Chicago 2009 Festivals, Parades & Events

Chicago is home to many great festivals each year. 2009 is no exception. Listed below are some of the more significant festivals and events that Chicago has to offer. See our Chicago Event Calendar for additional local events.

SPIRIT OF CHICAGO FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS DINNER CRUISE!
	Splash aboard the Spirit of Chicago! Get front row seats to Navy Pier’s spectacular fireworks show! Celebrate America's Birthday this year with a premium bar package, festive buffet and DJ Entertainment all for one price! There's no better place to celebrate than on the water with Spirit! Reserve your seats today.

EVENTS


Snow Days Chicago (In the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave.)	February 12-16 (NEW EVENT)
11th Annual Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival www.chicagokidsandkites.us	May 2 (Museum of Science & Industry)
Mayor Daley's Jumping Jack www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents	May-September
Chicago Summer Neighborhood Festivals www.chicagoneighborhoodfestivals.us	May-September
Bike Chicago 2009 www.bikechicago.us	May–September
Farmers Markets www.chicagofarmersmarkets.us	May-October
11th Annual Great Chicago Places and Spaces www.greatchicagoplaces.us	May 16 (NEW DATE!)
Chicago Memorial Day Parade www.chicagoparades.us	May 23
25th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival (in Millennium Park) www.chicagogospelmusicfestival.us	June 6-7 (NEW DATES!)
26th Annual Chicago Blues Festival www.chicagobluesfestival.us	June 12-14 (NEW DATES!)
Bike To Work Day Rally www.bikechicago.us	June 19 (NEW DATE!)
29th Annual Taste of Chicago www.tasteofchicago.us	June 26-July 5
17th Annual Race to the Taste www.chicagoracetotaste.us	June 28
10th Annual Chicago Outdoor Film Festival www.chicagooutdoorfilmfestival.us	July 14-Aug 25 (Tues. Only in Butler Field)
16th Annual Mayor's Cup Youth Soccer Tournament www.chicagomayorscupsoccer.us	July 18
52nd Annual Venetian Night www.venetiannightchicago.us	July 25
2nd Annual Chicago Criterion Bike Race www.chicagocriterium.us	July 26
51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show www.chicagoairandwatershow.us	August 15-16
21st Annual Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival www.vivachicago.us	August 29-30
31st Annual Chicago Jazz Festival www.chicagojazzfestival.us	September 4-6
13th Annual Celtic Fest Chicago www.celticfestchicago.us	September 12-13 (NEW DATES!)
19th Annual Chicago Country Music Festival @ Soldier Field Parkland www.chicagocountrymusicfestival.us	October 3-4 (NEW DATE!)
13th Annual Halloween Franken Plaza @ Daley Plaza www.chicagoween.us	October 23-31 (NEW DATES!)
State Street Halloween Happening Parade www.chicagoween.us	October 24
Daley Plaza Santa's House www.underthepicasso.us	Nov. 26-Dec. 24
Mayor Daley's 10th Annual Holiday Sports Festival www.chicagoholidaysportsfestival.us	December 27-28 (NEW DATES!)

DOWNTOWN PARADES

St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 14, 2009
Columbus Dr. from Balbo to Monroe
Start Time: 12 Noon

Polish Constitution Day Parade
May 2, 2009
Columbus Dr. from Balbo to Monroe
Start Time: 11:30 am

St. Jude Police Memorial March
May 3, 2009
Museum Campus Dr. from Solidarity to Waldron Dr.
Start Time: 8:30 am

Memorial Day Parade
May 23, 2009
State St. from Lake St. to Van Buren
Start Time: 12 Noon

Puerto Rican Parade
June 20, 2009
Columbus Dr. from Balbo to Monroe
Start Time: 12 Noon

Disability Pride Parade and Festival
July 25, 2009
Dearborn from Van Buren to Washington
Parade: 11am-Noon
Program: 12-3pm

Mexican Independence Day Parade
September 12, 2009
Columbus from Balbo to Monroe
Start Time: 11 am

State Street Halloween Happening
October 24, 2009
State St. from Lake to Madison, West to Dearborn, North to Washington
Start Time: 12 Noon

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade
November 21, 2009
Michigan Ave. from Oak St. to the Chicago River
Start Time: 6 PM

McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade
November 26, 2009
State Street from Congress to Randolph
Start Time: 8:30 am

See City of Chicago site for more Downtown Parade details.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARADES

Chinese New Year Parade
February 1, 2009
Wentworth from 24th to 22nd
Start Time: 12:30 pm

Northwest Side Irish Parade
March 8, 2009
Raven from Neola to Northwest Highway & Harlem
Start Time: 12 Noon

Southside Irish Parade
March 15, 2009
Western Ave. from 103rd to 115th
Start Time: 12 Noon

Bangladesh Day Parade
March 29, 2009
Devon Ave. from Damen to Western
Start Time: 11 am

Greek Independence Day Parade
April 5, 2009
Halsted from Randolph to Van Buren
Start Time: 2:30 pm

Chicago Día de los Niños Parade
April 25, 2009
Plaza Tenochtitlán and Harrison Park
18th St. & Blue Island Ave.
11:30am-3pm

Cinco De Mayo Parade
May 3, 2009
Cermak Rd. from Wood St. to Kedzie
Start Time : 12 Noon

Puerto Rican Youth Parade
June 13, 2009
Division from Western to Sacramento, North to Humboldt Park
Start Time: 12 Noon

Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade
June 28, 2009
Halsted & Belmont to Broadway, South on Broadway to Diversey
Start Time: 12 Noon

Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic
August 8, 2009
Martin Luther King Dr. from 35th to 55th
Start Time: 10 am

Ecuador Parade
August 9, 2009
Montrose from California to Kimball
Start Time: 12 Noon

Pakistan Independence Parade
August 9, 2009
Devon from Ridge to Western
Start Time: 12:30 pm

India Independence Day Parade
August 15, 2009
Devon from Western to California
Start Time: 12 Noon

Central American Parade
September 6, 2009
Montrose from California to Kimball
Start Time: 12 Noon

General Von Steuben Day Parade
September 12, 2009
Western from Irving to Lawrence
Start Time: 2 pm

Pilsen Mexican Independence Day Parade
September 12, 2009
Newberry & 18th St., West on 18th St. to Wolcott
Start Time: 12 Noon

26th St. Mexican Independence Day Parade
September 13, 2009
26th St. & Albany to Kostner
Start Time: 12 Noon

South Chicago Mexican Independence Day Parade
September 13, 2009
Commercial Ave. from 87th to 100th St.
Start Time: 12 Noon

Chinese National Day Parade
September 27, 2009
230 W. Cermak
11am-3pm

Double Ten Parade
October 10, 2009
Wentworth from 24th to 22nd
Start Time: 12:30 pm

Northalsted Halloween Parade
October 31, 2009
On Halsted btwn. Belmont & Addison
5-10pm

63rd St. Holiday Parade
November 21, 2009
63rd St. from Tripp to Oakley
Start Time: 1 pm

Chicagoland Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade
December 6, 2009
On Western from 87th Street to Foster, West to Kedzie
Start Time: 9:30 am

See the City of Chicago site for more Neighborhood Parade details.

FESTIVALS

June 12-14
Chicago Blues Festival
Grant Park

June 12-14
Party at St. Mike's
Old Town, St. Michael's Church Campus

June 12-14
Ribfest Chicago
Lincoln Ave., Irving Park Road & Damen Ave.

June 13-14
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Clark Street & Foster Ave.

June 13-14
35th Annual Wells Street Art Festival
Wells Street, between North Ave. & Division St.

June 17-28
International American Spanish Dance Festival
Northeastern Illinois University

June 19
Summer Lovin'
Museum of Contemporary Art

June 19-21
Taste of Randolph Street
Randolph Street, between Peoria St. & Racine Ave.

June 20-21
BAM! Belmont Arts & Music Festival
West Lake View/Roscoe Village

June 20-21
Chicago Summerfest
Lincoln Park

June 20-21
Custer's Last Stand
Downtown Evanston

June 24-29
Gen Art Chicago Film Festival
Location: TBA

June 26-27
Chicago Pride Fest
Halsted Street & Waveland Avenue

June 26-28
Chicago Soul Music Festival
Union Park

June 27-28
30th Annual Fountain Square Art Festival
Downtown Evanston

June 28
40th Annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade
East Lake View

July 9
Bastille Day 5K Run, Walk & Block Party
West Loop

July 10-11
Old St. Pat's 25th Annual World's Largest Block Party
Old St. Pat's Church, Des Plaines & Madison Streets

July 10-12
Irish American Heritage Festival
Irish American Heritage Center, Knox Avenue

July 11-12
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival
Welles Park

July 11-12
35th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival
Dusable Museum of African American History

July 11-12
Rock Around the Block
Lincoln Avenue & Addison Street

July 13
Halsted Tastes Better
Halsted & Aldine Streets

July 16
Green City Market Summer Chef's BBQ
Lincoln Park

July 17-19
Pitchfork Music Festival
Union Park

July 18-19
Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival
Webster & Sheffield Avenues

July 19
Chinatown Summer Fair
Wentworth Ave. & Cermak Rd.

July 23
7th Annual Paws Chicago Beach Party
Castaways at North Avenue Beach

July 25-26
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln & Fullerton Avenues

July 25-26
Wicker Park Fest
Milwaukee & North Avenues

July 30-August 2
Fiesta del Sol
Cermak Road & Loomis Street

August 1-2
Northalsted Market Days
Halsted Street, between Belmont & Addison

August 1-2
Retro on Roscoe
Roscoe Street & Damen Avenue

August 7-9
Ginza Holiday
Midwest Buddhist Temple

August 8
Bud Billiken Parade & Picnic
King Drive & 39th Street

August 14-16
Ribs 'n' Soul Fest
Union Park

August 15-16
Green Music Fest
Eckhart Park

August 29-30
Bucktown Arts Fest
Senior Citizen's Park, Bucktown

August 29-30
Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival
Grant Park

September 4-6
Chicago Jazz Festival
Grant Park

September 4, 5, 6, & 7
Taste of Polonia
Copernicus Center
5216 W. Lawrence, Chicago, IL 60630
The Taste of Polonia is always held over Labor Day Weekend and this year we will celebrate our 30th anniversary! Entertainment will include bands from Poland, Kids' World beginning on Saturday, American tribute, jazz and polka bands. Come for the traditional Polish food and beer! Located in Jefferson Park (Lawrence/Milwaukee) and a block from the Metra and Blue Line.
For questions, please call 773-777-8898 or e-mail helene@copernicusfdn.org .

September 4-7
20th Annual African Festival of the Arts
Washington Park

June 15 thru 21
PUERTO RICAN FESTIVALS OF CHICAGO
Humboldt Park
Celebration of the Puerto Rican community of Chicago with live music, entertainment, food and carnival. For more info:PRPC- Puerto Rican Parade Committee (773)292-1414
President: Edwin Cardona

See City of Chicago site for other Neighborhood Festival details.

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