It’s July, which can only mean one thing– summer is here! Events and celebrations are taking place all over Chicago, from numerous live music events and interactive workshops to unmissable exhibitions and natural escapes; here are some of the best things to do in July in Chicago.
Watch a free outdoor concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
If you can’t make Millennium Park’s anniversary celebrations, worry not. There is a packed schedule of events going on in the expansive park all summer long, and one of our personal favorites is the Grant Park Music Festival.
A beloved Chicago tradition for the past 90 years, the Grant Park Music Festival is dubbed “the nation’s only remaining free, outdoor classical music series” and has now returned for its ten-week schedule of free music in Millennium Park and other parts of the city.
Enjoy The Chicago Fire White Party Fundraiser in the West Loop This Month!
Chicago Fire fans, don’t miss your chance to rub shoulders with the First Team, Chicago Fire alumni, and the who’s who of the city at the Chicago Fire White Party presented by Magellan in the West Loop this month! Enjoy music, dancing, a premium open bar, and offerings from some of Chicago’s hottest local restaurants.
Don’t miss it on Thursday, July 31, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are selling fast—so grab them here so you don’t miss out on the Chicago Fire’s hottest party of the year! All proceeds benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation, the team’s charitable organization that has been giving back to the Chicago community since 1998, contributing more than $2 million to date. Guests must be 21+. White attire is strongly encouraged.
Check out London House’s “Luminescence” experience
London House Chicago, a luxury hotel renowned for its unparalleled views of the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago River, has revived its summer “Luminescence” experience on its iconic 22nd-floor terrace.
Along with impressive views over the heart of Chicago, guests will now find a vibrant array of multi-colored, floral-themed LED lights sprawled across the award-winning rooftop, along with specially crafted summer cocktails “with exquisite floral garnishes” every day of July.
Attend Windy City Smokeout
Windy City Smokeout, the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, is returning to Chicago’s iconic United Center venue this summer.
The festival, which won the Academy of Country Music Awards “Festival of the Year” in 2022, is one of the best things to do in Chicago in July. This year features a tremendous lineup with some of country music’s most prominent names and up-and-coming talents. Attendees can also enjoy the best BBQ and craft beer nationwide.
Catch a weekly Navy Pier firework show
If you can’t get enough of fireworks, Navy Pier’s summer programming includes weekly firework shows over Lake Michigan.
The dazzling displays will continue throughout the summer, with shows every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. and every Saturday at 10:00 p.m. You can find a spot anywhere on the pier or nearby to take in a completely free, dazzling display.
Watch the fireworks from the Lake
Another option, if you want to make it a really special Wednesday or Saturday night, is to watch the fireworks from the waters of Lake Michigan with a Chicago Lakefront Fireworks Cruise. With the mesmerizing Chicago skyline in the backdrop, you’ll be spellbound as fireworks illuminate the night sky.
Kayak down the Chicago River
After shutting down for the winter season, Urban Kayaks has reopened their Riverwalk and Monroe Harbour locations, kicking off kayaking season now that the weather has warmed up.
Whether you’re down by the Chicago Riverwalk, flanked on either side by the city’s famous high-rise architecture, or taking in the skyline from the protected waters of Monroe Harbour, kayaking in Chicago is a magical and truly unforgettable activity.
Read more about kayaking in Chicago this summer.
Watch the Art on theMART projections
A truly unique evening can be had by combining kayaking with the Art on the MART projections.
Holding the title of the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, Art on theMART attracts thousands to the Riverwalk every week by firing up 34 digital projectors and showcasing work from both renowned artists and local talent on the 2.5-acre river façade of the Merchandise Mart.
The summer program will begin on July 6, featuring mesmerizing projections by the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project as well as the continued Building Light projections every night through mid-September.
Catch the Merchandise Mart’s July 4 projection
With spring, summer, and fall programs providing various different projections throughout the year, the Merchandise Mart also embraces the most important days in the calendar with unique temporary displays.
For the first five days of July, the iconic building will be turning red, white, and blue to celebrate Independence Day.
Along with the sounds of classic Americana and songs played along the Riverwalk from 9 pm, national pride will be emanating from the Chicago Riverwalk for an hour and a half.
Be captivated by a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s sublime Candlelight Concert series is providing an array of breathtaking spectacles in the Windy City. Talented musicians will perform at extraordinary venues throughout Chicago, offering guests the chance to marvel at the enchanting combination of flickering candles and melodic sounds.
Attend a Concert Under The Stars
Concerts Under the Stars is another terrific outdoor musical experience taking place this month and all summer long!
Attend a Tuesday on the Terrace at MCA
Every Tuesday through summer, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosts Tuesdays on the Terrace—a free musical event series for Illinois residents. It offers Chicagoans a chance to turn a typical underwhelming Tuesday into a jubilant evening at the MCA’s Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden, where they can experience free music that highlights artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned jazz community.
Tuesdays on the Terrace have shows running from 5:30 pm until 8 pm every Tuesday through to the end of summer.
Read more about Tuesdays on the Terrace.
Head to a peach festival just outside of Chicago this month
Windy Acre Farms, home of the fabulous June strawberry festival, is embracing all the summer-centric fruits with a sweet-as-can-be peach festival in July.
