Music Festivals
Central
THE 5 BEST Chicago Music Festivals
Music Festivals in Chicago
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8 places sorted by traveller favourites
Cultural Events • Music Festivals
Lower West Side
Music Festivals • Food & Drink Festivals
Music Festivals
What travellers are saying
- MidwestKathMDetroit, MI869 contributionsThe Chicago Blues Festival is awesome! Been there a couple times in recent years. From the small stage to the main stage, the variety of musical acts--from local to national acts and some internationally known performers--playing and singing the blues is terrific. Situated in Millenium Park in the heart of downtown Chicago...and is free to attent, this festival is not to be missed. Sitting on the grass or in the theatre in the Pritzker Pavilion listening to music while surrounded by fresh air, skyscrapers, and city traffic is the bomb! Make your plans to attend next year! And squeeze in a visit to the Art Institute or the Chicago Cultural Center, both just across the street. Food and drink vendors on site. Lots of parking nearby.Written 7 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lisa CWhite Plains, NY17 contributionsEntry protocols were sound and quick. I felt safe. They had the experience down and were efficient. Travelled with my teen and adult husband. She got to see it all and it was fine. Lots of food options, drink (both alcohol and not), medic tents, help throughout and even some well thought things like narcan tent and AA tent. Lots of sponsor stuff like chargers, give aways and experiences. We were there for the music and the music was incredible. We saw every genre and enjoyed each live performance.Written 17 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Thomas J. Elzey12 contributionsCHICAGO AT ITS BEST !! Great Jazz, wonderful venue , beautiful people !!!
The vibe is low key and mellow .Written 14 December 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - C2197MAthomasvChicago67 contributionsThis fest is not for the faint of heart. Mostly DJ rock the stages and the crowd is 18 plus. Very EDM and people trying to rave out. We try and go every year to support Chicago and the Industry. Venue laid out very well and lots of room to dance and people watch. But that also means lots of walking. There very strict on what you can bring in so make sure to check out there site before you go. The food venders where laid out well but they need more of them to handle all of the people. A lot of them ran out of food. Bathrooms where well laid out and plenty to choose from. All types of music to choose to hear so pick your stage wisely. For a quick get away and to feel like your in your own little world make sure to visit there silent disco.Written 9 August 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ImmerWandernPalos Heights, IL7,264 contributionsWe had heard about this Pilsen Street festival for a few years and finally checked it out last year. It began 45 years ago in 1974 to celebrate the opening of a local high school and now celebrated Latino culture: cuisine, music, art. Given that it was held at the height of summer the festival lived up to its name; the day featured relentless sunshine so check the weather and prepare accordingly with headgear and sunblock.
We arrived fairly early but still found that the closest street parking was many blocks away, an uncomfortable walk in the summer heat. We paid to park close to the entrance.
About 100 booths lined Cermak Avenue. We focused on the food, drinks and music. Bring an empty stomach and hearty appetite. As with any food festival it was tempting to start eating at the first booth. I suggest walking the length of the Fiesta Del Sol and check out all the culinary offerings before committing to your first of many dishes and drinks. Seating is hard to come by along Cermak so head to the park on the north and find a bench or just sit on the grass.
Be sure to check out the performance stage on the east end for Mexican songs and dances performed by both school groups and professionals.Written 29 July 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - SuziMac889 contributionsWe traveled from Ohio to attend Pitchfork with our adult children. I was not familiar with many of the bands like my family was, but found some bands I really liked, like Twin Peaks. Pitchfork Music Festival is three day event in Union Park. We took a taxi there on Friday and our driver did not know where this park was located. I guess not much goes on there.
I appreciated how organized the event was as well as how peaceful most of the guests were even though there were quite a bit of drug usage and little security. I was close to the oldest person there, but didn't feel out of place.
The worst moment was being shaken down by the gate security upon admission the first day. I did not know you could not bring a camera and I had brought mine. This made no sense because everyone has a phone with a camera, right? The security guy said if I gave him $40.00 I could bring it in. Since I would have missed a lot of the concert if I had taken it back to the hotel and came back and stood in line again, I paid it. I was very angry when I found out the truth was you could bring in a camera if the lense was not removable, which mine was not. Definately left a bad taste in my mouth.
I have been to Chicago many times and that was the first time I was faced with such a scam. I look at it like a bad person rather than a bad event.Written 2 August 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago
- These places are best for music festivals in Chicago:
- Chicago Blues Festival
- Lollapalooza
- Chicago Jazz Festival
- Spring Awakening Music Festival
- Fiesta del Sol