Chicago is full of summer music festivals for all type of audiences. Here's a list of some popular music festivals around Chicago, yet since this city is ever evolving, you may also want to get help from ChooseChicago | Music Venues and TimeOut | Chicago Music Festivals.
Spring Awakening: This is the perfect festival for electronic music lovers. You'll be able to enjoy Progressive House, Electro House and Techno. It takes place in the second weekend of June in Soldier Field.
Blues Fest: Here you'll be able to enjoy top blues musicians at completely no cost. It takes place in early June at The Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park.
Pitchfork Festival: Pitchfork Media celebrates emerging music in this three-day festival taking place on the third week of July atUnion Park.
Lollapalooza: It's one of the most popular music festivals in Chicago, hosting approximately 160,000 souls in the beautifulGrant Park in the course of three days and it features mostly alternative music acts, but has included comedy performances in the last years and has acted as a platform for non-profits. It takes place the first weekend of August.
Ruido Fest: For the first time in 2015 the Pilsen neighborhood hosted in Addams/Medill Park a celebration for Alternative Latin music during the second weekend of July. It had great success and hopefully will see it grow as much as Spanish is spreading across the US.
Mamby on the Beach: This festival is the sister of Spring Awakening and it celebrates music and summer at the beach. 2015 was also their first year, taking place on the second weekend of July with a two-day party.
Wicker Park Fest: Around the third weekend of July, a fest that reflects the eclecticism of its host neighborhood, comes in place at a very budget-friendly cost ($5 as in 2015)
Jazz Festival: A Labor Day-weekend tradition in this city, the Chicago Jazz Festivals has been running for over 30 years with great success. This great quality fest for one of the best genres in music is brought by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at no cost.
North Coast: This fest is the perfect Summer goodbye party, presenting a wide range of music genres over at Union Parkand great after parties at local bars during Labor Day weekend.
World Music Fest: Established in 1999, this festival has presented over 650 international artists. A free eleven-day multi-venue (including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion) exhibiting music from over 80 countries around mid-September, could it get any better than that?
Riot Fest: Happening in also Denver and Colorado, Chicago was the mother of this festival which since 2005 has been able to present once-in-a-lifetime reunions and performances. For lovers of punk and alternative rock this is a dream fest that switches place between Humboldt Park and Douglas Park.