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Parents React To Sudden Closure Of Lake In The Hills Spring Carnival After Fights

Parents are sharing their experiences at a far north suburban spring carnival that was canceled over the weekend after multiple reported fights broke out amongst the crowds at the event.

“I didn’t know what to do. I was so scared for my kids and myself,” said parent, Monique, who asked NBC 5 to only use her first name.

Monique was at the Lake in the Hills Spring carnival Saturday afternoon with her two young children. She was atop a fun house when she snapped a photo of what she describes as excessively large crowds.

“It was very crowded. More crowded than usual, and I’ve been in this area my whole life, so I’ve been to all these fests,” she said.

Another parent says her son called her to pick him up less than 30 minutes after he got there.

“He sounded frantic,” said Robyn Larson. “He said when he first walked in, it was so crowded. He got a bad feeling instantly.”

In a Snapchat video, one parent captured the moment a fight broke out on festival grounds.

Local

Amid the skirmishes, officials made the decision to close the carnival down early on Saturday, with safety officials opting not to allow the event to resume on Sunday.

In a Facebook post, the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce said the decision was made in conjunction with safety officials.

“After careful consultation with the Village of Lake in the Hills and our Chief of Police, it has been decided that reopening the carnival would not be in the best interest of public safety,” officials said. “This decision was made with the utmost consideration for the well-being of our community members and attendees.”

A similar incident happened at a carnival in Tinley Park last summer, prompting officials to make safety changes.

Authorities canceled the final day of the Armed Forces Weekend Carnival near the 80th Avenue train station after reports of a “flash mob” that saw more than 400 teens gather.

Several citations were issued, and a police officer was also injured.

“We learned something out of it. We prepared for our Ribfest in the coming months, and we had absolutely no problems with that,” said Pat Carr,

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The Best Outdoor Bars In Chicago

Kaiser TigerPhotograph: Courtesy Kaiser Tiger

Get in gear for alfresco season with our guide to the best outdoor bars and patios in Chicago.

Sure, going to one of the best bars in Chicago is always fun, but there’s something exhilarating about having a drink outdoors. And after making it through another winter in the city, we rightly deserve to order a few cold ones while basking in the sun. If you’re looking for a Saturday rager or calm post-work happy hour, these excellent wine programs or beer gardens have everything you might be looking for. We’ve tracked down waterfront patios, hidden gardens and rooftop bars where you can mix a little bit of alcohol with a lot of fresh air. Make a reservation (if necessary), pack some sunscreen, hit up the group chat and prepare to spend an afternoon at one of the best outdoor bars in Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor restaurants in Chicago

Outdoor bars and patios in Chicago

1. Park & Field

Though its kitchen and bar are housed in a former auto repair garage, Park & Field’s main draw is its gigantic 6,000-square-feet patio, which features a bocce court, hammocks, fire pits and a camper that has been retrofitted to serve as an outdoor bar. Even if you visit during the coldest months, you can stay warm by cozying up next to a fire. Summer, though, is when Park & Field turns into a lively adult playground packed with fun and games.

2. Big Star

People come to the Big Star patio to eat tacos al pastor while munching on chips and salsa, but they stay because someone at the table orders a second pitcher of margaritas or another round of beers. The moment temperatures in Chicago begin creeping up, the outdoor seating at the Wicker Park location seems to fill up instantly—and the newer locations in Wrigleyville and West Town. Be prepared to wait for your turn, but know that chips, guac and margs are in your future.

3. Recess

Set among a pile of shipping containers next to West Loop event space City Hall, Recess bills itself as one of the city’s largest patios, complete with a multi-level set-up and multiple bars.

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Chicago Summer Festivals 2024: Music, Food, Street Festivals Happening Across The City | See List

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago summers are perfect for outdoor activities, whether it is exploring a street festival in a new community, or a free concert in Millennium Park.

Dozens of festivals happen every year in the city to celebrate culture, communities and genres of music.

The list below contains a variety of free and paid festivities happening across the city through September.

This list will continue to be updated as events are announced.

APRIL

Ravinia Festival

Dates from April 20 through Sept. 15

Ravinia Festival is a series of over 100 summer concerts from artists like The Beach Boys with John Stamos and TLC. The outdoor venue has concert seating as well as a lawn area, where you can bring your own food and drinks for a concert picnic.

