Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ravinia Festival,
Ravinia Park, in
suburban Highland Park (
&
847/
266-5100;
www.ravinia.com), is
the open-air summer home of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and
the venue of many first-rate visiting
orchestras, chamber ensembles, pop
artists, dance companies, and so
forth. See also “Exploring the
'Burbs,” in chapter 8. June through
September.
Puerto Rican Fest,
Humboldt
Park, Division Street and Sacra-
mento Boulevard (
&
773-292-
1414
). One of Chicago's animated
Latino street celebrations, this festi-
val includes 5 days of live music,
theater, games, food, and beverages.
It peaks with a parade that winds its
way from Wacker Drive and Dear-
born Street to the West Side Puerto
Rican enclave of Humboldt Park.
Mid-June.
Old Town Art Fair,
historic Old
Town neighborhood, at Lincoln
Park West and Wisconsin Street
(
&
312/337-1938;
www.oldtown
triangle.com). This juried fine-arts
fair has been drawing crowds for
more than 50 years with the work
of more than 250 painters, sculp-
tors, and jewelry designers from the
Midwest and around the country. It
also features an art auction, a garden
walk, concessions, and children's art
activities. Second weekend in June.
Wells Street Art Festival,
Wells
Street from North Avenue to Divi-
sion Street (
&
312/951-6106
).
Held on the same weekend as the
more prestigious Old Town Art
Fair, this arts fest is still lots of fun,
with 200 arts and crafts vendors,
food, music, and carnival rides. Sec-
ond weekend in June.
Jammin' at the Zoo,
Lincoln Park
Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Dr., at
Fullerton Parkway (
&
773/742-
2000;
www.lpzoo.com). The lovely
lawn south of the zoo's Park Place
Café is certainly one of the more
unusual outdoor venues for rock,
zydeco, and reggae music fans, who
can be animals themselves at
times—though, in this case, the
emphasis is on family fun. The first
of three summer concerts is held in
late June. Ticket prices vary.
Grant Park Music Festival,
Pritzker
Music Pavilion, at Randolph Street
and Columbus Drive in Grant Park
(
&
312/742-4763
). The free out-
door musical concerts in the park
begin the last week in June and con-
tinue through August.
Chicago Country Music Festival,
Petrillo Music Shell, at Jackson
Drive and Columbus Drive in
Grant Park (
&
312/744-3315
).
Y'all might not think fans of Garth
Brooks and Trisha Yearwood would
thrive in these northern urban
climes. Think again, partner. This
free event features big-name enter-
tainers of the country-and-western
genre. Last weekend in June, con-
current with the first weekend of
the Taste of Chicago (see below).
Taste of Chicago,
Grant Park
(
&
312/744-3315
). The city
claims that this is the largest free
outdoor food fest in the nation.
Three-and-a-half million rib and
pizza lovers feeding at this colossal
alfresco trough say they're right.
Over 10 days of feasting in the
streets, scores of Chicago restau-
rants cart their fare to food stands
set up throughout the park. To
avoid the heaviest crowds at this
event, try going weekdays earlier in
the day. Claustrophobics, take note:
If you're here the evening of July 3,
when Chicago launches its Inde-
pendence Day fireworks, pick out a
vantage point farther north on the
lakefront—unless dodging sweaty
limbs, spilled beer, and the occa-
sional bottle rocket sounds adven-
turous to you. Admission is free;
