Top Things to Do in Chicago This Summer
After a winter like ours and the recent spring snow, there is nothing we need more than summer in Chicago. In hopes that it will come quicker, we are filling up our calendar with some of the top events and activities to participate in during our favorite season. From attending outdoor festivals with mountain bike demo courses to reliving the glory days of the 2016 World Series Champions Chicago Cubs, we have rounded up the top things to do in the Windy City throughout the summer months.
Enjoy everything outdoors without leaving Downtown Chicago
Outside Experience, presented by Go RVing, an unprecedented two-day event for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels and ages is taking place at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago from July 13-14, 2019. In partnership with Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading event company, this festival will showcase new products and interactive demos from leading active lifestyle brands and travel destinations. Attendees will test gear, enjoy films and live music and sip craft whiskey and beer—all in a festive, family-friendly, indoor/outdoor environment. From rock climbing walls to outdoor yoga sessions and mountain bike demo courses, this outside festival is covering it all. For more information, please visit www.outsideexperienceshow.com.
Tartan-clad dogs, whiskey tastings, AND haggis throwing?! Count us in!
The largest Scottish cultural organization in North America, the CHICAGO SCOTS is back for the 33rd year to provide entertainment and Scottish culture at their annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Taking place Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 at Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Place, Itasca, IL, the treasured summer-kickoff celebration will showcase an extravaganza of Scottish activities and attractions, all without buying a plane ticket. Proceeds from the festival benefit CHICAGO SCOTS’ two principal charities, the Caledonia Senior Living Center, which includes The Scottish Home and the Caledonian House. This lively event is a chance to enjoy friends and family, good music, good food, and more. For more information, event schedules, competition registration forms or to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.com, www.scottishfestivalchicago.org or or call (708) 426-7149.
Sign your kids up for DIY Camp
Back by popular demand, Paper Source, a curator of creative inspiration for over three decades, is excited to announce the return of their exclusive Kids Art Camp this summer. Through this program, Paper Source aims to encourage children to discover, design, and craft with a variety of materials and create several finished products ranging from hand-bound journals to room décor. Participants in Kids Art Camp will create five unique projects using various crafting techniques and tools during their week-long enrollment. The nationwide program offers morning time slots from 10:00am -12:00pm for children ages 7 through 9 and afternoon time slots from 1:00pm-3:00pm for children ages 10 and up. Sessions begin June 10th, June 17th, June 24th, July 15th, July 22nd, and July 29th.
Immerse yourself in the Greek culture at the National Hellenic Museum
The National Hellenic Museum (NHM), located at 333 S. Halsted St. in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop neighborhood, is a destination for culture-seekers both local to the city and visiting from all around the world. With a growing repository of over 20,000 artifacts, the museum catalogs and highlights the contributions of Greeks and Greek Americans to the American mosaic and inspires curiosity about visitors’ own family journeys through cultural expression, oral history and experiential education. The museum offers enriching exhibits including Lives Afloat: The Greek Refugee Crisis through the Lens of Tasos Markou, and their core exhibit, Greek Story in America, among many other interactive, experiential exhibitions. Consistently adding exciting and one-of-a-kind programming, the museum is a cultural staple in the city of Chicago, also offering guests access to a beautiful open-air rooftop terrace with panoramic views of downtown Chicago. The NHM is open to all ages with admission as follows: adults $10, seniors $8, students $8, and children 3 to 12 years are $7. Children under 3 years of age and members receive free admission. NHM is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.
Gain and maintain your summer beach body with Orangetheory Fitness
Orangetheory® Fitness, with 50 Chicagoland locations and hailed by The New York Times hails as “the best one-hour workout in the country,” is the perfect way to get in shape and stay fit throughout the summer! Orangetheory® Fitness is a one-of-a-kind, group personal training workout that uses intervals of cardiovascular and strength training. Their heart-rate-monitored training is designed to maintain a target zone (known as the “orange zone”), no matter what the fitness level of the individual, they will be stimulating metabolism and increasing energy. For more information or to get started at Orangetheory Fitness, visit www.orangetheoryfitness.com.
Relive the Glory Days of the 2016 World Series Champions Chicago Cubs with MIRACLE the Musical
A Miracle is coming to Chicago. Inspired by Chicago’s beloved 2016 World Series Champions the Chicago Cubs, MIRACLE, makes its thrilling World Premiere at the Royal George Theatre (1641 N Halsted St) with previews May 8. With a book by Jason Brett and music and lyrics by Jeff Award-winner Michael Mahler, this heartwarming musical is directed by Damon Kiely and produced by William Marovitz and Arny Granat. Set against the backdrop of the Chicago Cubs 2016 Championship season, MIRACLE tells the story of a typical blue collar Chicago family and what it means to have faith and lose it and try to regain it again. Performance schedule for MIRACLE is Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Thursdays at 2pm and 7:30pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the box office at 312.988.9000.
Attend a Concert Put on by the Nation’s Most Diverse Orchestra
Closing it’s 2018-2019 season, Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation’s most diverse orchestra, is presenting SoundSketch: Portraits in Rhythm, Blues and Beyond at the end of May. With performances taking place on Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m. in Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Symphony Center in Chicago, SoundSketch: Portraits in Rhythm, Blues and Beyond will pay tribute to exceptional musicians including the iconic Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, with special guest violinist Regina Carter. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.chicagosinfonietta.org/1819season/soundsketch/.
Enjoy a theatre production in the ‘burbs
- The Marriott Theatre is thrilled to welcome back ten-time Jeff Award-winning director Gary Griffin to helm the exhilarating smash hit FOOTLOOSE, running April 10 through June 2, 2019 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Based on a true story and the 1984 classic film, FOOTLOOSE is a compelling story of teenage rebellion and celebrating life through music and dance. Jeff Award-winning choreographer William Carlos Angulo brings dance to life in the round, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson. The performance schedule for FOOTLOOSE is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60, excluding tax and handling fees. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.
- To end its 23rd season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the popular Shakespearean history play, HENRY V, for it’s Under the Stars summer series. The production begins July 10 and runs through August 19, 2019. Shakespeare’s classic play tells the story of one of England’s beloved rulers, HENRY V, and his attempt to prove himself as a leader that didn’t go according to plan. In his efforts to save his country and invade France he and his troops fight the Battle of Agincourt, against an army ten times their size. Director Hayley Rice tells the story of one of England’s greatest battles, a victory no one expected, and how an English King secured the hand of a French Princess. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.firstfolio.org.
