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Millennium Park from above
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What better way to spend a summer day than exploring Downtown Chicago? One of the best places in the city for a wealth of family fun that doesn’t cost a fortune is
Millennium Park. The Park, located on Michigan Avenue between Randolph Street and Monroe Street, offers tons of free activities daily that could keep your family busy from morning through night.
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Enjoying a picnic (Brook Collins, Chicago Park District)
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Family Fun Festival!
From June 10 through September 4, Target is co-sponsoring the Park’s Family Fun Festival, which features daily kids’ performances and hands-on artistic, ethnic and just plain fun activities. This year, area museums and cultural organizations such the Art Institute, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Chinese American Museum are leading the daily activities.
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Pritzger Pavillion
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Music in the Park
Chicago is lucky to have the nation’s only remaining free outdoor classical music series. The
Grant Park Music Festival begins on June 16 and runs through August 18. While most people are familiar with the evening concerts, few are aware that the orchestra and chorus often rehearse on the stage during the day. Check out the concert starting times and rehearsal schedules at www.Grantparkmusicfestival.com or call (312) 742-7638 for more information.
In addition to classical music, Millennium Park offers
Jazz, Gospel, World and
eclectic music concerts throughout the summer. The
Great Performers of Illinois festival July 10-13 promises over 50 musical performances as well as a host of other activities. You can find a complete schedule of all musical events at www.millenniumpark.org.
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Lurie Garden
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Lurie Garden
This 2.5 acre garden was designed to pay tribute to Chicago’s motto “
Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden) and offers a seasonally changing showcase of plant life from delicate perennials to plants that rise taller than most visitors. Wander on your own or, on Sundays beginning May 10, take a free 20 minute guided tour through the garden led by a
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener.
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"Cloud Gate" affectionatey know as the bean
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Public Art
The Park offers a great opportunity to expose children to some of the best in contemporary and modern art in a truly playful environment. The
Boeing Galleries, located in the center of the Park, is presenting whimsical large-scale sculpture in
A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculpture From China. Near by is
Cloud Gate (or the Bean, as it is more commonly known), one of the largest sculptures of its kind. Created from a series of highly polished stainless steel plates, the sculpture reflects the sky and clouds as well as the images of its visitors, who are encouraged to stand under its 12 foot high arch and touch its mirror-like surface.
Crown Fountain is a not to be missed attraction at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street. Designed by Spanish artist
Jaume Plensa, who was inspired by the diversity of the people of Chicago, the fountain consists of two 50-foot towers that bookend a shallow reflecting pool. The towers project video images of actual Chicagoans who periodically open their mouths and shower water down onto the squealing children below.
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The Crown Fountain is a nice place in summer
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Fitness
The Park hosts a series of free Saturday morning workouts on the
Great Lawn of the
Pritzker Pavillion through the end of October.. All experience levels are welcome. Families with older kids should check out the
McDonald’s Cycle Center, located at
Randolph Street and Columbus Drive. This 300-space heated indoor bicycle parking facility provides bike rental as well as lockers, showers, bike repair and other services. For rates and more information call
888-BIKE-WAY or email info@chicagobikestation.com.
For more information about all the activities at
Millennium Park, visit www.millenniumpark.org or call
312-742-1168.
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