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CHICAGO—Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the 2022 dates for some of the City of Chicago’s most beloved summertime traditions presented by DCASE. Mainly all-virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19 and reimagined in 2021, these festivals and special events will be in-person in 2022 — many at nearly their pre-pandemic size and scope — including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Chicago Air and Water Show. The popular Taste of Chicago pop-ups will return to Chicago’s neighborhoods, while also popping up in Grant Park for a new, bite-sized version of the classic lakefront extravaganza. 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

"Chicago’s spring and summertime programming is cherished by our residents and bolsters our tourism, hospitality and creative industries,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “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.”

“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.

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 (August 27), and the annual SummerDance Celebration throughout Millennium Park aligned with National Dance Day (September 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.

And 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. (In 2020, “Taste of Chicago To-Go” was an online carryout and delivery guide with five days of virtual concerts, dance lessons, and cooking demos — and, in 2021, five days of in-person community events.) Vendor applications will be open soon for all Taste of Chicago events.

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.

The following festival and special event dates are subject to change.

2022 Spring/Summer Festival and Special Event Dates:

Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.): Sundays, April 3 – December 18, MaxwellStreetMarket.us

Chicago City Markets (citywide including Daley Plaza): May – October, ChicagoCityMarkets.us

Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony & Parade (Daley Plaza and State Street): Saturday, May 28, Chicago.gov/DCASE

Millennium Park Summer Workouts (Great Lawn): Saturdays, May 28 – September 3, MillenniumPark.org

Millennium Park Summer Film Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Tuesdays, July 12 – August 30, MillenniumPark.org

Chicago Gospel Music Festival (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Saturday, June 4, MillenniumPark.org

Chicago Blues Festival (citywide and in Millennium Park including Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Thursday – Sunday, June 9–12, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoBluesFestival.us

Taste of Chicago (citywide including Grant Park): Saturdays, June 11, 18 & 25 (neighborhood Taste pop-ups) and Friday – Sunday, July 8–10 (a bite-sized Taste in Grant Park), TasteofChicago.us

Millennium Park Summer Music Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Mondays & Thursdays, June 20 – August 18, MillenniumPark.org

Chicago SummerDance (citywide including pop-ups and special events, Night Out in the Parks events, programs at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park — and the SummerDance Celebration in Millennium Park): select dates July 6 – September 17, ChicagoSummerDance.org

Chicago Air and Water Show (North Avenue Beach and along the Lakefront): Saturday & Sunday, August 20 & 21 at 10am – 2pm; practice runs on Friday, August 19, ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us

Year of Chicago Dance Showcase (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Saturday, August 27, MillenniumPark.org

Chicago Jazz Festival (citywide and in Millennium Park including Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Thursday – Sunday, September 1–4, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoJazzFestival.us

Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Friday, September 16 — plus ancillary community events and more, dates TBA, MillenniumPark.org

SummerDance Celebration (Jay Pritzker Pavilion and throughout Millennium Park): Saturday, September 17, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoSummerDance.org

World Music Festival Chicago (citywide): Friday, September 30 – Sunday, October 9, WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org

2022 programming will also include Millennium Park special events, exhibitions, and pop-up performances; Chicago Cultural Center tours, talks, films, exhibitions, and more; Clarke House Museum tours — and other programs to be announced as part of the DCASE Fall/Holiday season. Additionally, DCASE will permit hundreds of neighborhood festivals and special events throughout Chicago.

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit chicago.gov/dcase.

DCASE programming is supported by the Chicago Transit Authority.