The best Chicago music festivals to rock out at (2024)

The oldest music festival in North America plays host to more than 100 shows throughout summer, featuring big-name headliners like James Taylor, Violent Femmes, Ben Platt and Samara Joy. Check out thefull schedule of artistscoming to Highland Park this year and don't forget to pack a picnic.

Buy ticket

Make your way to Harper Court in Hyde Park on four Thursdaysthroughout the summer for free outdoor concerts. Thisyear's lineup starsDJ Eric "ET" Taylor,Funkadesi, Sam Thousand & The Soul Vortex and an open mic night.

The South Side Jazz Coalition hosts a series of free monthly jazz performancesevery summer on the steps of St. Moses the Black Parish in Greater Grand Crossing. Bring a lawn chair, some snacks and prepare to hear some top-notch music from the Chicago jazz community—plus, every performance ends with a jam session.

Catch live outdoor jazz performances on the first Friday of every month this summer as part of Jazz in the Court, a freeconcert series hosted at Harper Court in Hyde Park. Performers this year includeHurricane Reggae Band (June 7),Tony Carpenter (July 5),Thaddeus Tukes (August 2) andCorey Wilkes (September 6).

The songs and stories behind the Chicago Blues will be showcased this summer with a concert series in public parks. Enjoy free performances that celebrate the lives and artistry of legends Muddy Waters, Memphis Minnie, Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, Lillian Green and more. Check the website for the full schedule.

For classical music lovers who enjoy taking in a show set beneath Chicago's skyline, the annual Grant Park Music Festival isperennial favorite summer event. This year's series of classical concerts runs from June 12–August 17 with performances ranging from world premiere works and performances of symphonies by Mozart, Mendelssohn andShostakovich to an evening of classic Broadway arrangements and the annual Independence Day salute. Take a look at the complete schedule of events below and find more information on the Grant Park Music Festivalwebsite.

Buy ticket

Head to Pritzker Pavilion on select Mondays and Thursdays from July 1–August 8 for the seven-part Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which showcases a wide range of music from both emerging and well-established performers. Check the official website for the full list of artists and schedule.

Spend enough time basking in the smell of barbecued meat, the twangy strains of country music and the sweltering heat at Windy City Smokeout and you might feel like you've been transported to Texas. Taking place in a parking lot outside of the United Center, this annual festival brings together some of the nation's most talented pitmasters and a stacked lineup of Nashville-approved musicians. Headliners for this year's edition of the four-day fest include country stars Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum and Thomas Rhett. Come for the delicious smoked meats and stick around for the music.

Buy ticket

Local music collective the Chosen Few DJs takes over Jackson Park for a day of house sets from Wayne Williams, Jesse Saunders, Tony Hatchett, Alan King, Andre Hatchett, Terry Hunter, Mike Dunn and special guests. Stop by to watch a crowd of people dancing to the beat, or jump into the fray and show off your moves.

Buy ticket

This Hyde Park street festival outside of the Promontory brings together some of the biggest names in Afrobeat music, a genre pioneered by musician Fela Kuti, who fused Nigerian instrumentation and rhythms with contemporary pop, funk and jazz.You'll catch sets from DJs spinning global tunes, plus access to local food, a photo installation,outdoor laser tagand more fun activities.

Buy ticket

One of Chicago’s premier celebrations of Latin music will bring together some of the biggest names in the industry across a variety of genres, including reggaeton, salsa, bachata, banda and rock. The two-day fest boasts a lineup of exciting acts, such asKali Uchis, Junior H, Los Angeles Azules, Sante Fe Klanand more, plus delicious local eateries, talented artists, a full carnival experience and plenty of micheladas.

Buy ticket

This midsummer block party staple brings alt-country, folk and Americana jams—plus craft brews and snacks from local food vendors—to Lincoln Square.Admission is free, but consider tossing in a donation to benefit small business workshops, community efforts and scholarship programs at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

West Town's rollicking street festivalreturnsto Chicago Avenue for three days of music, food and shopping from local vendors. Empty Bottle Presents will curate West Fest'smusical lineup, and you can also catch jockeys spinning vinylon the Bass By the Pound DJ Stage. Plus, browse tons of local vendors and don't miss the Pet Fest area, which features charming attractions like a dog obstacle course and pet painting.

