Four Days of FREE Activities for Families and Youth, Performances by Award-Winning Artists and more—all Celebrating Chicago’s Iconic Park
Common – Photo Cred: Brian Bowen Smith
Common performs with Grant Park Orchestra, Saturday, July 20 at 7:30pm—Reserve free tickets to seating bowl on June 17 at 10am while supplies last; Seating on the Great Lawn is open to the public
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full slate of programming for the City’s Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration (July 18–21), presented by Capital One. Scheduled to take place almost exactly 20 years since the Park’s official opening on July 16, 2004, this four-day free celebration features award-winning headliners, activities for families and youth, dance performances, new public art, and concerts.
This special anniversary programming, produced in partnership with the Millennium Park Foundation, Grant Park Music Festival and more, is offered in addition to the robust lineup of free music festivals, film and music series, workouts, and family programming offered all season-long in Millennium Park—the #1 attraction in the Midwest and among the top 10 most-visited sites in the United States.
Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration Schedule
Subject to change; follow Millennium Park on Instagram, X, and Facebook and MillenniumPark.org for the latest updates.
Thursday, July 18
The 20th Anniversary Celebration kicks off with ¡Súbelo! presenting an evening highlighting the musical tapestry of Latine culture on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage.
- 5pm Chuwi, a tropical, indie fusion quartet from Puerto Rico merging salsa, boleros, and folk music with flashes of alternative Hip Hop, psychedelic, and electronic.
- 6pm Codigo FN, hailing from Sinaloa, Mexico, this Mexican Regional group debuted with intensity on the Billboard charts.
- 7:30pm Fruko y Sus Tesos with special guest Sonora Dinamita featuring Alfredo de la Fe
Friday, July 19
- 6:30pm Grant Park Orchestra in Star Wars and More: the Music of John Williams. Enjoy iconic musical selections—costumes welcome.
Saturday, July 20
Outside alcohol is not allowed.
- 8-9:45am Join Millennium Park Summer Workouts with Pilates with NK Gutierrez (8-9am) and Yoga with Alie McManus (9-9:45am). Music by Carlo Basile.
- 11am-5pm Family friendly artmaking with Somos Arte in the North Promenade Tent.
- 1-3pm Physical Theater Festival Chicagoperformances featuring the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team, Alexander D’Amazing, Eric Robinson, and Stephanie Diaz with Gaby Diaz, sharing acrobatic displays, clowning and spectacle, trampoline feats, cicada puppets and more in Wrigley Square.
- 2-3pm Dance Performances in the North Promenade Tent
- 2-5pm INT’L CAFE sparks opportunities for cultural exchange by connecting language speakers/signers of all levels for immersive conversations with new friends in the North Promenade Tent.
- 3-5pm Heart of Chicago Soul Club spinning all vinyl, rare and Northern Soul, with Northern Soul Dancing taught by Miss Wolff’s Jiving School (3-4pm).
- 3-4pm Eli’s Giant Cheesecake celebrating Millennium Park’s 20th Birthday at Cloud Gate. Join the celebration and enjoy free cheesecake.
- 4-5pm A roving performance by Los Pleneros de Don Segundo with horns, vejigantes, cabezudos and stilt walkers.
- 4-5pm Pop-up Performances by South Shore Drill Team and Ballet Folklorico de Chicago at Cloud Gate.
- 7:30pm Common with the Grant Park Orchestra
The special concert features Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist and South Side native Commonperforming alongside the Grant Park Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Parnther. Selections include Testify/Prince, Go/Chaka Khan, The Light, Glory, and more.
The concert is free; online reservations are required for the Seating Bowl only and become available on Monday, June 17 at 10am at gpmf.org while supplies last.Seating on the Great Lawn is free and open to the public, first-come, first-served, no reservations required!
The evening will culminate with a fireworks display to celebrate Millennium Park’s 20th Anniversary.
Sunday, July 21
Outside alcohol is not allowed.
The final day of 20th Anniversary programming brings a full day of family-friendly activities starting at 11am plus a dynamic evening concert starting at 4pm featuring an array of award-winning performers as part of the “The S&S Chicago Experience,” curated by Steve “Silk” Hurley and Shannon “Skip” Syas.
- 11am-5pm Family friendly programming in North Promenade Tent, Crown Fountain, and Wrigley Square
- 11am-12pm Story hour for families at Crown Fountain.
- 11am-12:30pm The Golden Horse Ranch Bandfamily square dance for all ages in the North Promenade Tent.
- 12-1pm Interactive Drum Circle and instrument making led by Rhythm Revolution at Crown Fountain.
- 12:30-1:30pm Performances to be announced.
- 1-3pm Wonder Wagon brings large, colorful puppets to Wrigley Square with opportunities for hands-on interaction.
- 2-3pm Dance performances from Chicago artists in the North Promenade Tent
- 2-5pm INT’L CAFE sparks opportunities for cultural exchange by connecting language speakers/signers of all levels for immersive conversations with new friends in the North Promenade Tent.
- 3-5pm Sonorama DJ collective with free dance lessons in Salsa and Cumbia 3-4pm and open dance party featuring vintage Latin sounds 4-5pm, in the North Promenade Tent.
- 4-7pm The S&S Chicago Experience
Full schedule available at MillenniumPark.org.
