Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Major Convention Dates
Listed below are Chicago's major conventions for 2005 (30,000 visitors
or more), with projected attendance figures. Plan ahead, because
hotel rooms and restaurant reservations can be hard to come by when
the big shows are in town (and even if you snag a room, you'll be pay-
ing top price). Contact the
Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
(
&
877/CHICAGO,
877/244-2246; www.choosechicago.com) to double-
check the latest info before you commit to your travel dates, because
convention schedules can change.
Event
Dates 2005
Expected Attendance
International Home
Mar 20-22
60,000
and Housewares Show
National Restaurant
May 21-24
75,000
Association Show
SUPERCOMM
June 6-9
40,000
Neo-Con—World's Trade
June 13-15
40,000
Fair
U.S. Volleyball Association
June 17-19
50,000
Rotary International
June 19-22
50,000
Centennial Convention
American Library
June 25-28
30,000
Association
Print '05 & Converting '05
Sept 9-15
80,000
American Academy of
Oct 15-18
30,000
Ophthalmology
Worldwide Food Expo
Oct 26-29
30,000
FABTECH International
Nov 13-16
30,000
Radiological Society of
Nov 27-Dec 2
60,000
North America
Columbus Drive in Grant Park
(
&
312/744-3315
). Several na-
tional headliners are always on
hand at this steamy gathering,
which provides a swell end-of-sum-
mer bookend opposite the gospel
and blues fests in June. The event is
free; come early and stay late. First
weekend in September.
Boulevard Lakefront Bike Tour
(Chicagoland Bicycle Federation;
&
312/42-PEDAL;
www.chibike
fed.org). This 35-mile leisurely
bicycle excursion is a great way to
explore the city, from the neighbor-
hoods and the lakefront to
Chicago's historic link of parks and
boulevards. There's also a 10-mile
tour for children and families. It
starts and ends at the University of
Chicago in Hyde Park, which hosts
the annual Bike Expo, with vendors
and entertainment. A Sunday
morning in mid-September.
Mexican Independence Day
Parade,
along Dearborn Street
between Wacker Drive and Van
Buren Street (
&
312/744-3315
).
Saturday in mid-September. Another
parade is held the next day on 26th
Street in the Little Village neighbor-
hood (
&
773/521-5387
).
