Millennium Park is gearing up to celebrate a milestone this summer with a loaded schedule that's got something for everyone – and it's all free. In honor of its 20th anniversary, the park is rolling out an extended lineup of concerts, films, and workout sessions starting in May and running through August, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced Thursday.
The park's Summer Film Series is a hot ticket, kicking off on July 16 with back-to-back screenings of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Jurassic Park" and continuing with crowd-pleasers like "Barbie" and "Coco" in the following weeks. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, movies will hit the 40-foot LED screen at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, giving Chicagoans the perfect excuse to sprawl out on the Great Lawn for movie night.
Not to be outdone, the Millennium Park Summer Music Series will feature an eclectic mix of artists including Corinne Bailey Rae and GZA, along with a host of others guaranteed to get your head nodding. Performances will be held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Mondays and Thursdays from July 1 to Aug. 8, Block Club Chicago noted in their announcement.
For those looking to break a sweat, the Millennium Park Summer Workouts will keep the energy high most Saturdays, from May 18 through Aug. 31 with a series of 45-minute classes that include pilates, yoga, kickboxing, and Zumba, starting at 8 a.m., creating a festival-like atmosphere for fitness buffs with live music to boot.
The celebration peaks with the Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Weekend from July 18-21, featuring a variety of events such as the Grant Park Orchestra playing "Star Wars and More: the Music of John Williams", and hometown hero Common sharing the stage with the orchestra. The event locked in Latin music group Fruko y Sus Tesos from Colombia to headline the ¡Súbelo! Festival that Thursday and EDM enthusiasts can close out their weekend with Steve “Silk” Hurley and Shannon “Skip” Says spinning house music on Sunday from 4-7 p.m., as per the Chicago Tribune.
