Although one of Chicago’s longstanding summer festivals is set to return for 2023, its accompanied by one big change that some aren’t in favor of: A new date. Sandra Torres has more.
The city of Chicago has announced its lineup of 2023 summer festivals and events, with more than a dozen events filled with music, food and more on the docket. And while the major, longstanding city-sponsored events are slated to return, at least one of them is coming with big changes: The Taste of Chicago.
Taste of Chicago — a hot topic among fans, politicos and social media for nearly a week after Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recent announcement about moving the festival to Navy Pier — will return to its home in Grant Park, according to the announcement from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The dates of the festival however, have changed. According to the city, the Taste of Chicago is now scheduled to take place in September to accommodate the NASCAR racing extravaganza in the lakefront park over the 4th of July weekend.
The Taste’s three neighborhood pop-ups will, however, take place once a month June through August.
"In an effort to continue reimagining the Taste of Chicago in a post-pandemic world, DCASE along with its partners have been working to evaluate several possible locations and dates for the event," the release says. "Moving this iconic event to the tail end of summer will prolong our vibrant festival season and spur additional tourism and economic activity downtown."
"The summer doesn't have to begin and end with Memorial and Labor Day," the release goes on to say.
The Navy Pier controversy was coupled with the news that public use of Grant Park would be impacted by the NASCAR Cup Series requiring a shutdown of part of the park for 14 days — from June 22 to July 5. The park would also face periods of limited access to accommodate Lollapalooza setup and run dates later in July and August and the Suenos music festival in May.
Here's the full list of 2023 spring and summer festivals and events, which the city says is subject to change:
- Chicago City Markets (citywide, including Daley Plaza on Thursdays, Maxwell Street on Sundays TBA): May – October; ChicagoCityMarkets.us
- Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony & Parade (Daley Plaza and State Street): May 27; Chicago.gov/DCASE
- Millennium Park Summer Workouts (Great Lawn): Most Saturdays, May 27 – Sept. 2; MillenniumPark.org
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival (Millennium Park): June 3, MillenniumPark.org, ChicagoGospelMusicFestival.us
- Chicago Blues Festival (Millennium Park): June 8–11, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoBluesFestival.us
- Taste of Chicago (Grant Park and neighborhoods): June 24 (Humboldt Park); July 15 (Pullman Park); and Aug. 5 (Marquette Park); Sept. 8–10 (Grant Park); TasteofChicago.us
- Chicago House Music Festival and Conference festival at Humboldt Park Boathouse Lawn, (in conjunction with neighborhood Taste pop-up) June 24; House Conference at Chicago Cultural Center, June 23; ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us
- Millennium Park Summer Music Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Mondays & Thursdays, June 22 – Aug. 21; MillenniumPark.org
- Millennium Park Summer Film Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Tuesdays, July 11 – Aug. 29, 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 15 – Sept. 10, ChicagoSummerDance.org
- Chicago Air and Water Show (North Avenue Beach and along the Lakefront): Aug. 19-20; practice runs Aug. 18; ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us
- SummerDance Celebration (Jay Pritzker Pavilion and throughout Millennium Park): Sunday, Aug. 27, MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoSummerDance.org
- Chicago Jazz Festival (citywide including Millennium Park): Aug. 31 – Sept. 3; MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoJazzFestival.us
- World Music Festival Chicago (citywide): Sept. 22 – Oct. 1; WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org
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