If you love classic rock, skip Lollapalooza and head to Jefferson Park for a community festival that looks to the past with performances from local cover bands. You'll also find food from neighborhood vendors and a dedicated kids zone where families can hang out and boogie with the little ones.

Buy ticket

Pitchfork returns to Union Park during its usual weekend in July—and as ever, the lineups are packed with some of the most of-the-moment indie, hip-hop and electronic acts.Catch headlining sets frompsychedelic sold bandBlack Pumas,English DJ Jamie xx and '90s icon Alanis Morissette.. Plan on arriving early, discovering some new music and weaving your way through the crowds to find a spot in the shade.

Buy ticket

Millennium Park celebratesits 20th anniversarywith a special four-day event, featuring free performances byFruko y Sus Tesos, the Grant Park Orchestra, Common andThe S&S Chicago Experience.Family-friendly programming, new public art and on-site activations will also take placethroughout the weekend.

Dance on the sand at Chicago Sport and Social Club's annual Volleywood festival, which boastsa day of live music, food and interactive experiences on the sands of North Avenue Beach (it's the city's last remaining beachfront music fest).British DJTroyBoiandelectronicduoThe Knocks headline the EDM-centric event—snag general admission tickets or spring for a cabana for you and 11 of your friends, stocked with beer, refreshments and private restrooms.

Buy ticket

River North is home to a diverse collectionof restaurants—and you'll be able to try a lot of it at this tasty neighborhood gathering. While you're digesting, enjoy tunes from local cover bands and plenty of beverages. This year's event will also feature awine tasting on Friday, and a dog parade on Saturday.

Celebrate the anniversary of Colombian independence at this festival taking place atNortheastern Illinois University, where you'll find live music, food vendors, a circus, a kids' area, games and more. Headlining acts on the music stage includeGrupo Niche, Jorge Celedon, Hernan Gomez, Henry Fiol and more.

Buy ticket

When it comes to street festivals, the annual Wicker Park Fest is usually one of the season's largest (and most crowded) events, attracting thousands of people to a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue that's crowded with bars, chain restaurants, boutiques and shoe stores. Jam out to live music—you'll also find plenty of food from local vendors, well-stocked beer tents, sales atsurrounding shops and a dedicated kids area.

One of the largest Latino fests in the Midwest returns to the heart of Pilsen, bringing a carnival, delicious food from local vendors and a lineup of traditional music to the neighborhood's streets. The four-day event takes place along a stretch of Cermak Road (between Ashalnd and Morgan) and can draw as many at one million people every year—we recommend showing up early before the crowds stream in during the evening.

Buy ticket

The annual Bantu Fest prides itself on bringing people, cuisine and culture from more than 30 different countries together for a two-celebration of Chicago's (and the world's) diversity. When you're not sampling tantalizing dishes from around the globe, you can take in sets from local musicians and enjoy the sights during a summer afternoon on Midway Plaisance.

Buy ticket

Chicago's biggest music festival welcomes 400,000 attendees to Grant Park for a four-day music festival that's packed with some of the biggest names in pop, rock and hip-hop.SZA, Tyler, The Creator, Blink-182, The Killers and moreheadline the fest this year, joined by acts likeFuture X Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex.Check outourcomprehensive guide to Lollapalooza, including the fulllineup and schedule, for moreinfo.

Buy ticket

Pay homage to Bronzeville's history as a hub for jazz and blues at this beloved annual music fest, which returns to King Drive (outside Mariano's Bronzeville) for a day-long roster of performances curated by music producer Frank Goss III, plus food and drinks from local vendors. This year's lineup features Rick Parma, Chris Miskel, Corey Wilkes and Marqueal Jordan.

