The best Chicago summer festivals

Some of the biggest names in jazz come to Chicago for a series of shows at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park during this annual festival. This year's lineup features the Art Ensemble of Chicago, jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, legendary pianist Eddie Palmieri and a tribute to Nat King Cole (led by his brother, Freddy Cole). In the week leading up to the festival, you'll be able to catch free shows at venues like Constellation, Hungry Brain and PianoForte Chicago.

Entering its 10th summer in Chicago, change is in the air for the North Coast Music Festival in 2019. The Labor Day weekend music festival is vacating its former home in Union Park and moving to the Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island, where it will host a two-day event (down from its usual three days of music). And while past North Coast lineups have included jam bands, indie rockers and hip-hop acts, its 2019 slate of performers is squarely focused on electronic artists, including headlining sets from EDM titan Bassnectar and Diplo's dancehall project Major Lazer. Spread across two stages, the rest of the lineup features Jai Wolf, Flux Pavilion, Tchami, Juaz, Gorgon City and more than 20 other acts.

Some of the biggest names in jazz come to Chicago for a series of shows at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park during this annual festival. This year's lineup features the Art Ensemble of Chicago, jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, legendary pianist Eddie Palmieri and a tribute to Nat King Cole (led by his brother, Freddy Cole). In the week leading up to the festival, you'll be able to catch free shows at venues like Constellation, Hungry Brain and PianoForte Chicago.

See musicians from India, Peru, France, South Africa, China and more locations around the globe at the annual World Music Festival, which stages a series of free concerts at venues throughout the city during the month of September. As usual, the festival kicks off with an overnight Ragamala concert at the Chicago Cultural Center, featuring 14 hours of classical music from India. Other highlights of this year's lineup include the ¡SÚBELO! concert in Millennium Park featuring acts from Peru, Puerto Rico and Mexico (Sept 14); Chinese rock, reggae and ska band MABANG! (Sept 20, 21) and Afropop artist Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited (Sept 28). The festival concludes at Navy Pier with a series of performances at the World Dumpling Fest on Sept 29. Friday, September 13–Saturday, September 14Ragamala – A Celebration of India Classical MusicChicago Cultural Center, 6pm–8am Saturday, September 14¡SÚBELO! – A Celebration of Pan Latin Music and CulturePirulo y la Tribu (Puerto Rico), Los Wembler’s de Iquitos (Peru), Centavrvs (Mexico)Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 3–7 pm Saturday, September 14Lucibela (Cape Verde), Girma Bèyènè and Akalé Wubé (Ethiopia, France, USA)The Promontory, 6pm Sunday, September 15Girma Bèyènè and Akalé Wubé (Ethiopia, France, USA), Khalil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (Chicago)Constellation, 7pm Wednesday, September 18The Englewood/Soweto Exchange (Chicago, South Africa), Jeremy Dutcher (First Nation/Canada)Old Town School of Folk Music, 7pm Thursday, Sep

It's the social event of the season for anyone with a denim jacket covered in patches hanging in their closet. Riot Fest brings a lineup of rock, hip-hop and punk acts to Douglas Park for a three-day carnival of music (there's even a Ferris wheel), where attendees can eat corn dogs and enjoy some of the final gasps of warm summer weather. We don't know when the festival's lineup will be released—and you probably shouldn't ask the fest via Twitter, unless you're willing to be the subject of a biting retort.

Haven't made it to a bonafide Chicago block party yet this year? You'll get your chance to celebrate in the streets at Goose Island's annual end-of-the-summer soirée on the pavement outside of its Fulton Street brewery. The 312 Block Party brings together a stacked lineup of performers, food truck fare and plenty of beer (for just $3 a pop)—and your $10 donation at the gate supports local charities. On Friday, September 20, country-tinged singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis headlines the party, with support from Nashville balladeer Margo Price and actor-turned-musician Lola Kirke. Laid-back rocker Kurt Vile (whose set at July's Pitchfork Music Festival was rained out) tops the bill on Saturday, September 21, joined by D.C. punks Priests and soulful psych rockers the Budos Band. You'll also find local acts like Rookie, Cafe Racer, Dogs at Large, Ben Pirani, Manwolves, Roy Kinsey and Tatiana Hazel at the two-day fest. With so much great music and cheap beer on tap, the 312 Block Party usually fills up quickly, so we recommend arriving early (the fest's entrance is at Fulton St and Wolcott Ave) and have a few drinks while you wait for your favorite act to play.

If you're still yearning for more meandering solos and shifting rhythms after the Chicago Jazz Festival, head to Hyde Park for this annual event that focuses on local performers. The Hyde Park Jazz Festival takes over venues throughout the South Side neighborhood, welcoming two days of performances from acts like local multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid, trumpeter Amir ElSaffar’s and the debut of saxophonist Greg Ward’s new band Rogue Parade. During the afternoon, many of the concerts take place on two outdoor stages at Midway Plaisance, while the evening moves the music to places like the Logan Center and Rockefeller Chapel.