CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced Thursday the 2022 dates for some of the City of Chicago’s most beloved summertime traditions, including festivals.
Mainly all-virtual in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and reimagined in 2021, these festivals and special events will be in-person in 2022 — many at nearly their pre-pandemic size and scope. These festivals and events include the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Chicago Air and Water Show; plus, Chicago SummerDance, Maxwell Street Market, Millennium Park concerts and movies, and more.
“Chicago’s spring and summertime programming is cherished by our residents and bolsters our tourism, hospitality, and creative industries,” said Mayor Lightfoot, in a statement. “I am thrilled that we can bring back our iconic music and food festivals, as well as hundreds of other events. This will help to bring a sense of normalcy back to our city and revitalize the local economies of our neighborhoods.”
DCASE Summer/Spring programming will celebrate the 2022 Year of Chicago Dance, including the Chicago SummerDance series launching in July, a new Year of Chicago Dance Showcase at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (Aug. 27), and the annual SummerDance Celebration throughout Millennium Park aligned with National Dance Day (Sept. 17).
The Chicago Blues Festival and Chicago Jazz Festival will both return in 2022, each presenting four days of music at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and one more location at Millennium Park, plus the return of well-received neighborhood events. All-virtual in 2020, DCASE presented single Blues and Jazz nights at the Pritzker Pavilion last year along with community concerts as part of the 2021 Year of Chicago Music.
The 2022 Chicago Air and Water Show will be two full days (four hours each day) of aeronautical feats and a nautical demonstration plus one practice day, which is comparable to pre-pandemic editions of the air show. In 2020 and 2021, the event was reimagined as a flyover honoring healthcare workers and a solo performance by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, respectively.
“After pivoting and reimagining so many times over the past two years, we are excited to bring forward lessons learned and the best parts of these uniquely-Chicago artistic and cultural experiences for the public to safely enjoy once again,” said Nancy Villafranca-Guzman, DCASE Deputy Commissioner for Programming, in a statement.
The Taste of Chicago returns this year with food and music pop-ups in three Chicago neighborhoods in June and a new, "bite-sized" version of the classic lakefront extravaganza over three days in July — showcasing an estimated 30–40 eateries and food trucks each day, and three mainstage evening concerts.
Canceled entirely in 2020 due to COVID-19, Maxwell Street Market will be open 38 Sundays in 2022 (weather permitting) compared to just 15 Sundays last year.
Here are the dates for 2022 spring/summer festivals and special events:
• Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.): Sundays, April 3 – Dec. 18; MaxwellStreetMarket.us
• Chicago City Markets (citywide including Daley Plaza): May – October, ChicagoCityMarkets.us
• Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade (Daley Plaza and State Street): May 28; Chicago.gov/DCASE
• Millennium Park Summer Workouts (Great Lawn): Saturdays, May 28 – Sept. 3; MillenniumPark.org
• Millennium Park Summer Film Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Tuesdays, July 12 – Aug. 30; MillenniumPark.org
• Chicago Gospel Music Experience (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): June 4; MillenniumPark.org
• Chicago Blues Festival (citywide and at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion): June 9–12, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoBluesFestival.us
• Taste of Chicago June 11, 18, 25 (in neighborhoods) and July 8–10 (Grant Park); TasteofChicago.us
• Millennium Park Summer Music Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Mondays and Thursdays, June 20 – Aug. 18; MillenniumPark.org
• Chicago SummerDance (citywide) including pop-ups, special events, Night Out in the Parks events, and programs at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park: select dates July 6 – Sept. 17; ChicagoSummerDance.org
• Chicago Air and Water Show (North Avenue Beach and along the Lakefront): 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 20 -21; practice runs Aug. 19; ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us
• Year of Chicago Dance Showcase (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Aug. 27; MillenniumPark.org
• Chicago Jazz Festival (citywide and Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park ): Sept. 1–4; MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoJazzFestival.us
• Chicago House Music Experience (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Sept. 16, plus community events, dates TBA; MillenniumPark.org
• SummerDance Celebration (Jay Pritzker Pavilion and throughout Millennium Park); Sept. 17, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoSummerDance.org
• World Music Festival Chicago (citywide): Sept. 30 – Oct. 9; WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org
Programming details including times and artist lineups will be announced in the coming weeks. For updates throughout the spring and summer, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE
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