The announcement came a day after Lightfoot announced the return of the Chicago Auto Show in July as well as the goal of fully reopening the city by July 4.

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From the Grant Park Music Festival to the outdoor yoga in Millennium Park, the city has outlined dozens of events that are expected to return to Chicago in the weeks and months to come.

The last time a concert was held at the Pritzker Pavilion was in September 2019. And while things may look and feel a little different from what they were then, the important elements – the music and people – are about to return.

WATCH | Mayor Lightfoot announces return of cultural events

“First to close. Last to open. This has been the fate of too many of our artistic and cultural venues. And today, I’m happy to report that that is finally starting to change,” said Lightfoot.

“We look forward to safely welcoming audiences this summer to one of the first major live music events at the Pritzker Pavilion since September 2019,” said Paul Winberg, Grant Park Music Festival.

A concert to celebrate Independence Day on July 2 will mark this return. The long list of announced events includes: Grant Park Music Festival, Taste of Chicago-To-Go, Old Town Art Fair, Pride in the Park, Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago SummerDance, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Chinatown Summer Fair.

“We have all had a difficult year and I think it brings back hope that we can start having joy again,” said Anne Giffels, president of the Old Town Art Fair 2021.

MORE | See the full list of summer events scheduled in Chicago

City officials also announced a new month-long music festival called “Chicago In Tune.”

“Everyone loves music and this festival will span all of our neighborhoods and encompass all genres of music in Chicago, from classical to hip hop and jazz,” said Mark Kelly, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. .

Popular Chicago Farmers’ Markets, including Maxwell Street, are also making a comeback, along with the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera, Broadway in Chicago, and various indoor theatrical performances.

“These are the rewards for our perseverance over this past year. Your commitment. Your dedication. Your sacrifice,” said Lightfoot.

Reservations will be required for some events, including the Grant Park Music Festival and the Old Town Art Fair, which will expand its footprint to accommodate booths 6 feet apart.

“There are so many things that make Chicago a great city, but coming back to arts and culture only puts it on top,” Giffels said.

The city will not require proof of vaccination to attend these events, but plans to bring mobile vaccination units to many of them.

“We’ll probably be using Johnson and Johnson for obvious reasons,” Lightfoot said. “It’s a blow, but we will announce the opportunity to be vaccinated on the spot.”

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is currently reviewing applications for outdoor festivals, street and art / craft fairs, and sporting events.

The list will be added as more events are approved. The Air & Water Show and Lollapalooza are two of the big ones that are still pending.

Chicago launches concert series for fully vaccinated residents

On Wednesday morning, the city announced the launch of the Protect Chicago Music Series, a monthly series of music events exclusively for Chicagoans fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It will include a variety of musical events taking place across Chicago as an incentive and benefit for Chicagoans who receive a COVID-19 vaccine to protect their families, communities and themselves, the mayor’s office said in a statement.

The launch event will take place on May 22 at Hyde Park. DJ Ron Trent and Duane Powell will perform. The Silverroom is a partner of the first concert.
Participants must have received the final dose of a two-dose vaccine or a single-dose vaccine two weeks before each event to be eligible. Each event will receive a ticket and attendees must also bring their CDC vaccination card as proof of vaccination and a corresponding photo ID. Tickets will be distributed for each event through Eventbrite, designated vaccination sites, and call.

For the first event, Saturday May 8 is the last date to receive a single-dose vaccine, or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, to be eligible to participate. Tickets will first be made available to those attending a special immunization event between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana Ave. Anyone vaccinated at this event with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be offered a ticket to attend the May 22 concert. Meetings are preferred, but not required, and can be scheduled at https://rebrand.ly/MusicSeries.

People already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are also eligible for the music series. Tickets for the May 22 event will be available at noon next Monday when The Silverroom goes live with an Eventbrite RSVP portal at https://thesilverroom.com/.

Additional dates and artists in the Protect Chicago Music series will be announced in the coming weeks throughout the summer.

Music returns to Millennium Park

the Grant Park Music Festival will return to Millennium Park this summer.

“We’re still working on the details of the exact capacity of the Pritzker Pavilion for our concerts this summer, so it’s going to be a little different,” said Paul Winberg, President and CEO of the Grant Park Music Festival. . “Another thing that’s going to be really different is that while all of our concerts and events are free, they will have to be booked.

He said you will need to reserve a spot online or speak to a customer service rep, either in the seating area or on the large lawn.
Visit GrantParkMusicFestival.com for more information.

Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place in July

The abbreviated auto show is July 15-19, which is shorter than the normal nine-day race in February, which will bring back jobs and an economic boost.

The show will move into Hall F of the West Building with 470,000 square feet of indoor space and 100,000 square feet of outdoor space along Indiana Avenue, where road tests will be conducted. There are also plans for a street festival that will feature cars, food, and entertainment.
Face masks will be required at all times. There will be contactless delivery for tickets. Temperatures will be scanned and a medical questionnaire will need to be completed before entering. A vaccine will not be necessary.

The show will be smaller, capped at 10,000 people at a time, and shorter, but it’s on-going nonetheless.

McCormick Place has been temporarily turned into an alternative care facility in case hospitals are overwhelmed.