MILLENNIUM PARK

Millennium Park is FREE and open to the public every day of the year, but summer is the busiest time with hundreds of FREE concerts, films, workouts, art exhibits, family activities, nature programs and much, much more. Millennium Park is located along Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets.
 
Everything in the park is FREE except for your food, beverages and souvenirs. You can enjoy the park on your own, but I recommend taking one of the FREE guided tours given by the Chicago Greeters (See 1/1/2016 post). Tours are offered from about mid-May to mid-October and leave from the Chicago Cultural Center (located across Michigan Avenue from the park) every day at 11:30AM and 1:30PM (13:30). It is a walking tour, group size is limited, guests are accommodated on a first come, first served basis and the tour takes about an hour.
 
Throughout the park there is signage to help you navigate on your own and on the Millennium Park website you will find links to the Monthly Schedule, Upcoming Events, Lurie Garden activities, how to Plan Your Visit, the park’s Art and Architecture, Park History and Frequently Asked Questions. There is also a link to the Cultural Programs offered in the park.

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While on the website you can also download the FREE Millennium Park Audio Tours. The downloads include an introduction to the park’s features including the Exelon Pavilions, Harris Theater, McDonald’s Cycle Center, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, BP Bridge, Lurie Garden, Chase Promenade, Cloud Gate (a.k.a. “The Bean”) Wrigley Square, McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Skating Rink and  the Crown Fountain.

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If you are on the go, download the Millennium Park app for information on the daily events and a map. The app is available for IPhones and Android devices.
 
The park's Welcome Center is at 201 East Randolph and is open from 9AM-7PM (15:00) through September 30, 2016 and 10AM to  4PM (16:00) starting in October. 


THINGS TO DO

Among the FREE activities in the park is the Grant Park Music Festival. This is the oldest, free, outdoor councert series in the country. If you aren't able to attend an evening performance, you can still hear the orchestra during one of the rehearsals several days a weeks. Most of the concerts begin at 7:30PM

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The Summer Concert Series and World Music Festival are also held at the Prizker Pavillion. as well as the annual Gospel, and Jazz Music Festivals. 

The Summer Movie Series is seen here every Tuesday night at 6:30PM (18:30).

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FREE Summer Workouts are held on Wednesdays at 7:30AM  and Saturdays starting at 7AM.

FREE tours of Lurie Garden are offered Thursdays through Sundays between 11AM-1:15PM (13:00)

Family Fun Festival opens June 20th and runs through August 21, 2016. FREE activities for children are offered from 10AM-2PM (14:00) in the tent on the north end of the Chase Plaza. Different activities are offered every day.

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Temporary exhibits of large-scale art by world-class artists can also be found in the north and south Boeing Galleries and the Chase Promenade.

After School Matters Summer Program is an opportunity to watch and meet young people from Chicago honing their skills in the visual arts in the tent on the south end of the Chase Promenade. Periodically, there will be musical performances by student musicians in the Wrigley Square,

For so many reasons, Millennium Park is a "must see" during the summer.
 
BONUS

Today is the 2nd Friday of the month and there are lots of FREE activities. First, Activate will be changing the downtown alley at 16 East Monroe into a party venue. The party starts at 5PM (17:00). Also, FREE activities can be had at the Fine Arts Building (410 South Michigan Avenue), along the Chicago Cultural Mile (Michigan Avenue between Wacker Drive and Roosevelt Road) and the Chicago Arts District (1800 and 1900 blocks of South Halsted) all host open houses.

And, this is the weekend of the Chicago Blues Festival held in Grant Park. The full lineup of entertainers is listed on the website.


All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the website to get the most up-to-date information.
 
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If you know of a free event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com
 
Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

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