Millennium Park Summer Film Series (July 1 – Aug. 19) kicks off with The Sandlot and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a magical screening of Wicked and concludes with Pride & Prejudice in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

Millennium Park Summer Music Series (June 26 – Aug. 7) to feature Steel Pulse, DJ Emmaculate and more big names

Millennium Park Summer Workouts (May 17 – Aug. 30) return with Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Kickboxing and Zumba®

CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announces the return of several beloved free traditions to Millennium Park. Chicago will come alive once again with the rhythm and spirit of summer as the city announces its highly anticipated Summer Music Series, running from June 26 through August 7. Kicking off the series, retro-soul sensations Thee Sacred Souls will headline a soulful evening alongside Chicago’s own Renaldo Domino and The Heavy Sounds and DJ Nosha Luv. The series continues with an eclectic mix of global and local talent spanning funk, Latin, hip-hop, psych-rock, reggae, indie, jazz, and house—featuring performances by acclaimed and emerging artists, along with sets from some of Chicago’s most vibrant DJs, offering audiences a diverse soundtrack under the summer sky. Pre-shows for each concert begin at 5:30 p.m.; concerts start at 6:30 p.m.

Additionally, the Chicago Film Office at DCASE is proud to announce the return of the Millennium Park Summer Film Series, presented by Pluto TV, running Tuesdays from July 1 through August 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Moviegoers are invited to enjoy fan-favorite films on a 40-foot LED screen, with seating available in the bowl or picnic-style on the Great Lawn. This year’s lineup celebrates anniversaries and iconic storytelling with a slate that includes The Sandlot, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (20th anniversary), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Love & Basketball (25th anniversary), The Grand Budapest Hotel, My Best Friend’s Wedding (a Chicago classic), Wicked, and Pride and Prejudice, commemorating both its 20th anniversary and the 250th birthday of Jane Austen.

The popular Millennium Park Summer Workouts will return most Saturdays from May 17 through August 30, offering free, 45-minute group fitness classes from 8 to 11:45 a.m. at Wrigley Square and the Great Lawn, supported by the McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment. Participants are invited to bring their own mats and water bottles to take part in Pilates and Yoga sessions accompanied by live music at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., followed by Cardio Kickboxing at 10 a.m. and Zumba at 11 a.m., all led by top local instructors. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request. Please note: due to construction and event scheduling, all workouts will be relocated to Wrigley Square on the following dates—May 17, May 24, May 31, June 7, July 12, July 19, August 23, and August 30. For the complete schedule and updates, visit MillenniumPark.org.

Returning this Labor Day weekend, The Chicago Jazz Festival will run from Thursday, August 29 to Sunday, September 1, with performances in Millennium Park. A longtime favorite among music lovers, the festival showcases Chicago’s vibrant jazz community alongside celebrated artists from across the country and around the world. Presented by DCASE and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, the event continues to honor the legacy and future of jazz in one of the genre’s most influential cities.

Chicagoans can also celebrate the favor of the city at the Chicago Gospel Music Festival on Saturday, July 12 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Presented by the Chicago Transit Authority, Inspiration 1390, and Millennium Garages, this free outdoor event promises a powerful day of music, faith, and community—with the full lineup and headliner to be announced soon at .

Each summer, Millennium Park welcomes millions of people from around the world and across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to experience the best of the city’s cultural life—all in the heart of downtown. The 2025 season promises to uphold this legacy with wide-ranging programming that celebrates community, creativity and connection. Whether practicing yoga at sunrise, watching a movie at dusk, or swaying to the rhythms of live jazz under the stars, guests will find meaningful, shared moments that define summertime in Chicago.

Explore the highlights of the 2025 Millennium Park Summer Season below and check out the complete lineup of free events at MillenniumPark.org. This summer, all guests attending Pritzker Pavilion events—including concerts, film screenings, and more—must enter through designated entrances on Randolph and Monroe Streets. For details, visit the Plan Your Visit section at MillenniumPark.org.

2025 Millennium Park Summer Season

Season highlights of DCASE and cultural partner programming below. Subject to change. Updates (including weather-related announcements) will be shared on Millennium Park’s Facebook, X and website.

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
Mondays & Thursdays, July – August
6:30 p.m. | Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Sponsored by Chicago Transit Authority

The Millennium Park Summer Music Series returns with a diverse lineup of national, international, and local talent, all performing free concerts in the heart of downtown Chicago. Audiences are invited to enjoy live music under the stars on the Great Lawn or in the seating bowl of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

2025 Music Schedule:

• June 26 (THUR) – Thee Sacred Souls, Renaldo Domino and The Heavy Sounds, DJ Nosha Luv
• June 30 (MON) – Sudan Archives, Lido Pimienta, DJ Roxyo Sounds
• July 7 (MON) – Fred Wesley and the New JBs, Bumpus, DJ Ayana Contreras
• July 14 (MON) – Monsieur Periné, Alfonso Ponticelli & Swing Gitan, DJ Mwelwa
• July 17 (THU) – Digable Planets, Mother Nature, DJ All The Way Kay
• July 21 (MON) – Novos Baianos, Joe Bataan, DJ Rudy de Anda
• July 24 (THU) – Steel Pulse, Paul Beaubrun, DJ Papa G
• July 28 (MON) – Horsegirl, Lala Lala, CHIRP DJs
• August 4 (MON) – Orchestra Resavoir, Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, DJs Sonny Daze & King Hippo August 7 (THU) – Ten City – GRAMMY Legacies and Looking Ahead, Caramelo Haze – GRAMMY Legacies and Looking Ahead, DJ EmmaculateShape

For complete schedule details and updates, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and follow Millennium Park, along with DCASE, on social media.

