Free Summer Concerts

Grant Park Orchestra and Grant Park Chorus performing at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, for the Grant Park Music Festival

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 Days



Sunday




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.