Music festivals gives us the opportunity to surround ourselves with people who love music and fun as much as us. If you’re planning a trip to Chicago this year or if you’re a local looking for a new adventure, read this article to learn the best music festivals in Chicago to go to this year.
Considered the Coachella of Chicago, Lollapalooza is the biggest, craziest, and most-talked about music festival of the year. Past headliners have ranged from mainstream mainstays (Chance the Rapper, Lorde, The Weeknd) to underground indie groups (Glass Animals, Atlas Genius, Hippocampus) to bona fide icons (Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Eminem). Although the official 2018 lineup hasn’t been released yet, you can buy tickets now for the festival happening from August 2-5 at Grant Park. This is the number one of all music festivals in Chicago.
The Pitchfork Music Festival is the place to be to see up-and-coming artists as well as established indie artists perform at Union Park from July 20-22. The 2018 lineup includes a wide variety of artists like Tame Impala, Earl Sweatshirt, and the War on Drugs. If you’re looking to find the newest and coolest artists of today, Pitchfork is one of the best music festivals in Chicago.
One of the biggest EDM festivals in the world, Spring Awakening takes place this year from June 8-10 in the Addams-Medill Park. Staples of the genre like Steve Aoki, Afrojack, and Tiësto as well as burgeoning acts descend on the city to give Chicago one crazy and fun dance party.
What could be better than great music? Adding amazing food to the mix! Taste of Chicago is one of the largest outdoor food festivals in the country with an array of musical acts to accompany all of the delicious food. Popular artists like Alessia Cara and Passion Pit have given the festival a musical ambiance. In addition, the Street Art & Graffiti Alley feature Chicago’s most talented young artists. The best part? The festival, running from July 11-15 in Grant Park, is completely free!
The youngest addition to the list, Ruido Fest is Chicago’s premiere festival for Latin Alternative Music. Past lineups have included young, talented Latinx performers like Kali Uchis and Bomba Estéreo. Although the official lineup for 2018 hasn’t been released yet, tickets are going fast for the festival being held from June 22-24 at Addams-Medill Park.
Of all the music festivals in Chicago, this one is the sunniest. Mamby on the Beach has the most distinctive location on the list: Chicago’s Oakwood Beach from June 23-24. The lineup is full of pop favorites (Walk the Moon) as well as indie hits (Marian Hill). Come down to one of Chicago’s famous beaches to hear great music!
The oldest establishment on the list, Ravinia Festival has been part of the Chicagoland area music scene for decades. Ravinia is known for its eclectic, diverse range of music from country to classical. A highlight of this months-long summer festival is a live orchestra playing along to classic movies like The Lord of the Rings, Titanic, and La La Land. Pavilion seats and an enormous green pavilion give you the opportunity to see performers up close or have a lovely picnic with friends and family.
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