Summer is here! There are a lot of fun things coming up to do with the kids in Chicago this summer, here’s a quick preview of some of the highlights you’ll want to add to the calendar to check out with your family!
June
Nickelodeon SlimeFest
The ever-popular Nickelodeon is throwing a giant party right here in Chicago! On June 8 and 9 from 10a-5p, you can grab the kids and head to Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island for this part-music fest, part-slime party, packed with music, activities, and plenty of slime! There’s a Slime Maze, a Slime Disco and you and the kids will even get the chance to get “slimed” at Slime Central! There will be meet and greets with a variety of Nickelodeon stars, and performers such as Pitbull, Bebe Rexha, JoJo Siwa & T-Pain will all be giving concerts at the festival. Definitely a day to remember this summer!
Pride Month
June is Pride month, when nearly 100 various social, political, cultural, and athletic events such as choral concerts, picnics, religious services, workshops, dances, film screenings, 5K & 10 K runs, plays, festivals, and the much-loved Annual Pride Parade take place throughout the Chicago metro area. There are lots of kid-friendly events this month, including a fun and easy way to participate in Pride month at the Chicago Children’s Museum. All through June, you and your kids can add colorful ribbons to the central staircase to help it transform into a giant rainbow. A huge chalkboard also gives you and your family the chance to write out your ideas about family.
Dragon Boat Race for Literacy
On June 22, 30 traditional Chinese Dragon Boats will head down the Chicago River from Ping Tom Memorial Park, in a race whose roots go back more than 2,000 years! The event will have kid’s activities, dance performances, live music, and booth vendors, and several special guests.
July
Outside Experience
July is a great month to get the kids excited about camping and the great outdoors! Outside Experience on July 13 and 14 is a fest celebrating the great outdoors. This event at the McCormick Place is geared for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, experience, and skill levels, to test gear, show films, introduce new products, and provide interactive demos in a family-friendly, festive indoor/outdoor environment.
Shakespeare in the Park
One of Chicago’s favorite summer traditions, the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour will run for its 8th year this summer, and kicks off its free performances of this summer’s Shakespeare play The Comedy of Errors on July 18 at 7p, at the Polk Bros Park Performance Lawn at Navy Pier. The 75-minute abridged production will make its way through various city parks for the next month, so be sure to catch one of them with the kids for a really fun and memorable free family outing this summer!
August
Chicago Botanic Garden’s Kite Festival
Don’t miss the chance to go fly a kite at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Kite Festival on August 10 and 11! The kids can join in the kite-making workshops, watch in awe and amazement as professionals make their stunt-kites dance and wheel their way through the sky in performances set to music, and then the kids can try their own hand at flying a kite. This is always a really fun day to be outside on a summer’s day!
There’s lots going on this summer, so we’ll keep you posted with more fun family summer activities in Chicago as the summer goes on!