MAY

Summer at Gallagher Way

Dates from May through September

3635 N. Clark St., Chicago

Gallagher Way, located next to Wrigley Field, has a variety of family activities planned throughout the summer. Events like free movie nights, markets, concerts and more will be free and open to the public. View the schedule here.

SEE ALSO: Gallagher Way announces summer events lineup for lawn area outside Wrigley Field

Solar Tide

May 10-11

The Patio Theater, Chicago

Solar Tide is a bass music and arts festival in Portage Park. Featuring 19 artists over two days, tickets start at $50.

Chicago Mayfest

May 17-19

West Armitage Avenue from Sheffield Avenue to Racine Avenue, Chicago

Mayfest returns for the 27th year in Lincoln Park. The street festival will have a variety of music performances, artisan and food vendors. A pet parade and a glassblowing workshop will also take place over the weekend.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest

May 24-26

3200 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago

This annual street festival will kick off summer in Lakeview with music, food and artisan vendors. The festivities are conveniently located steps away from the Belmont “L” station.

Randolph Street Market Festival

May 25-26

1341 W. Randolph St., Chicago

Randolph Street Market brands itself as a “fancy,

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Top Things To Do In Chicago This Month | Events & Activities | Choose Chicago

May is a jam-packed month in Chicago — summer is on the horizon, tulips are blooming all over the city, and weekends fill up with endless food, drink, cultural, and musical events. From the start of festival season to spring flower shows to major art fairs and cultural celebrations, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in the city this month.

Check out these top picks for things to do in Chicago throughout the month of May, including theatre and film festivals, Memorial Day weekend events, Cinco de Mayo festivities, AAPI Heritage Month events, and more.

Top events in Chicago this MaySuenos Music FestivalSuenos Music Festival

Celebrate Mexican culture at Navy Pier (May 3 – 5): Head to Navy Pier for a free celebration of Mexican culture, bringing together music and dance performances, workshops, and over 30 vendors.

Take a tour of the historic Pullman neighborhood (May 5): Walk through history on this guided tour of the Pullman National Historical Park and surrounding area.

Attend the Asian American Film Showcase (May 17 – 23): This 27th annual film showcase provides a platform for new works by established and emerging Asian American filmmakers at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Try a variety of cuisines during AAPI Restaurant Week (May 17 – 26): Discover a multitude of AAPI-owned restaurants across the city and suburbs, all offering special deals and discounts throughout the week.

Feast on Mexican cuisine at Mole de Mayo (May 24 – 26): Pilsen will be home to its annual outdoor mole cook-off, featuring an open-air mercado with local shops, music, dancing, and more.

Navy Pier fireworks

See fringe theatre at Rhino Festival (Starting May 25): This year is the 35th annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Chicago’s longest-running fringe theater festival, when 50 artists showcase their plays, music, and art throughout six venues across the city.

Feel the beat at Suenos Music Festival (May 25 – 26): Head to Grant Park for a two-day Latin music festival that features a variety of Reggaeton and Latin performers, as well as art, activities, a Ferris wheel, and more.

Be dazzled by the Navy Pier fireworks (starts May 25): Kick off the summer with the first fireworks display of the season at Navy Pier over Memorial Day weekend.

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10 Free Things To Do In Chicago This May | Choose Chicago

You don’t need to reach for your wallet to get your fill of fun things to do all around the city. Here are 10 of our favorite free events and activities this month in Chicago, including exciting new art events, outdoor adventures, iconic Chicago attractions, and so much more. Start planning your budget-friendly Chicago adventures for May 2024.

1. Watch the first summer fireworks show

NYE Fireworks at Navy Pier

The Navy Pier summer fireworks display is one of the most iconic parts of a Chicago summer. These twice-weekly shows take place on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m. all summer long. The breathtaking display is accompanied by a soundtrack of popular music, with special themed nights for holidays.

The summer fireworks series kicks off for the season on Saturday, May 25, 2024 during Memorial Day weekend. The best places to watch the show include the Navy Pier Beer Garden, Offshore Rooftop, or along the nearby lakefront.

2. Honor AAPI Heritage MonthIrene Hsiao, photo by GlitterGutsIrene Hsiao performance, photo by GlitterGuts

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a time to honor and explore the rich cultures and contributions of the city’s diverse Asian community. Check out some of the free celebrations happening this month.

