While there's no shortage of ways to celebrate Labor Day, the holiday weekend often lands as bittersweet, marking the unofficial end of summertime and all the sun-soaked bliss that comes with it. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of warm weather fun to be had as we roll into the three-day weekend, from street festivals (like West Loop Art Fest) to live music at the Chicago Jazz Festival downtown and North Coast in suburban Bridgeview. It’s also the final weekend to catch free fireworks shows at Navy Pier. Scroll through for even more stuff to do and have a very happy Labor Day.
RECOMMENDED: Your guide to Labor Day weekend 2025 in Chicago
We've rounded up the best chefs in the city to join us at Time Out Market Chicago, a culinary and cultural destination in the heart of Fulton Market featuring 18 kitchens, three bars and one drop-dead gorgeous rooftop terrace—all spread across three floors.
Channel the artist within using cakes and cookies as your palette with a workshop at Bon Vivant! After feasting on snacks and cocktails, a team of experienced bakers offers tips, tricks and techniques for creating your own creative confections. Workshop themes for Labor Day weekend include “Chicago Cookout” and “Fancy Picnic.” View the full workshop lineup here.
With its latest exhibition, the Chicago Botanic Garden showcases the patterns and prints that adorn the natural world. Through meticulously planted gardens and nature-inspired art installations, Patterned by Nature highlights the intersection between graphic design and horticulture. Exhibition highlights include colossal embroidered flowers by Raquel Rodrigo, a collection of upcycled fashion sourced from garden materials by Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fashion and a paisley patterned succulent garden.
From weekend getaways to the best beaches and rooftops, here's how to send summer off on a high note.
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