John Roa » The Blog

Let’s face it – the summer is why we live in Chicago and brave the hellish winter time and time again. And, nothing says summer like the onslaught of festivals around the city! To help aide your planning, here is a master list and downloadable PDF of all festivities. Thanks to my lovely friend Dana for compiling this!

[PDF download]

JUNE

5-6: Free! 57th Street Art Fair

5-6: Community Art Fair

5-7: The Raven: Experience the Magic of Ravenswood

6-7: Free! Chicago Gospel Music Festival

6-7: Free! Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest

6-7: New! Metronome Celebration

11-Aug. 23: Free! Chicago SummerDance Festival

12-14: Free! Chicago Blues Festival

12-Aug. 30: Free! Movies in the Parks

12-14: Party at St. Mike’s

12-14: Ribfest Chicago

13-14: Andersonville Midsommarfest

13-14: Old Town Art Fair

13-14: Wells Street Art Festival

14: Q101 Block Party

15-21: Free! Fiesta Puertorriquenas

19-21: Free! Chicago Peace Fest

19-21: Close Up 2 Smooth Jazz Festival

19-21: Festa Pasta Vino

19-21: St. Josaphat Summerfest

19-21: Taste of Greece on LaSalle Street Festival

19-21: Taste of Randolph Street

20: Free! Puerto Rican Day Parade

20-21: BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest

20-21: Chicago Summerfest

24-27: Free! Chicago Arabesque

26-27: Chicago Pride Fest

26-28: Chicago Soul Music Festival

26-July 5: Free! Taste of Chicago

28: Free! Pride Parade

JULY

3-5: African-Caribbean International Festival of Life

9: Bastille Day 5K Run, Walk and Block Party

10-12: Irish American Heritage Festival

10-11: Jeff Fest

10-11: Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party

10-12: Free! Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival

11: Free! ‘I Have a Vision’ Community Gospel Festival

11-12: Chicago Folk and Roots Festival

11-12: Rock Around the Block

11-12: St. Andrew’s Greek Festival

11-12: West Fest 2009

12-14: Ribfest Chicago

14-Aug. 25: Free! Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park

17-19: Pitchfork Music Festival

18-19: Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival

19: Free! Chinatown Summer Fair

25: Free! Dragon Boat Race for Literacy

25: Free! Venetian Night

25-26: Taste of Lincoln Avenue

25-26: Wicker Park Fest

26: Free! An Arts Adventure

30-Aug. 2: Fiesta del Sol

31: Aug. 2: Gold Coast Art Fair

AUGUST

1-2: Northalsted Market Days

1-2: Retro on Roscoe

2: Free! Belize Day in the Park

7-9: Ginza Holiday

7-9: Lollapalooza

8: Free! Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic

8-9: Free! Korean Street Festival

8-9: New! Lincoln Park Arts and Music Festival

8-9: Wrigleyville SummerFest

14-15: Free! Armenian Fest

14-16: Free! Edison Park Fest

14-16: North Side Summerfest

14-16: New! Chicago Ribs ‘n’ Soul Festival

15: Free! Croatian Fest

15-16: Free! Chicago Air & Water Show

15-16: Free! Chicago Carifete

15-16: New! Green Music Fest

21-23: 60th Annual Greek Festival

21-23: Free! Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest

22-23: Lake View Music Fest

29-30: Free! Bucktown Arts Fest

29-30: Free! Taste of Greece 2009

29-30: Free! !Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival

SEPTEMBER

4-6: Free! Chicago Jazz Festival

4-7: African Festival of the Arts

4-7: Taste of Polonia

5-6: Bash on Wabash

11-13: Free! 89th Annual German-American Festival

12-13: Free! Celtic Fest Chicago

12-13: Groovin’ on the Grove Festival

12-13: Free! Renegade Craft Fair

13: Free! 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade

13-14: Wells Street Crush, Music and Comedy Fest

19: Edgewater GRalley

19: Guinness Oyster Fest

19: Musky Fest

25-27: Oktoberfest