  • Music of Cambodia (May 4): This free performance will showcase the tradition and history of ancient Cambodian music at the Harold Washington Library Center.
  • Free Admission Night at Heritage Asian Art Museum (May 17): Enjoy free admission to this fascinating museum showcasing Asian art, with complimentary tours, wine, and appetizers.
  • Asia on Argyle Block Park (May 18) This free block party will showcase the vibrant Argyle corridor, cultural performances, live music, youth activities, and more.

Explore more: Find more things to do during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

3. Catch a new season of Art on theMARTArt on theMARTArt on theMART

A brand new season of Art on theMART is now showing along the Chicago Riverwalk. The spring edition of the massive waterfront display kicks off with a new commission by internationally acclaimed artist Nora Turato, in conjunction with EXPO CHICAGO. The spring program is on view nightly from 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. from now through June 5.

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Top Art Exhibits At Chicago Museums | 2024 Guide | Choose Chicago

Chicago is a city full of history, art, and culture — and you’ll find all those things in our acclaimed cultural institutions. This summer, the city’s museums are unveiling a slate of jaw-dropping exhibitions featuring everything from thought-provoking contemporary art to ancient artifacts. Here’s our list of just a few of the museum and art exhibits at Chicago museums that are worth a visit in summer 2024.

Unseen OceansVisitors experience and learn about a range of biofluorescent marine species with a towering display of glowing to-scale models.Visitors experience and learn about a range of biofluorescent marine species with a towering display of glowing to-scale models; photo by Danielle Williams

Field Museum
Now open through Jan. 5, 2025

Embark on an ocean journey like no other. Unseen Oceans is an immersive new exhibit at the Field Museum that delves into the underwater world of the planet’s oceans, from sandy shores to deepest depths. Pilot a submersible, watch life-sized ocean creatures swim on wrap-around screens, and meet live critters like sea fish, jellies, and more.

Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks”

Georgia O'Keeffe at the Art Institute of Chicago

Georgia O’Keeffe. Ballet Skirt or Electric Light (from the White Rose Motif), 1927. The Art Institute of Chicago, Alfred Stieglitz Collection, bequest of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Georgia O’Keeffe. The Shelton with Sunspots, N.Y., 1926. The Art Institute of Chicago, gift of Leigh B. Block. © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum/ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Art Institute of Chicago
June 2 – Sept. 22, 2024

One of the most famous American painters, Georgia O’Keeffe is beloved for her depictions of flowers and the Southwest. But lesser known are her works inspired by her time living in New York City. Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks” is the first art exhibit dedicated to O’Keeffe’s paintings, drawings, and pastels of urban landscapes, from still lifes to soaring skyscrapers.

Designing for Change

Mujeres Unense. Tomemos la Noche / Women Unite: Take Back the Night, Estelle Carol and Chicago Women’s Graphics Collective, 1978. Chicago History Museum. ICHi-183506

Women for Peace poster; unknown artist, c. 1967. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-183504

Chicago History Museum
Opens May 18, 2024

Explore the powerful slogans, symbols, and imagery that helped drive real social change in Chicago during Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s-70s.

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Chicago Summer Festivals 2024: Music, Food, Street Festivals Happening Across The City | See List

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago summers are perfect for outdoor activities, whether it is exploring a street festival in a new community, or a free concert in Millennium Park.

Dozens of festivals happen every year in the city to celebrate culture, communities and genres of music.

The list below contains a variety of free and paid festivities happening across the city through September.

This list will continue to be updated as events are announced.

APRIL

Ravinia Festival

Dates from April 20 through Sept. 15

Ravinia Festival is a series of over 100 summer concerts from artists like The Beach Boys with John Stamos and TLC. The outdoor venue has concert seating as well as a lawn area, where you can bring your own food and drinks for a concert picnic.

MAY

Summer at Gallagher Way

Dates from May through September

3635 N. Clark St., Chicago

Gallagher Way, located next to Wrigley Field, has a variety of family activities planned throughout the summer. Events like free movie nights, markets, concerts and more will be free and open to the public. View the schedule here.

SEE ALSO: Gallagher Way announces summer events lineup for lawn area outside Wrigley Field

Solar Tide

May 10-11

The Patio Theater, Chicago

Solar Tide is a bass music and arts festival in Portage Park. Featuring 19 artists over two days, tickets start at $50.

Chicago Mayfest

May 17-19

West Armitage Avenue from Sheffield Avenue to Racine Avenue, Chicago

Mayfest returns for the 27th year in Lincoln Park. The street festival will have a variety of music performances, artisan and food vendors. A pet parade and a glassblowing workshop will also take place over the weekend.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest

May 24-26

3200 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago

This annual street festival will kick off summer in Lakeview with music, food and artisan vendors. The festivities are conveniently located steps away from the Belmont “L” station.

