It feels like we just bid adieu to festival season, but here comes the City of Chicago with news that’s making us crave elotes, hot dogs and kettle corn all over again. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced the 2016 festival lineup today, including Taste of Chicago, Air and Water Show, Millennium Park Summer Film Series and much, much more. Here’s what you can expect next year:
LAKEFRONT FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
18th Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival: May 7
Chicago Memorial Day Parade: May 28
31st Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 3–4
33rd Annual Chicago Blues Festival: June 10–12
20th Annual Chicago SummerDance: Fridays–Sundays, June 24–Sept. 11
36th Annual Taste of Chicago: July 6–10
58th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products US: Aug. 20–21
38th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival: Sept. 1–4
18th Annual World Music Festival Chicago: Sept. 9–25
Third Annual Fifth Star Awards: Sept. 14
103rd Annual Christmas Tree and Holiday Celebrations: Nov. 22–December
ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY EVENTS
More Top Picks Keylitos Sous Vide Cooker
Second Annual Lake FX Summit + Expo: May 13–15
Third Annual Fifth Star Awards: Sept. 14
21st Annual Chicago Artists Month: October
FILMS
Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Tuesdays, June 21–Aug. 30
MUSIC
Wired Fridays: First and third Fridays, noon
31st Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 3–4
Millennium Park Summer Music Series: June 6–Aug. 25
Chicago Blues Festival: June 10–12
Chicago SummerDance: Fridays–Sundays, June 24–Sept. 11
38th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival: Sept. 1–4
18th Annual World Music Festival Chicago: Sept. 9–25
Caroling at Cloud Gate: Fridays, Nov. 25–Dec. 23
THEATER, DANCE AND PERFORMANCE
OnEdge: Feb. 19–March 4
SpinOff: November
RECREATION
Millennium Park Summer Workouts: Wednesdays and Fridays, June 1–Sept. 3
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink: mid-November 2016–mid-March 2017
MARKETS
Chicago Farmers Markets: May–October (Daley Plaza Farmers Market opens May 12)
Maxwell Street Market: Sundays, all year, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hold tight for more summer fest dates coming soon! We’ll post all the goodies you don’t see above (neighborhood festivals, parades and more) as soon as we get them.