The end of summer? Already, really? Worry not. While Labor Day weekend is speedily approaching there is a fabulous array of activities and specials happening in the city that are seriously worth checking out. Music festivals, special menus, and once-a-year outdoor events are set to make this Labor Day weekend a memorable one.
See Also: The Ultimate River North Guide
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Union Park / Website
Dates: Friday, Sept. 2 - Sunday, Sept. 4
Let loose to buzzy mixes from some of the most significant artists in dance music at this three-day music festival. Enjoy art and well-loved local cuisine as you travel between the festival’s four immersive stages. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Navy Pier / Website
Date: Monday, Sept. 5, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Jam out to the very best bands from the Bitter Jester Music Festival’s highly competitive contest. Throughout June, up-and-coming vocalists and bands performed for panels of judges in hopes of claiming coveted concert gigs. This event is free.
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302 N Green Street, Floor 3 / Website
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 3 - Monday, Sept. 5
Enjoy an extra day of weekend brunch at Aba this Labor Day weekend. Guests will nosh on house-made labneh and fresh berries, smoked salmon spread on a Jerusalem bagel, sweet corn hummus with corn cream, urfa, aleppo and lime, and wash it all down with a flavorful harissa bloody Mary. Reservations can be made here.
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Millenium Park / Website
Dates: Thursday, Sept. 1 - Sunday, Sept. 4
Join the Jazz Institute of Chicago for a truly wonderful (and free) lineup of world-class jazz performances, featuring nationally and internationally-acclaimed musicians and Chicago jazz stars alike. Leading up to the festival, there will be free jazz concerts at local venues scattered around the city from Tuesday, Aug. 23 to Wednesday, Aug, 31.
Exciting news for all beach-lovers! Chicago’s network of 21 beaches will remain open through Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Indoor park pools will reopen the week of Sept. 6.
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Butler Field in Grant Park / Website
Date: Sunday, Sept. 4
Grab your bike and embark on a gorgeous ride with spanning views of the lake and the city skyline. The course is 30 miles, but participants can ride as much or as little as they want. It’s a special occasion for bikes to dominate DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the event also serves as a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to improving walking, biking, and public transportation in Chicago.
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Navy Pier / Website
Dates: Friday, Sept. 2 - Sunday, Sept. 4
Indulge in a huge selection of lobsters at this hit summer festival. With live music, exciting vendors, and all the lobster and cocktails you can imagine, it’s a fitting way to spend the “last” weekend of summer. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Lincoln Square / Website
Dates: Friday, Sept. 2 - Monday, Sept. 5
Head to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church for delectable, authentic, homemade Greek cuisine. There will be live music, Greek dance troupe performances, and a marketplace of Grecian gifts and goods.
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7000 South Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview / Website
Dates: Friday, Sept. 2 - Sunday, Sept. 4
Lose yourself in the immersive world of the North Coast Festival. With six stages to dance at, awesome art to experience, and Diplo headlining, among others, it’s sure to be a memorable festival. Tickets can be purchased here.
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600 E Grand Avenue / Website
Date: Sunday, Sept. 4
Live the lux life this Labor Day at an exclusive white-themed party aboard a four-story yacht as you cruise around Lake Michigan to the tunes of Chi-town’s top DJs. Check-in begins at 9:45 p.m. and the yacht ride will run from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., perfect for partiers ready to take full advantage of their Labor Day Monday off. Tickets can be purchased here.
Make the most of this Labor Day weekend by exploring some of the fabulous activities happening locally in Chicago.
Photography by: Niklas Toelle / Getty Images
