Spend your festive weekend filled with fun, hot weather, fireworks, and more in Chicago. The options for activities are endless and ones that everyone will enjoy. Fourth of July weekend is loaded with a variety of fun activities to participate in.
Chicago Beaches
Finally! July is here which means consistent warmer weather. Warmer weather means fun ways to cool off!
Get a refreshing lakefront breeze at one of the city of Chicago Beaches. There are multiple beach locations to choose from. If you are spending your day around Navy Pier or museum campus, there is one located at each location! How convenient to have all the fun be in one spot!
The 12th street beach is located within the Northerly Island Park. A beach house located right before the beach that serves food and beverages for guests to enjoy! The Ohio Street beach is just North of Navy Pier. Take a dip into the lake or sit back and enjoy the skyline views while catching some rays!
The Navy Pier fireworks schedule goes throughout summer starting from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. The schedule is set for every Wednesday at 9PM and every Saturday at 10PM. The weekly fireworks at Navy Pier fire off from a barge on the lake between the Chicago Harbor Lock and the Lighthouse.
Voters chose Navy Pier as the best place to watch fireworks for the second year in a row. This made Navy Pier a popular choice among voters. Check out the article on their website.
Anywhere on the pier is typically a good spot to watch the fireworks. Do keep in mind the further you walk down towards the East end of the pier is more ideal for views. Of course also heading towards upstairs for a little bit of elevation is a good idea as well.
For the week of Fourth of July the pier will continue to follow their weekly set schedule and they will take place Wednesday July 3rd at 9PM and also July 6th at 10PM. There will be no show on July 4th.
One enjoyable way to celebrate the holiday is by watching fireworks from a boat on a Chicago fireworks cruise. This allows you to have a fun experience while enjoying the show. It’s a unique way to see the fireworks display and make the most of the holiday celebration.
One departs from the Chicago River on our Architecture River Tour. A second one on Chicago’s Lake Michigan aboard our Skyline Lake Cruises. Both are a beautiful and unique way to celebrate the Fourth of July! A tour of the city and fireworks to top off your summer night!
Our Lake Cruise showcases the firework show with the Chicago skyline at night as the back drop, creating picture perfect moments. Our Architecture River Tour will take you down the three branches of the river then set you up near the Chicago Locks for a great seat of the fireworks. You can purchase tickets ahead of time here!
Navy Pier is home to many activities, food to try, and things to see. During the summer they have different weekly events and you can find these posted on their website to plan your day accordingly.
You can also feel the cool breeze from the lake by going on our Skyline Lake Cruise. It’s a 45-minute boat ride around a 6.5-mile loop. A recording tells you about famous buildings, landmarks, and facts about Chicago. It’s a fun activity to see Chicago while getting a break from walking!
Baseball
Wrigley Field is a historic stadium and you can catch a Chicago Cubs game this Fourth of July weekend. Watch the Cubs take on the Phillies as they’re in town from July 2nd through July 4th. Or if you prefer a weekend game the Angels will be facing off the Cubs from July 5th through July 7th. If you’re a Chicago White Sox fan, unfortunately they are not in town this weekend but you can always tune in at a bar or restaurants.
NASCAR Weekend
For the second year, NASCAR will be in Chicago! Join the two-day event filled with races, food, drinks, and live performances. You can enjoy performances by Keith Urban, The Black Keys, The Chainsmokers, and Lauren Alaina. Tickets are on sale or you can even watch at a restaurant or bar to still get a glimpse of the Chicago track!
