Get out there and play
Celebrate the great state of Illinois through performances and activities this weekend at the Great Performers of Illinois Festival in Millennium Park. The festival hosts famous Illinoisans who range from Abe Lincoln to Buddy Guy. There is also a corn maze to celebrate one of our state’s most productive crops.
More than 50 performers and acts will entertain during the three-day festival. Introduce your family to a wide variety of music, including pop, rock, blues, jazz, folk and spoken word. The Buddy Guy Tribute Concert is from 8-10 p.m. on Sunday. You will also have the opportunity to meet Abe and Mary Lincoln as you play period games and crafts and chat with Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, the French-African explorer who established Chicago’s first non-Native American settlement.
Illinois is one of the corniest states in America, which is reason enough to celebrate. Introduce yourself to giant ears of corn, speak with people dressed as ears of corn who will share their‘corny’ jokes and learn even more about corn as you take a walk through a freestanding corn maze on Millennium Park’s Rooftop Terrace.
The Great Performers of Illinois Festival at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago, runs Friday-Sunday. For a full list of performances and activities, call (312) 742-1168 or visit www.greatperformersofillinois.com.
Get out there and play some more
Movie fans rejoice! Grab your blanket and head down to Butler Field in Grant Park with your family to watch a few of your favorite films at the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival. The festival runs every Tuesday at sunset through Aug. 26.
The free festival will include classic movies including“The Odd Couple” July 22,“The Blues Brothers” July 29 and“Grease” Aug. 26. Check the Web site for a complete movie schedule. Be sure to check out the“What to Bring Checklist” on the Web site before you go for plenty of helpful tips.
Butler Field is located at 331 E. Randolph St., Chicago. For more information, call (312) 744-3370 or visit www.chicagooutdoorfilmfestival.us.
Outdoor fun
Celebrate being a kid this weekend at Summer on Southport, which features the Chicago Children’s Festival. The event includes live music, kids’ activities and plenty of art to peruse.
Kids’ activities include camel rides, crafts, face painters and inflatables. Have your kids bring their bikes on Sunday for the kids’ bike parade. Stop by the Chicago Parent booth for your free goody bag.
Summer on Southport is on Southport Avenue at Waveland Avenue in Chicago from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is a $5 donation. For more information, call (773) 665-4682 or visit www.starevents.com/southport.html.
Piece of the prize
This week, five lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker from Jada Toys Inc. For more product information, visit www.airguitarrocker.com. To win, visit our discussion board.
