploring ways to keep our economic engine humming while diversifying uses and making the Loop more welcoming for everyone. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibit Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70swill open May 18, 2024, showcasing more than 100 posters, fliers, signs, banners, newspapers, magazines, and books from the era, created by Chicago activists to amplify their visions for social change. (Neighbourhood: Lincoln Park)

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum will present Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective (May 23-September 22, 2024). This first-of-its-kind exhibition includes a range of never-seen-before jewelry and decorative art objects from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection alongside objects from the Chicago History Museum, the Field Museum, and the Lizzardo Museum of Lapidary Art, among loans from other Chicago institutions, collections, and private lenders with unique areas of focus. Highlights of the exhibition include a rare piece of silver made by Paul Revere, Jr.; a handwrought silver punch bowl belonging to the Cliff Dweller’s Club; jewelry renderings by Art Nouveau master Rene ́Lalique; and much more. (Neighbourhood: River North)

 

Festivals + Events

Chicago Air and Water Show (August 10-11, 2024) - The spectacular two-day event draws an audience of over two million to the city’s stunning beachfront to see military pilots perform astonishing stunts above the waters of Lake Michigan. 

Chicago Blues Festival (June 6-9, 2024) - Throughout the weekend, three stages across the Millennium Park will welcome more than 35 performances and more than 250 artists including a special Sunday evening performance by GRAMMY Award-winning Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy, as part of his “Damn Right Farewell” tour, marking one of his final Chicago performances. (Neighbourhood: Bridgeport, Millennium Park)

Chicago Craft Beer Festival (July 5-7, 2024) - From brewery-focused pubs and taprooms to bars and even the local supermarket, the popularity of craft beers remains as strong as ever. Illinois alone is home to more than 200 of the nation’s 4,000-plus microbreweries. Windy City beer lovers will again be in hops heaven when Chicago Craft Beer Fest returns for its 11th flavour-packed year in Jonquil Park.

Chicago Pride Fest (June 22-23, 2024) - Pride Fest features live music on three stages, a Youth Pride Space for teens, best of Chicago drag performance, the Proud Pet Parade with prizes, dance exhibitions, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, guest speakers, and over 150 food and merchandise vendors. (Neighbourhood: Northalsted)

Chicago Pride Parade (June 30, 2024) - One of Chicago’s most iconic events, the Chicago Pride Parade is somewhat of a finale to Pride Month. Featuring over 150 floats, the parade starts in Uptown and heads south to Lakeview.

Chicago Taco and Tequila Festival (September 6-8, 2024) - One of the world’s greatest food and beverage pairings takes the spotlight over Labor Day Weekend at the Chicago Taco & Tequila Festival. Set up much like a tasting event, choose your session and ticket type then get ready to sip your way through various flavours of margaritas as well as the opportunity to sample small batch tequilas. (Neighbourhood: Lincoln Park)

Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration (July 18–21, 2024) - Scheduled to take place almost exactly 20 years since Millennium Park’s official opening on July 16, 2004, this four-day free celebration features award-winning headliners, activities for families and youth, workouts, new public art, dance performances, and concerts. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 (June 28-30, 2024) - Choose Chicago and the Chicago Film Office, in partnership with the Sundance Institute, will present an exciting new independent film event coming to Chicago this summer featuring artists programs, film screenings, and events across the city. Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 will make Chicago the only U.S. city to host an independent artist and film weekend in partnership with the Sundance Institute outside of Park City, Utah.

Taste of Chicago (September 6-8, 2024) - The classic food festival will take over Grant Park with more than 35 of Chicago’s favourite food vendors, live music performances, community dance lessons, a karaoke competition, and so much more. (Multiple Neighbourhoods)

World Music Festival Chicago (September 20-29, 2024) - This free, city-wide festival features over 30 artists from 22 countries at venues around Chicago including the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, bringing even more diversity to Chicago’s already rich music festival line-up. (Multiple Neighbourhoods)

Attractions

Area 51 Encounter will debut June 14 on the first floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue (the former John Hancock Center) and will welcome fans of everything outer space, ufologists, skeptics, and families to an all-encompassing immersive exhibition. Guests will grab their boarding passes and launch themselves into seven galleries, bringing them face-to-face with original and reproduced alien artifacts and interactive elements.

Returning for the first time since 2019, Lincoln Park Zoo is excited to re-introduce its beloved Malott Family Penguin Encounter. During this ticketed program (USD $80 per person) , guests get the chance to learn about African penguins at Robert & Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove during a personal, guided experience. Up to eight guests can participate in each experience, and guests must be at least six years old. (Neighbourhood: Lincoln Park)

Navy Pier's newest, year-round attraction, Flyover Chicago, is now open. The immersive, three-act experience culminates in an exhilarating flying journey that takes audiences from 13,000 feet above the skyline, diving down skyscrapers and skimming sidewalks, floating through fireworks, airshows, and the city’s most iconic landmarks. Visitors to Navy Pier this season, can also experience Chicago: Home of House Exhibit (Open now), commemorating the 40th anniversary of House music. This one-of-a-kind exhibit will pay homage to the energy, music, and dance of Black and Latino youth on Chicago’s south and west sides that laid the critical foundation for Chicago House music.

Meetings, Conventions + Venues

Chicago has been chosen to host the Democratic National Convention this year, which will take place August 19 - 22, 2024, at the United Center. 

Chicago has been selected as the host city for U.S. Travel Association’s IPW in 2025. The last time Chicago hosted the leading inbound travel trade show was in 2014. The conference will be held June 27 - July 1, 2025, at McCormick Place.

Theatre + Performing Arts

Broadway In Chicago is proud to produce the following shows as part of its summer/fall lineup: SIX(June 4-July 15, 2024, James M. Nederlander Theatre); The Kite Runner (June 11-23, 2024, CIBC Theatre); Back to the Future: The Musical (August 13-September 1, 2024, Cadillac Palace Theatre); The Book of Mormon (September 10-15, 2024, Cadillac Palace Theatre); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (September 10, 2024-February 1, 2025, James M. Nederlander Theatre); and Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations (September 24-19, 2024, CIBC Theatre).

Chicago Philharmonic (Neighbourhood: The Loop), is pleased to present the following performances: Violent Femmes with the Chicago Philharmonic (June 21, 2024); Marvel Studios' Black Panther In Concert (June 22, 2024); Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony (July 27, 2024); and The Voice Of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration (August 30, 2024).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater will present the following performances this summer (Neighbourhood: Streeterville): The Enigmatist (May 29-June 30, 2024, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare); Corduroy(June 18-July 14, 2024, Courtyard Theater); The Lord of the Rings (July 19-September 1, 2024, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare); and Henry V (September 6-October 6, 2024, Courtyard Theater).

Lyric Opera of Chicago will open its next season (2024/2025) with Rigoletto (September 14-October 6, 2024) a powerfully dramatic rendition of Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece based on a play by Victor Hugo. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

Sports

After a historic inaugural race in July 2023, NASCAR Chicago Street Race will return to downtown Chicago from July 6-7, 2024. The event will feature two days of racing and non-stop entertainment with full sets from top musical artists (including Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, and The Black Keys), Q&A sessions, interactive displays, and more. (Neighbourhood: The Loop)

View the entire What’s New + Happening in Chicago – Summer/Fall 2024 release here.