August News & Events

 Millennium Park at Home
Millennium Park’s renowned music, arts and recreation programming has moved online. Don’t miss this weekend's Blues Music concerts featuring bluesman and CTA bus driver Toronzo Cannon (pictured) among many other local musicians, July 31-August 2, 6pm at YouTube.com/ChicagoDCASE - and mark your calendars for Chicago Jazz over Labor Day weekend, September 3-6. Workouts are continuing Saturdays at 8am through August 26 on the Millennium Park Facebook page. Full schedule at MillenniumPark.org .

Lollapalooza Celebrates the Year of Chicago Music
This year's virtual Lolla2020 lineup (through Sunday, August 2) will include four performances by local artists presented in collaboration with the   City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). These four sets feature many of Chicago’s incredible emerging and established artists including Jamila Woods, KAINA, Heavy Steppers with Jamal Smallz, Peter CottonTale, Rebirth Poetry Ensemble, Emon Fowler, Linda Sol, and The Era Footwork Crew — programmed by DCASE and recorded at neighborhood music venues to showcase Chicago's diverse and legendary music scene during the Year of Chicago Music, now extended into 2021.

Also,  Arts for Illinois Relief Fund  is one of Lollapalooza's three official nonprofit partners, meaning the festival will match donations up to $10,000 at www.Lollapalooza.com/paypal .

New Public Art at the Chicago Riverwalk
DCASE in collaboration with the Department of Assets, Information and Services (AIS) recently announced new public artworks on the Chicago Riverwalk, including:
  • Located at the Riverwalk’s Community Marketplace west of Michigan Avenue, the newly completed mural The Radiance of Being, designed and painted by Chicago-based artist Kate Lynn Lewis, celebrates 100 years of Art Deco architecture.
  • The Confluence, the Chicago Riverwalk’s most western point near Lake Street, will soon show The People in Your Neighborhood - a series of 55 portraits of Chicagoans by street artist Dont Fret.

Reminder - f ace coverings and physical distancing are required for all visitors to the Riverwalk. Vendor details are available by visiting www.ChicagoRiverwalk.us .

Chicago City Markets are Open
Considered essential businesses, the Chicago City Markets are open to increase neighborhood access to fresh and healthy food. Markets are taking necessary precautions to encourage social distancing and to protect customers and vendors. Please follow market rules when shopping, wear a face covering and stay home if you aren't feeling well. A full schedule of local markets is available at  ChicagoCityMarkets.us . 

Millennium Park is Cautiously Reopening 
Millennium Park is now open daily, 8am to 9pm, including the Great Lawn area with social distancing circles. Visitors are required to practice physical distancing and wear face coverings. Visit MillenniumPark.org to plan your visit - including where to enter/exit the park and which facilities are open.
Chicago Cultural Center is Highlighting Murals, Virtual Tours
The Chicago Cultural Center remains closed to the public, but DCASE is excited to feature art on the building's exterior. Enjoy a set of colorful mural banners by Chicago artist Sam Kirk in honor of Chicago Pride 2020 on the Michigan Avenue side of the building. And don't forget about the magnificent mural by Kerry James Marshall on the Garland Court side of the building. If you want to go inside the "People's Palace," we are now offering video tours by cultural historian Tim Samuelson at ChicagoCulturalCenter.org .