July 2027 events calendar for Chicago

Summer in Chicago hits its peak during July, when some of the city's biggest festivals and events return to town and bring enough live music, incredible food and general outdoor merrymaking to fill every weekend (and probably a good amount of weekdays, too).

Kick off the month with Fourth of July celebrations, highlighted by sparkling fireworks shows across the city and suburbs. From there, take a deep dive into the heart of summer festival season at events like Lollapalooza, Windy City Smokeout and Wicker Park Fest.

For even more ways to keep busy on long summer days and nights, check out our curated guide to the best things to do in Chicago this July.

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