Do Division Street Fest (June 2-4) 

Kicking off the summer festival season, the Do Division Street Fest stretches across ten blocks of Chicago. Featuring a Family Fun Festival, with pony rides, face painting, and rocking kids music. This festival offers something to every  member of the family. The live music line up includes The Ponys, ADULT., Black Marble, Boss Hog, and many more! Check out Do Division Street Fest’s website here.

Do Division Street Fest

Two Brothers Summer Festival (June 2-3) 

The Two Brothers Brewing Company has hosted a music festival each summer to raise money for charity. Taking place at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora, the two-day event will feature the bands X Ambassadors, Saint Motel, Blind Pilot, Knox Hamilton, and Savior Adore. Get more information on the Two Brothers Summer Festival. The festival will take place on June 2nd and run through June 3rd. 

Two Brothers Lineup

Chicago Blues Festival (June 9-11)

This free blues festival is the largest in the world. Hosted in Millenium Park, this three day event is sure to please the blues lover in you! Headliners for the event include Gary Clark Jr., William Bell, and Che “Rhymefest” Smith, who highlights the influence of blues on rap and hip-hop music. The festival is June 9th-11th – here’s a look at the festival this past year:

Lollapalooza (August 3-6)

Since 1991, Lollapalooza has been one of the most popular music festivals in the U.S. Big names in the lineup this year include Lorde, The Killers, Blink 182, The Head and The Heart and many more. Lollapalooza is not only for adults, as they offer a Kidzapalooza also. For more information on Lollapalooza, check out their website.

Lollapalooza 2017 Lineup

Spring Awakening Music Festival (June 9-11)

Diplo, Armin Van Burren, and Marshmello are just a few of the big names to headline the Spring Awakening Music Festival this summer. The festival will take place this year in Addams-Medill Park. If you’re interested in buying tickets, check out their website. 

Spring Awakening Lineup 2017

Green Music Fest (June 10-11)

An eco-friendly music festival?! We’re in! Happening in Wicker Park Bucktown, the festival will feature a people-powered bicycle stage, ecologically crafted beer, and lots of information on how to start living an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Taking place from June 10th through the 11th, this is a festival you don’t want to miss. Read more here.

Taste of Randolph (June 16-18) 

Happening on West Loop, Taste of Randolph features some of Chicago’s (and America’s) best eats! Six blocks of food, music, and drinks…what more could you want? Headlining this year is Dawes, Robert DeLong, Moon Taxi, and Here Come the Mummies. Proceeds from this festival benefit the West Loop Community Organization, which supports local businesses and economic development. 

Taste of Randolph 2017 Lineup

Country LakeShake Festival (June 23-25)

If you love country music, Country LakeShake festival on Northerly Island is the place for you to be. Thomas Rhett, Miranda Lambert, and Rascal Flatts are just a few of the big names that are scheduled to appear. Passes are on sale now, and there are payment plans available!

LakeShake 2017 Lineup

Mamby on the Beach (June 24-25)

If you can’t make it to real beach this summer, Mamby may just be the second best thing. Taking place on Oakwood Beach, Walk the Moon, Flying Lotus, MGMT, and Local Natives will be present. The festival takes place on June 24th and 25th. See who else will be appearing by the lake here.

Mamby on the Beach 2017 Lineup

West Fest (July 7-9)

West Fest is locally planned and managed by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, which makes sure that local talent and local offerings are featured. Offering a West Fest’s Pet Fest and Kid Fest, there is surely something for the whole family to enjoy. Read more about West Fest here.

West Fest Music Festival

The above is just a small sampling of what Chicago has to offer in the way of music festivals. ParqEx has many parking options near these festivals. Book your parking spot in advance to avoid the hassle come festival time. 

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Lollapalooza Music Festival

How could we leave out Lollapalooza, which will be the 25th birthday of the event. This years festival is being held at Grant Park, and is headlining some bands you might have heard of like: Radiohead, Lana Del Ray, and LCD Soundsystem. The four days of music festivities is being held July 28th -31st, which is one day longer than usual.

Grant Park is in downtown Chicago, and will have two entrances attendees can use. The event coordinators warn of the limited availability of parking, so advise people to take public transit. This is where ParqEx can help you have the perfect parking spot nearby while everyone else is taking the bus! The cost of four-day passes are $335 and single day passes are $120.

Movies in the Park

For a more low-key type of activity, how about a movie in one of Chicago’s many parks? Over 250 movie screenings are being held from June until mid-September in parks all across Chicago. Bring a blanket and some snacks to enjoy a movie on a very large blown up screen, in the middle of a Chicago park at night.