Enjoy some of the extraordinary exhibitions taking place in Chicago this year
One of Chicago’s most impressive qualities is its collection of world-class museums and the array of exhibits they offer. This year, a whole host of new, extraordinary art exhibits are coming to the Windy City.
Art, science, and human connection have a truly transformative power, and now, after the tumultuous and unprecedented years that we’ve just endured, it’s time to remember that.
Browse some of the world’s most famous artworks for free
One of the planet’s oldest and largest art museums, the Art Institute of Chicago is undoubtedly one of the city’s most renowned museums and one of the best things to do in July In Chicago. Since its founding in 1879, it has flourished into one of the most recognized art museums in the world.
The museum is permanently home to over 300,000 works of art, including masterpieces such as Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom, 1889, and Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist.
Get free entry to Adler Planetarium on a Wednesday
Another of Chicago’s famed attractions, The Adler Planetarium, underwent a huge revamp during a two-year Covid-19-induced hiatus and now boasts a brand new telescope in the Doane Observatory, which holds the title of the largest public telescope in the state.
In addition to a new observation park, the planetarium features a shiny new roof, lending the 80-year-old dome an iconic new glow. However, the best news is that upon its reopening, the planetarium announced that Illinois residents would be able to enter for free every Wednesday evening from 4-10 pm for the foreseeable future, provided they bring proof of residency.
Spend a Sunday at Maxwell Street Market
Maxwell Street Market, Chicago’s longest-running open-air market, first debuted in 1912 and has returned for its 111th summer season with handmade crafts and undiscovered treasures.
Sample the best cocktails in Chicago
Whether you’re treating yourself to brunch in Chicago, kicking back on a Chicago patio, or enjoying drinks out at one of Chicago’s many bars and restaurants, you can be sure a finely-crafted cocktail is only seconds away.
From top-notch margaritas to more innovative cocktail concoctions and everything in between, the Windy City and its abundance of revered mixologists have the answers to whatever it is you’re after.
We’ve recently filtered through the noise to round up the best cocktail bars in Chicago based on our experiences at Secret Chicago, our reader’s most popular choices, and a scrupulous assessment of settings and drink quality.
Kick back at a revered brewery
If craft beers are more your style than a fruity cocktail, worry not—Chicago has an abundance of internationally acclaimed breweries.
Frequently recognized as one of the best beer cities in the country, our seasoned and inventive beer scene has produced so many fantastic breweries and taprooms in Chicago that we’re spoilt for choice.
There are now over 200 breweries, big and small, across Chicagoland, meaning one of the best things to do in July in Chicago is to enjoy a finely crafted beer in various environments, whatever the weather.
To make sure you’re checking out the best of the best, we’ve here rounded up the 10 best breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms in Chicago. Cheers!
Buckel up for a Drunk Shakespeare show
On that topic, another brilliant Chicago experience comes in the form of a live Drunk Shakespeare show.
On a stage in a hidden speakeasy behind the Chicago Theater, guests will find a glam cocktail bar and library with over 10,000 books. Five classically-trained actors meet as members of “The Drunk Shakespeare Society.” One of them has had at least five shots of whiskey, and then they (quite over-confidently) attempt to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play!
Hilarity and mayhem ensue while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking… and what they’re drinking!
Grab tickets to a Drunk Shakespeare show here.
Chuckle away at Chicago comedy show
If you’re looking for a chuckle, there’s no place better for that than at a Chicago comedy show. One of the best things to do in July in Chicago, the city is famous for its production of funny guys and girls. Chicago has some of the best places to see a comedy show in the country.
At Laugh Factory Chicago, some of today’s biggest names and local comedians are delivering something for every taste and style throughout the year.
Grab tickets to a show at Laugh Factory Chicago here.
Peruse the magnificent street art murals of Chicago
Chicago’s street art and graffiti scene has continued to thrive over the last decade. One of the best things to do in July in Chicago is to gaze at the new pieces, which are so esteemed that they’ve embedded themselves in the very fabric of Chicago and are now part and parcel of the Windy City’s identity.
Head out of the city and see Illinois’ natural spectacles
Heading out into the wilderness is another way to enjoy a fulfilling experience without paying more than the cost of travel. If you enjoy being surrounded by nature, then heading out to experience the quiet beauty of Illinois’ natural surroundings is one of the best things to do in Chicago in July.
Though our state may not boast wonders with the universal magnitude of the Grand Canyon nor the grandiose reputation of Niagara Falls, Illinois is teeming with diverse ecological landscapes that transform into incredible spectacles this time of the year. From monolithic marvels to cascading waterfalls, here are seven natural wonders of Illinois that you can visit while they’re about to peak:
- Garden Of The Gods: Saline County
- Wildcat Canyon In Starved Rock State Park: La Salle County
- Cache River State Natural Area: Johnson County
- Cave-In-Rock: Hardin County
- The Pomona Natural Bridge: Jackson County
- Cascade Falls In Matthiessen State Park: La Salle County
- Bork Falls In Ferne Clyffe State Park: Johnson County
Stay in a Starved Rock Getaway cabin
For an even more prolonged experience in nature. Getaway House is a chain of tiny cabin hideaways helping people in big, bustling cities like Chicago, DC, LA and NYC, disconnect from their busy city lives with restorative stays in the middle of nature.