Your Guide to Chicago in July 2025

Street races. Street fests. Food fests. Free concerts. There’s a lot going on in Chicago this month — here’s a guide to keep it all straight.

🏎️ NASCAR

For the third year in a row, NASCAR is returning to Chicago. NASCAR Village is already setting up at Grant Park. Drivers — be aware of the many road closures.

Festivities kick off July 2 the NASCAR Family Fest at Navy Pier. The Speed & Sound Fest is July 3 at the DuSable Black History Museum. That free event includes a DJ set, food trucks, car displays, and giveaways.

The races themselves are July 5 and 6. Those are not free. Prices begin at $123 for a one-day pass. (Weekend passes start at $186.) In addition to enclosed street races, admission includes access to musical performances and motocross shows. On Saturday night, Zac Brown Band will play at the finish line.

🎇 City and Suburban Fireworks

Once again, there will be no fireworks downtown on the Fourth of July. However, Navy Pier will hold its regular Wednesday and Saturday night fireworks July 2 and 5.

Of course, you can always cross the border into Indiana to produce your own show … but if you don’t feel like doing all that, consider a suburban 4th excursion in: Mount Prospect, Morton Grove, Barrington, Elk Grove, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Skokie, South Holland, Tinley Park, or Winnetka.

🎶 Music Fests

My whole life, July in Chicago was Pitchfork season. That Union Park extravaganza was the centerpiece of a local hipster summer … till Pitchfork ended its 19-year Chicago run. Luckily, there are plenty of other music fests to fill July.

• 🎵 July 10–13: Windy City Smokeout | Near West Side
• 🎵 July 11–13: Square Roots | Lincoln Square
• 🎵 July 11–13: Festival of Life | South Loop
• 🎵 July 11: Fresh Fest | Navy Pier
• 🎵 July 12: Chicago Gospel Music Festival | Millennium Park
• 🎵 July 12: The Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic | Jackson Park
• 🎵 July 31–Aug. 3: Lollapalooza | Grant Park

🎉 Other Fests

Chicago is basically one big venue this month as cultural and street fests continue popping up all over the city. Some are food-centered. Some are just for fun.

• 🎨 July 12–13: Barrio Arts Fest | Humboldt Park
• 🇬🇷 July 12–13: Edgewater Greek Fest | Edgewater
• 🪷 July 12: Mela | Near South Side
• 🍺 July 18–19: Taste of River North | River North
• 🕺🏻 July 18–20: West Fest | West Town
• 🌮 July 18–20: Tacos y Tamales | Pilsen
• 🍔 July 18–20: Roscoe Village Burger Fest | Roscoe Village
• 🇨🇴 July 18: Colombian Fest | Humboldt Park
• 🍺 July 25–26: Taste of Lincoln Avenue | Lincoln Park
• 🇨🇳 July 26–27: Chinatown Summer Fair | Chinatown
• 🍽️ July 16: Jollof Festival | Hyde Park

And don’t forget about ongoing events like the Millennium Park Summer Music Series, movies in the park, and lots of pop-up restaurants!