To give you an idea of some of the parks holding these events, here’s a list of 10: Gross, Grant, Piotrowski, West Chatham, Sherwood, Lindblom, Lowe, Eugene Field, Eckhart, and Maplewood. And to give you an idea of the movies being played, here’s a list of 10: Jurassic World, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Sandlot, War Room, Ant-Man, The Lego Movie, October Sky, Inside Out, Rio 2, and Zootopia.

Watch an outdoor movie for little to no cost, and enjoy the beautiful nights of Chicago with friends and family watching a good movie. There are many parks holding these events, so parking availability will vary, but either way ParqEx can help make outdoor movie night less of a hassle for the times when parking is needed.

Windy City Smokeout

There are so many great food and music festivals during the summer including the Taste of Chicago held at Grant Park, but let’s highlight the Windy City Smokeout. This is an annual three-day food and music festival being held from July 15th – 17th, 2016. Grilled meats and country music are the themes of this event being held at River North on W Grand Ave.

Bands like Billy Currington and Old Dominion will be playing country music while plenty of tasty pork, beer, and meaty treats will be available from local barbecue restaurants. Attendees can gain entry one day for only $40, or get a weekend pass for $100. Parking will be tough for this downtown event, so reserving a space through ParqEx will help facilitate a smooth culinary country music holiday at the annual Windy City Smokeout.

See a Cubs Ball Game

One of the biggest attractions in Chicago and especially in the summer is the major league baseball teams: the Cubs and the White Sox. There’s not many cities with two pro baseball teams, which gives residents and visitors a great choice for a summer time event to attend.

The Cubs play at the historic Wrigley Field, which has been undergoing some big renovations. The Cubs had their best season since 1945 last year, only four wins away from being in the World Series! That means this summer should be an exciting time to watch a Cubs game.

Tickets cost anywhere from $27 to $200. Wrigley Field is located in North Chicago near Uptown on W Addision St., so finding parking and dealing with traffic could be tough. ParqEx could help you find and reserve the perfect parking spot nearby, so you can enjoy a Cubs ball game this summer.

Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour

Many people will find a river cruise appealing in Chicago this summer. There are many different options to choose from if this is the case. For instance, the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour runs daily from Gateway Park and Navy Pier beginning at 10am. This is a 75-minute cruise highlighting more than 40 Chicago landmarks and only costs $32-$39 for adults and $16-$20 for children under 12.

Summary

The list goes on and on with fun and interesting things you can do this summer in Chicago. These 5 activities should give you an idea of the diversity of options Chicago gives residents and visitors when it comes to enjoying the Windy City. Great food, music, and culture are all kicking off even now as summer officially begins.

Don’t let parking woes slow your fun down this summer when enjoying Chicago. The ParqEx app gives you the tool needed to find the parking solution for every circumstance. Simply find a parking spot being rented nearby your event, reserve it on the day and hour needed, and the rest is taken care of through the app.

For those who have a parking spot to rent the process is just as simple. Use ParqEx to rent out your space and make some extra money during the year, all through the app. We’re a Chicago based company proud to help bring people together to make parking easier and safer. To learn more please contact us today.

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1. South Loop Concerts

In the month of July, South Loop has a couple of fantastic concerts. On July 1st and 3rd, Guns N’ Roses is coming to town. They will take the stage on Soldier Field. Coldplay will also be playing on Soldier Field, later in the month on July 23rd and 24th.

2. Ravinia

Ravinia is a series of concerts that will be taking place throughout the entire summer. Every day a fantastic artist will perform. For example, Paul Simon will perform on June 18th and Patty LaBelle will take the stage on June 23rd.

3. Windy City LakeShake

For the country music fan, the Windy City LakeShake is an event you won’t want to miss. It takes place over the course of three days, June 17-19. Some of the top country artists will perform, including Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum and Jason Aldean.

4. Taste of Chicago

This outdoor food festival is one of the best in the nation. Along with foods that are unique to Chicago, you can enjoy live entertainment and fun activities every member of the family can enjoy.

5. Ruido Fest

Ruido Fest takes place July 8-10 at Addams/Medill Park. It is an Alternative-Latin festival that focuses on Spanish style reggae, hip-hop, electronic and a number of other music genres. Several popular artists will be taking the stage during this festival.