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER FILM SERIES
Tuesdays, July 1 – August 19
6:30 p.m. | Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Presenting Sponsor: Pluto TV

Sponsored by Chicago Transit Authority, Millennium Park Foundation & Millennium Garages

Presented by Pluto TV, the Millennium Park Summer Film Series returns with fan-favorite movies on a 40-foot LED screen. Audiences are welcome to bring blankets, chairs and picnics to enjoy the show from the Great Lawn or seating bowl. Films begin at 6:30 p.m.

2025 Film Schedule:

• July 1 – The Sandlot (1993, PG)
• July 8 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005, PG-13) — 20th anniversary
• July 15 – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, PG-13)
• July 22 – Love & Basketball (2000, PG-13) — 25th anniversary
• July 29 – The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, R)
• Aug. 5 – My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997, PG-13) — A Chicago classic
• Aug. 12 – Wicked (2024, PG)
• Aug. 19 – Pride and Prejudice (2005, PG) — 20th anniversary and 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER WORKOUTS
Saturdays, May 17 – August 30
8 – 11:45 a.m. | Wrigley Square and the Great Lawn

Supported by McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment, managed by the Millennium Park Foundation

Returning most Saturdays throughout the summer, the Millennium Park Summer Workouts offer free, 45-minute group fitness classes in an inspiring outdoor setting. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats and water bottles for the following schedule:

• 8 a.m. – Pilates (with live music)
• 9 a.m. – Yoga (with live music)
• 10 a.m. – Cardio Kickboxing
• 11 a.m. – Zumba

Classes take place at Wrigley Square or on the Great Lawn and are led by top local instructors. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request.

Relocation Notice: Due to construction and overlapping event schedules, workouts will be relocated to Wrigley Square on the following dates:

• May 17, May 24, May 31, June 7, July 12, July, 19, August 23, August 30

CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Thursday, August 28 – Sunday, August 31
Millennium Park and Chicago Cultural Center

Sponsored by 90.9-FM WDCB, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Chicago Transit Authority, DownBeat, Llyod A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, Millennium Park Foundation

The 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival will be held at Millennium Park. This free event offers the public a chance to enjoy jazz in all its forms, from classic and contemporary to global and experimental. Produced by DCASE and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, the festival presents an all-star roster of international legends, rising stars and hometown icons.

2025 Headliners include:

• esperanza spalding
• Monty Alexander
• Kermit Ruffins
• Eliades Ochoa (of Buena Vista Social Club)
• Gary Bartz with NTU Troop

Chicago-based artists featured include:
Patricia Barber, Ari Brown, Ernest Dawkins, Sarah Marie Young, Ava Logan, G. Thomas Allen, the Natalie Scharf Quintet featuring Paul Asaro, and Silvia Manrique & Marcel Bonfim.

Founded in 1969, the Jazz Institute of Chicago has served as the city’s leading jazz advocacy organization, collaborating with DCASE to ensure the festival features the highest quality international, national and local talent.

For the complete summer schedule and visitor information, visit MillenniumPark.org. Follow Millennium Park on social media for updates and weather-related announcements.

CHICAGO GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 12
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Sponsored by Chicago Transit Authority, Inspiration 1390, Llyod A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, Millennium Park Foundation

Celebrate Chicago’s rich gospel music legacy at the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, returning to Millennium Park for a joyful day of soul-stirring performances. This free outdoor event welcomes music lovers of all ages for an unforgettable gathering of praise and community.

Full lineup and additional headliner to be announced soon.

SONIC PAVILION FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 9 & Monday, August 18
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Presented in partnership with Experimental Sound Studio

Experimental Sound Studio celebrates the refurbishment of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion’s one-of-a-kind multi-channel speaker system with the Sonic Pavilion Festival—a specially curated showcase of immersive sound art created by Chicago-area artists. Taking place on Saturday, August 9, and Monday, August 18, this free program invites audiences to experience spatial sound in a truly unique setting. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

Millennium Park
Millennium Park is the #1 attraction in the Midwest and among the top 10 most-visited sites in the U.S. It is also the anchor of an urban cultural campus (Millennium Park Campus) that includes the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is located on Michigan Avenue, bordered by Randolph St. to the north, Columbus Dr. to the east and Monroe St. to the south. The Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Plan your visit at MillenniumPark.org; follow us on Facebook (@MillenniumParkChicago), Twitter and Instagram (@Millennium_Park); and join the conversation on social media using #MillenniumPark.