Set amid the Chicago Brewing District, this jam-band focused street festival invites guests to take in multiple sets from live music while enjoying a cold beer. Local brewers will be pouring beer all weekend long, accompanired by an array ofWest Town restaurants and food trucks. Find a tie dye shirt and get ready to dance.

Northalsted Market Days is one of the largest street festivals in the Midwest, welcoming 100,000 people to the streets of Northalsted (formerlyknown as Boystown) for an LGBTQ-friendly summer celebration of music, food and dance. You can expect a long list of performers across five stages—check out the Northalsted Market Dayswebsitefor a complete schedule.

Antique vendors and classic cars fill six blocks of Roscoe Village at this throwback street market, where everything old is new again. The music lineup is usually equally nostalgic, featuring tribute acts that perform hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

This annual River North block party celebrates America'smilitary service members with an evening of live music, delicious food and drinks to sip. Proceeds from the event benefit the USO of Illinois.

Humboldt Park transforms into an outdoor tapas bar during this boozy bash, which pairs bites from local restaurants with pitchers of red wine and chopped fruit. Lay our a blanket to sip sangria on the lawn, put color on a canvas at the festival's painting station or watchlive salsa and Brazilian dance music.

Buy ticket

For some, Labor Day weekend means cookouts and enjoying some of the final days of summer among family and friends. For other, it means crowding in front of a stage with a bunch of strangers and dancing to the sound of bone-rattling bass drops. North Coast Music Festival brings some of the biggest names in EDM to Bridgeview, IL for three days of beats and pyrotechnics in and around SeatGeek Stadium. The lineup includes headlining acts likeAbove & Beyond, ILLENIUM, Seven Lions, SLANDER, Subtronics and Chase & Status. And withmultiple stages to explore, you should have no problem finding the house, techno, progressive and trance music that you want to dance to.

Buy ticket

Thefourth annualARC Music Festival is scheduled to take over Union Park during Labor Day weekend, celebrating Chicago's house music roots and welcoming an international lineup of dance music artists.Taking place across three days, the fest features acts likeU.K. brothers Disclosure, Belgian technoDJ Charlotte de Witte,New YorkiconArmand van Helden, Australian house producer Dom Dolla, EDM pioneer Kaskade and more.Additional Chicago performers include local house music legends Derrick Carter and DJ Lady D. See shows atmultiple stages spread throughout the park, enjoy food from local chefs andattend afterparties at over 13 venues.

Buy ticket

As is Labor Day weekend tradition in Chicago, some of the biggest names in jazz will gather for a series of shows at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center during this annual festival. Visit the Chicago Jazz Festival webpagefor the full lineup and schedule.

The Taste of Chicagois again being heldin September this year instead of its usualfirst weekendof July. Theannual festival will featuredozens of vendors and food trucks,plusmusical performances. And just like last year, the Taste of Chicago will bepreceded by a series of day-long fests throughout the summer (atRogers Park, Pullman Park and Marquette Park) before heading to Grant Park for the three-day main event.

This two-day music festival on the South Side brings together acts from all parts of the country, including Mojo Thunder, Caution, Brandon Good, The Leadfoot Band, Stereotypes and more. The tunes will be paired with barbecue-inspired Mexican street fare, so expect to feast on plenty of tacos filled with spicy smoked meats.

Buy ticket

Get ready, punk rockers! Riot Fest is returning from September 20-22 with a laundry list of rock, punk and emo artists. It's one of the biggest music fests in Chicago every yearthanks toa must-see lineup of both legacy acts and emergingnewcomers. This year's lineupstarsa reunion performancebySlayer.

Buy ticket

The Hyde Park Jazz Festival returns to venues throughout its namesake neighborhood in September.As always,Hyde Park Jazz Festival's shows are free to attend—for a complete list of performances, visit the festival's website.

Explore music from around the globe during this annual festival, now in its 24th year, which brings a wide array of performers to venues across the city for free musical performances. Experiencesounds and subgenres fromregions like Brazil, South Korea, Senegal and more. For a full list of performances, visit the festival's website.