6. Pitchfork

Pitchfork is currently celebrating its 11th year. It is an internationally recognized festival that features over 40 fantastic bands. The festival takes place over the course of three days and is intended to highlight Chicago’s emerging music scene. This year’s festival will take place from July 15th through July 17th.

7. Chicago Open Air

One of the best things to enjoy at Chicago Open Air is the fantastic food options. Along with this, attendees have the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the alternative music industry. For example, Korn, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson and Slipknot will all be performing during this festival. It takes place July 15-17 at Toyota Park, Bridgeview.

8. Millennium Park Summer Film Series

This is a great event to attend for those who are looking to enjoy a movie and a picnic dinner. Along with this event, Millennium Park offers a number of other summer events, like concerts, exhibits and even nature programs.

9. 20th Annual Chicago SummerDance

SummerDance is the largest outdoor dance series in the nation. Whether you love cha-cha, waltz, swing or another type of dance, you will be able to enjoy it here. The program takes place from June 24th through September 11th and offers live music and hour-long dance lessons.

10. Windy City Ribfest

Along with some great ribs, the Windy City Ribfest event offers live music, crafts and other vendors. The entrance fee is free, but there is a suggested donation price of $5 for those attending. This year, the festival will take place over the 4th of July weekend.

When you do make the choice to attend these events, make sure you plan your parking in advance. ParqEx has partnered with Bucktown/Wicker Park for some of these fabulous events and also services neighborhoods, such as South Loop, Ravenswood, Lake View, and many others that hold these fabulous events. With our assistance, you will always be able to find adequate parking so that you can enjoy everything your event has to offer.

To learn more about easy parking for attending events in the Chicago area, contact us today.

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Gold Coast Art Festival

Gold Coast Art Festival, located in Grant Park, is considered the “Granddaddy of American art festivals.” June 18 and 19, 2016, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm will be the 59th annual Gold Coast Art Festival. It’s considered one of the top thirty juried art festivals in the United States, with displays from over 300 artists. There will be food, drink, live music, and children’s activities. Go to admire or go to buy. ParqEx can help you find a parking spot nearby, so you don’t have to carry your purchases a mile or more to your car.

Fiestas Puertorriqueñas and Puerto Rican People’s Parade

Fiestas Puertorriqueñas and Puerto Rican People’s Parade is a four day festival of Puerto Rican heritage, from June 16 to June 19, 2016. One of the largest Latino cultural events in the United States, this celebration takes place in Humboldt Park. The 37th anniversary of the Puerto Rican People’s Parade will be along Division Street. In addition to the parade, there will be live music, entertainment, carnival rides, authentic Caribbean cuisine, arts & crafts, dancing, and much more.

Square Roots Music Festival

Square Roots Music Festival is a chance to have a great time and help the community. Money raised by the festival supports Old Town School of Folk Music scholarship programs and Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce farmers markets and concerts. The festival is in Lincoln Square, July 8 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, July 9 from 12 noon to 11:00 pm, and July 10 from 12 noon to 9:00 pm. More than 30 craft beers from local breweries will be available for tasting. There are plenty of activities for those under 21: games and arts & crafts. Musical performances range from indie rock to folk music to jazz.

Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza is a four day music festival in Grant Park, running from July 28 to 31. This year’s entertainers include world-famous rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, electronic-eclectic band Major Lazer, pop singer Lana del Rey, rock band Jane’s Addiction, hip-hop band Flatbush Zombies, singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, indie rock band Frightened Rabbit from Glasgow, Scotland, pop singer Alina Baraz, English folk group Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Norwegian musician Cashmere Cat, English rock band Radiohead, Chicago rapper Towkio, and too many others to list here. In addition to some of the world’s best musicians, there will be an art market, shopping, and photo opportunities. There’s a mini-fest for children where they can have fun. Food comes from some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants, rather than the usual carnival fare. This year is Lollapalooza’s 25th anniversary. Come experience the music and the energy. Let ParqEx help you find parking for all four days.

Chicago Air and Water Festival

The Chicago Air and Water Festival is the largest free festival of its kind. August 20 and 21, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, the place to be will be North Avenue Beach. This year will be the 58th anniversary of the Chicago Air and Water Festival, featuring aerial acrobatics, watercraft daredevilry, food, and music. Performers at the festival include US Navy Blue Angels, US Army Golden Knights parachute teams, the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, and the Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue team. From biplanes to jet planes, the Chicago Air and Water Festival has aircraft and stunts to thrill you.

For more information on the best festivals in Chicago, how to get there, and where to park, contact us.

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