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Festivals & Holidays, Chicago

Fourth of July in Chicago - Chicago
Fourth of July in Chicago
by meteorologist1
Travel tips and advice posted by real travelers and Chicago locals.
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Festivals & Holidays: VENETIAN NIGHT FESTIVITIES
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  • LoriPori
  • Updated By LoriPori on August 3, 2006
  • Chicago Page by LoriPori
  • Spectacular Fireworks Display - Chicago
    Spectacular Fireworks Display
    by LoriPori, 2 more photos
    Saturday night July 29, 2006
    The 49th annual VENETIAN NIGHT FESTIVITIES was held along Chicago's downtown waterfront with the theme "Rockin' all over the World", featuring a boat parade and spectacular fireworks display synchronized to music. Approximately 30 boats were decorated with lights and props as they sailed along beautiful Lake Michigan, between Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Road and the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Street. Thousands, and I mean thousands of people were in attendance to watch the festivities, even though it was a very hot and muggy night.

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    Festivals & Holidays: Christmas at the Daley Center
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  • Marisola
  • Updated By Marisola on December 18, 2005
  • Chicago Page by Marisola
  • Dailey Center Tree - Chicago
    Dailey Center Tree
    by Marisola,
    1 more photos
    Just in front of The Daley Center (where the Picasso statue is located), there is always something going on at any time of year. At Christmas time, there is a beautiful display of lights where the fountains are located, and a huge Christmas tree in front of the Plaza. There is also a Christmas market made up of charming little wooden shops displaying things like crafty ornaments and seasonal treats. It's a nice place to look around!

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  • Phone: (312) 443-5500
  • Other Contact: Washington & Dearborn
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    Festivals & Holidays: St. Patrick's Day
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on March 12, 2009
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • Not the usual shade of green - Chicago
    Not the usual shade of
    green
    by Dabs,
    2 more photos
    Chicago has a substantial Irish population and in addition to the green beer added to bar menus throughout the city, Chicago celebrates by holding two major parades.

    The official Chicago parade is held on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day and features floats, marching bands, politicians (what parade doesn't????) and is started off by the dyeing of the Chicago River green (kelly green that is, the river always looks green). Oddly, the dye put into the Chicago River is orange but when mixed with the River water it turns a lovely kelly green.

    The South Side Irish Parade is held on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day in Beverly, the most Irish neighborhood in Chicago. Estimates put the crowd at this parade as larger than the downtown parade. And likely more fun as well. The parade route is on Western Avenue between 103rd and 115th.

    I've never made it to either parade but one year I did wander over to Michigan Avenue to seeing the river dyeing.

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    Festivals & Holidays: Pulaski Day
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on March 2, 2004
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • In 1977, the first Monday in March was designated a holiday in Chicago and Cook County to observe the birthday (March 4) of Casimir Pulaski, a Revolutionary War hero. Pulaski died during the War on October 11, 1779 in Savannah, Georgia.

    There is also a Pulaski Road and a Pulaski Park in Chicago.

    This should not greatly affect travelers to Chicago, only city and county offices/schools are closed for the holiday. Banks, museums and public transportation run on their normal schedule.

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    Festivals & Holidays: Chicago Parades!
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  • rmdw
  • By rmdw on October 4, 2003
  • Chicago Page by rmdw
  • A typical Chicago parade - Chicago
    A typical Chicago parade
    by rmdw
    Chicago is a city of festivals. And many festivals feature a parade or two! Before visiting Chicago check out the indicated website which features a list of parades direct from the mayor's office of Chicago!

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    Festivals & Holidays: Biking the Drive
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  • goingsolo
  • By goingsolo on May 31, 2005
  • Chicago Page by goingsolo
  • Chicago - Chicago
    Chicago
    by goingsolo
    This is apparently a big Memorial Day weekend event. Lakeshore Drive is closed to vehicular traffic for the Sunday morning before Memorial Day to allow bikers to have the route. Its a pretty interesting scene to watch thousands of bikers peddling down a main road, especially on a beautiful clear morning.

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    Festivals & Holidays: Taste of Chicago!!
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  • monika79
  • By monika79 on June 25, 2004
  • Chicago Page by monika79
  • millions enjoy Chicago's great cuisine - Chicago
    millions enjoy Chicago's great
    cuisine
    by monika79
    The Taste of Chicago is an annual tradition that is held typically the 10 day period before the 4th of July. Held at Grant Park it offers the cuisine of 100 local resturants, great entertainment that has included artisits like Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and Erykah Badu. The Taste of Chicago draws millions of people every year.

    Must haves at the Taste of Chicago are the various famous Chicago deep dish pizzas and Eli's cheesecake...yummy!!!

    Happy Eating!!!

    Hours are from 11am to 9pm

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    Festivals & Holidays: Picasso does the Christmas Market in Daley Plaza!
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  • shrimp56
  • By shrimp56 on June 4, 2003
  • Chicago Page by shrimp56
  • Festivals & Holidays - Chicago
    by shrimp56
    Daley Plaza [in front of City Hall] -- the famous Picasso is surrounded by Christmas Market booths -- you can see the big tree too!

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    Festivals & Holidays: The green Chicago River
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  • sambarnett
  • By sambarnett on March 17, 2003
  • Chicago Page by sambarnett
  • green river - Chicago
    green river
    by sambarnett
    Every year around St. Patrick's Day the city of Chicago, in honor of its Irish heritage, dyes the Chicago River green.

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    Festivals & Holidays: Fourth of July Fireworks
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  • meteorologist1
  • By meteorologist1 on August 7, 2005
  • Chicago Page by meteorologist1
  • Fourth of July in Chicago - Chicago
    Fourth of July in Chicago
    by meteorologist1
    The Fourth of July (Independence Day) is a festive time in Chicago. During the evening of July 3rd downtown Chicago, in and near Grant Park as well as the lakefront, millions of people gather to watch fireworks and enjoy the Taste of Chicago food festival. There is also live orchestral music in Grant Park. To enjoy the show and the fireworks, some people arrive early in the day to find a good spot and camp out. Michigan Ave is closed to traffic during that evening. Parking is a huge problem during this time, as all parking lots fill to capacity. Don't expect to find cheap parking. Leaving after the fireworks is chaotic, as millions of people try to leave all at once. Even getting out of the parking lot/garage can take more than an hour. The best way is to use public transportation (CTA, Metra, South Shore Line) which offer extra service that night.

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