Everything you need to know about visiting Navy Pier (600 E Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60611)
This tourist hot spot features shops, eateries, an IMAX cinema and a bevy of sightseeing boat tours. Pier Park is home to a 200-foot-high Ferris wheel, a beer garden and public art exhibitions galore. You'll also find the Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and a rotating roster of live entertainment on the Family Pavilion Stage. Most offerings may not turn locals on, but the seasonal events, indoor activities and great people-watching provide plenty of entertainment, no matter what the weather.
Plenty to eat and drink
You may not think of Navy Pier as an obvious foodie destination, but the tourist mecca boasts some legit eats including Big City Chicken, DMK Burger and Fish Bar, Goddess and the Baker, the Original Rainbow Cone, Snow Dragon Shavery and many more. Guests who are 21 and over are allowed to take their boozy beverages to go while they walk around the Pier, and several restaurants even offer take-out windows with food and drink options.
See a show
Whether you have the kids in tow or are looking to entertain adult visitors, there's entertainment for everyone at Navy Pier. The little ones will get a kick out of the Chicago Children's Museum, which boasts a water playground, DIY spaces and educational exhibits. Chicago Shakespeare Theater offers exceptional renditions of the classics and new works fit for the whole family. To get your fix of live music with an ice-cold brew in hand, look no further than that Miller Lite Beer Garden, which offers a summer music and dance series throughout the warmer months.
Our Chicago editorial team is constantly updating and reviewing the best attractions, activities and venues across the city, so that you're always in the know, with the best of Chicago at your fingertips. Chicago was most recently updated with new tips on June 26, 2017.
Navy Pier, in partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago and The Vintage House Show Collective, presents a new exhibit exploring the history of the home-grown artists, clubs and labels that have built House music. The exhibit will be open and free to the public during all Pier operating hours through the end of October.
Head to the South Dock of Navy Pier for a ‘90s-inspired block party featuring live bands, DJs and lots of nostalgic tunes pumping throughout the Beer Garden. Bring the whole family for activities like arts and crafts, video games, interactive spray paint murals, corn hole and more. The festivities end with the Pier’s weekly fireworks show at 9pm.
During the summer, one of the best aerial displays you'll find in Chicago originates from Navy Pier. The Chicago attraction hosts twice-weekly fireworks shows (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, with stunning views available from across the pier's public spaces. Of course, you can also take in the show from nearby beaches or while cruising along the Lakefront Trail.
Enjoy outdoor live music all summer long at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. The free series will feature local, regional and national acts performing countless genres and musical styles every weekend. Check the official Navy Pier website for the full schedule.
Chicago DJs take over the Wave Wall at Navy Pier every Saturday through August to play free, live sets of house and dance music. The outdoor series features names like Steve Miggedy Maestro, Zeetus Lapetus, Gabriel “Rican” Rodriguez, Oliver Fade, Ron Carroll and more.
Navy Pier hosts this Air and Water Show weekend feast featuring mountains of fresh seafood flown in from the East Coast. At the Great American Lobster Festival, hungry attendees can sign up for the Lobster Meal Experience that includes one drink voucher and a 1.25-pound steamed red lobster or a lobster roll served with corn on the cob, potatoes, a dinner roll, lemon wedges and melted butter. Once you're full, head to the stage, where you can catch live music and the Air and Water Show all weekend.
Navy Pier hosts LatiNXT this August, a free two-day music festival showcasing local, national and international Latinx artists curated by Future Rootz. The event will feature two music stages, a DJ stage and an array of artisan vendors. This year’s lineup includes French-Chilean singer Ana Tijoux and Mexican singer Pahua.
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