Summer
- Festivals. Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and Lollapalooza in Grant Park.
- The Air and Water Show. A free show over the lakefront.
- Beaches and the Lakefront Trail. Lake Michigan beaches are free, with lifeguards during swimming season.
- Movies in the Parks. Free outdoor films in neighborhood parks.
Fall
- Park colour. Lincoln Park, Jackson Park, and the boulevards are at their best.
- Neighborhood walks. Cooler days are ideal for mural walks in Pilsen and architecture downtown.
Winter
- Christkindlmarket. A German-style holiday market in Daley Plaza.
- Ice skating. The rink in Millennium Park and the skating ribbon in Maggie Daley Park.
- ZooLights. A holiday light display at Lincoln Park Zoo.
- Indoors. Museums, conservatories, and the Chicago Cultural Center are good cold-day plans.
Spring
- St. Patrick's Day. The Chicago River is dyed green for the day.
- Conservatory flower shows. Spring displays at the Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories.
Hours, prices, schedules, and free days change. Check the official site for each place before you go.
Plan it in ChiVibe
ChiVibe is a free iPhone and iPad app for Chicago. Discover live events across the city and suburbs, explore parks and culture, build a smart walking tour, check transit and Divvy, and ask ChiVibe for ideas using private on-device intelligence.