Randolph Street Market Festival

May 25-26

1341 W. Randolph St., Chicago

Randolph Street Market brands itself as a “fancy,

 » Read More

The Most Unique Day Trips From Chicago

Anderson Japanese GardensPhotograph: Shutterstock

Break the mold with these under-the-radar, kitschy or otherwise unique trips within a few hours’ drive of Chicago.

When it comes to a much needed escape from the city, there are countless day trips from Chicago if time doesn’t allow for a full weekend getaway. And luckily for the adventurous and curious, there are plenty of opportunities to swap typical activities like kicking back with brews for hiking among bison or spelunking in an ancient cave. Many sites and experiences within driving distance of Chicago take you far beyond the norm, from year-round Christmas at an amusement park to (not so similar) replicas of some of the world’s most celebrated cultural sites. Midwesterners may love their weekend lake house tradition, but they also love the wacky, meaningful and unexpected. Here are the most unique day trips from Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: The best lakefront Airbnbs near Chicago

The most unique day trips from Chicago

1. Explore the country’s largest magic museum

Driving time from Chicago: About three hours

You’ll find everything from obscure conjuring tomes to equipment used in Harry Houdini’s most famous escape acts at the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan, home to the biggest collection of magic ephemera in the United States. With more than 350,000 artifacts onsite, there’s more than enough magical entertainment to fill an afternoon: Take a self-guided tour through magic history, try to squeeze into a replica of Houdini’s Milk Can Escape or book an appointment at the museum’s Lund Memorial Library to pore over archival materials.

https://d32dbz94xv1iru.cloudfront.net/customer_photos/f0521433-d5bd-4071-97da-9b2594932b7a.jpg

2. Spot bison at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Driving time from Chicago: About one hour

Want to get a firsthand look at why Illinois is nicknamed the Prairie State? Take a trip southwest of the city to Will County, where a herd of bison roam the 9,000-acre expanses of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie as part of an ongoing habitat restoration project (the area once housed the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and bunkers still remain). Spotting the herd isn’t a sure thing—it’s a massive park, after all—so you’re best off bringing a pair of binoculars and starting at the Iron Bridge Trailhead, which puts you closest to the bison pasture area.

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Solar Eclipse 2024 In Chicago: Everything You Need To Know | Choose Chicago

April’s total solar eclipse is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest events, and Chicago’s museums and attractions offer plenty of opportunities to watch the rare astronomical phenomenon.

The Chicago area will experience around 94% totality on Monday, April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse won’t happen again in the U.S. for 20 years, so don’t miss the opportunity to experience the eclipse for yourself! Just make sure to always look at the eclipse safely with eclipse viewers. 

Check out the Chicago institutions hosting watch parties, including local museums and the oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. 

In this article

Where can I watch the 2024 eclipse in Chicago?

A boy watches the solar eclipse

There are plenty of ways to experience the upcoming solar eclipse in Chicago, with viewing parties and exciting watch events across the city. Check out a few local events perfect for families, space aficionados, and anyone curious about this unique celestial event.

A Partial Eclipse at the Park at Pullman National Historical Park: Park rangers and a NASA ambassador will be available to answer all your eclipse-related questions at this free viewing party in Pullman. Guests can see the eclipse through a solar filter telescope and enjoy themed snacks, interactive activities, and more. Children will be able to earn their Junior Ranger eclipse badge. A limited number of eclipse glasses will be available.

Solar Eclipse Viewing at The DuSable Black History Museum: Head to Washington Park to attend the solar eclipse viewing event at The DuSable Black History Museum, with hands-on activities, eclipse viewing glasses, and opportunities to view the eclipse through a telescope. 

2024 Eclipse Encounter at Adler Planetarium: Located on Chicago’s lakefront, the historic Adler Planetarium will be hosting an eclipse watch party for the public. This free outdoor event will include safe solar viewing through telescopes, free solar viewers, photo opps, and more. Afterward, get your tickets to explore space exhibits inside the museum. 

Solar Eclipse 2024 at Museum of Science and Industry: Come view this amazing scientific spectacle at one of the world’s largest science museums. The Museum of Science and Industry will offer visitors a chance to view the eclipse through solar telescopes, watch a NASA livestream with a NASA ambassador,

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