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Enjoy endless things to do in Chicago, all walking distance to voco Chicago Downtown
voco Chicago Downtown - Riverwalk

Local Attractions & Events In Chicago

Chicago is home to notable sports teams, renowned architectural tours, annual tradeshows, parades, festivals and more. Visit us at voco Chicago Downtown and explore a city that has something for everyone.

Chicago Sports

Chicago Bears Helmet

Chicago Bears

Are you ready for some football? If so, come enjoy a football game at Soldier Field and root for our Chicago Bears! Their season starts late summer and goes through mid-winter. These football players are ready to play in all types of weather, so make sure you dress accordingly to enjoiy the game!

Ice Hocky

Chicago Blackhawks

Nothing is quite as intense and exciting as a hockey game. Especially when our NHL team, The Chicago Blackhawks, are in the arena. Come to the United Center, the same stadium where the Chicago Bulls play, and watch one of the NHL leagues original six fight to take home another victory. 

Basketball player taking a shot

Chicago Bulls

Sharing the United Center with the Blackhawks are the infamous Chicago Bulls. Join us and experience these games live October-April.

Cubs Win

Chicago Cubs

Visit the famous Wrigley Field and catch a Cubs baseball game! Season begins in March and goes through September. 

Crowd watching baseball

Chicago White Sox

Come watch the Chicago White Sox play and root for the home team at Guaranteed Rate Field. Games start late March and go through mid September. 

Chicago Fire soccer

Chicago Fire

If you're a soccer fan, cheer on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field! Matches run from late winter to fall.

Chicago Events & Festivals

Architecutral Tours

Architectural Tours

View Chicago by bus, boat, train, or on foot on one of our city’s famous architecture tours. Let experts show the way through behind-the-scenes stories. 

Green Died River

St Patrick's Day in Chicago

Every year in March, the Chicago River gets dyed green by the Chicago Plumbers Union. This iconic event takes place to kick off a week of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, including parades, river cruises, and food and drink specials around the city.

Fans enjoying outdoor music festival

Chicago’s Summer Music Festivals

Every summer, downtown and the lakefront resonate with live music, as the city hosts free festivals in Millennium Park. Celebrating its musical heritage and showcasing local talent, experience a variety of genres from renowned performers.

Film camera

Chicago Film Festivals

Chicago boasts a rich cinematic legacy with landmarks like Essanay Studios and films ranging from classics like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to modern hits such as The Dark Knight and Public Enemies. The city hosts prestigious film festivals year-round, including the renowned Chicago International Film Festival, showcasing its vibrant film culture.

Couple sharing popcorn at an outdoor movie

Millennium Park Film Series

Each summer, Millennium Park hosts free movie screenings at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, featuring a lineup curated by top film festivals in Chicago. Audiences enjoy blockbusters, award-winners, family classics, and cult favorites against the backdrop of the city’s iconic skyline during Millennium Park’s 20th Anniversary Summer Season.

Pride Fest

Chicago Pride Fest and Pride Parade

Chicago Pride Fest in June transforms Northalsted into a vibrant, two-day LGBTQ+ celebration with live music across three stages, over 100 vendors, local cuisine, drag shows, dance performances, and a high-heel race, drawing over 100,000 attendees annually. The Chicago Pride Parade, a beloved LGBTQ+ tradition for over 50 years, culminates the city’s month-long celebrations with a renowned four-mile procession through Northalsted, Uptown, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park on the last Sunday of June

Family eating hotdogs and burgers

Chicago Food Festivals

Explore Chicago's diverse dining scene through its lively food festivals, offering everything from barbecue to international cuisine and iconic Chicago-style hot dogs. Don't miss events like Taste of Chicago and Chicago Gourmet, as well as neighborhood food fests, for a true taste of the city's culinary delights.

Group of friends dancing

Chicago's SummerDance

Chicago's SummerDance festival invites everyone to dance under the open sky in scenic parks like Grant Park and various neighborhood locations, offering free lessons and live music spanning a wide array of dance styles from waltz and tango to salsa and flamenco throughout the summer.

Couple at an outdoor concert

Ravinia Festival

Ravinia Festival is an outdoor concert series that takes place in Highland Park. Visit their website to see this year’s schedule and performers.

Fans enjoying concert

Lollapalooza

Experience four days of the world’s best music with over 170 bands on eight stages in historic Grant Park, set against the iconic Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. Enjoy a vibrant festival atmosphere with delicious food, drinks, and sweets from the city’s favorite eateries.

Outdoor concert with ladies on shoulders cheering

Market Days at Northalstead

Northalsted Market Days® spans a vibrant weekend, transforming the streets of Chicago's iconic Northalsted/Lakeview district into a celebration of community. Stretching over half a mile, this summer festival boasts continuous live music across five stages, a marketplace hosting over 250 vendors, a diverse array of food and beverages, dance showcases, drag performances, and more!

Planes flying in the sky for air show

Chicago Air and Water Show

Since its inception in 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show has become the largest free air and water exhibition in the U.S., attracting over two million spectators annually to Lake Michigan's shores. Held over two days at North Avenue Beach, this thrilling event showcases astonishing aerial and aquatic performances by military and civilian teams, offering a memorable experience with jet engines roaring overhead and crisp lake breezes.

Group dancing in Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade

Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, a nearly 90-year tradition, launches the holiday season downtown with a vibrant morning procession along State Street. Named the #2 Thanksgiving Parade in the U.S. by TimeOut Magazine, it features top marching bands, festive floats, cultural performances, and iconic helium balloons, making it a cherished, all-ages event celebrating community spirit and history.