Free Summer Concerts in Chicago
Updated April 9, 2019
If you love music, summer is an especially great time to be in Chicago. You are likely to find a free concert almost every day during the summer. All of the summer concert series shown below have free admission. Enjoy!
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Multiple DaysSunday
Live on the Lake!
Location: Navy Pier, Miller Lite Beer Garden, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: May 24–September 2, 2019
(multiple days each week)
Time: Concert times vary. Follow the above link to view the schedule.
The Bells of Summer
Location: Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago
Dates: June 23–August 25, 2019
Time: 5 p.m.
Monday
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Location: Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago
Dates: June 17 and 24; July 1, 8, and 29; and August 5, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Rush Hour Concerts
Location: St. James Cathedral, 65 East Huron Street, Chicago
Dates: June 4–August 13, 2019
Time: 5:45 p.m.–6:15 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m. and pre-concert conversation begins at 5:15 p.m.)
Tuesdays on the Terrace
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Dates: June 4–September 24, 2019
Time: 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.
Wednesday
Summer Nights in Edgewater
Location: Edgewater Historical Society Museum, 5358 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago
(in the garden behind the museum)
Dates: July 10–August 28, 2019
Time: 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Thursday
Harper Court Summer Music Series
Location: Harper Court, 5235 South Harper Court, Chicago
Dates: June 6–August 1, 2019 (first Thursdays)
Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series
Location: Giddings Plaza, 4731 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Dates: June 6–August 29, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m.
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Location: Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago
Dates: June 13 and 27, July 18 and 25, and August 15, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m.
NewCity Lincoln Park Sounds of Summer
Location: NewCity Plaza, North Halsted Street and North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago
Dates: July 25–August 15, 2019
Time: 7 p.m.–9 p.m.
Friday
Jazz in the Courtyard
Location: Courtyard Shops at Hyde Park Shopping Center,
East 55th Street and South Lake Park Avenue, Chicago
Dates: June 7–September 6, 2019 (first Fridays)
Time: 12 noon–2 p.m.
Wiggleworms
Location: Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: June 21–August 23, 2019
Time: 10 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Water Colors
Location: Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: July 12–August 23, 2019
(Fridays, except as noted on website)
Time: 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m., except as noted on website
Saturday
Live on the Lake!
Location: Navy Pier, Miller Lite Beer Garden, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: May 24–September 2, 2019
(multiple days each week)
Time: Concert times vary. Follow the above link to view the schedule.
Multiple Days
Live on the Lake!
Location: Navy Pier, Miller Lite Beer Garden, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: May 24–September 2, 2019
(multiple days each week)
Time: Concert times vary. Follow the above link to view the schedule.
Grant Park Music Festival
Location: Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago (primary location)
There are some performances at other locations. Use the above link to view the schedule.
Dates: June 12–August 17, 2019
(multiple days each week)
Time: Concert times vary. Follow the above link to view the schedule.
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Location: Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago
Dates: June 13–August 15, 2019
(Mondays and Thursdays, except as noted on website)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Chicago SummerDance
Location: Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
and other Chicago Park District locations (follow the above link to view the schedule)
Dates: June 27–August 24, 2019
Time: Times vary. Follow the above link to view the schedule.
Water Colors
Location: Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Dates: July 12–August 23, 2019
(Fridays, except as noted on website)
Time: 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m., except as noted on website
If you are aware of a free Chicago summer concert series that has not been included on this page, please send the information via DM using Twitter (@InspiredChicago).
Looking for more music? Check out the Music Festivals page to find upcoming music festivals in Chicago.