News + Events

Returning to the Midway at Ellis and 60th St. in Hyde Park July 23rd and 24th, Bantu Fest is the most anticipated family festival, and the biggest cultural event of the year in Chicago. A one-of-a-kind festival that promotes Cultural Exchange, bringing together over 50,000 People from over 30 different countries & demographics to celebrate DIVERSITY and UNITY & LOVE. Enjoy live bands, artist performances, drum & dance, taste of more than a dozen countries, children play, DJs, fashion shows, and so much more! Visit www.bantuentertainment01.com for more!

The highly anticipated Silver Room Block Party has returned the weekend of July 16th & 17th, bringing people across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest together for what is known as THE year-end event. Our one-of-a-kind multicultural gathering connects over 25,000 friends for music, dancing, food and fun and our 2022 event will be our best year yet: in addition to our usual multiple music stages, fashion shows, kids’ area, vendor village and more–we’ve grown into a 2-day celebration and moving the festivities to the beautiful lakefront at Oakwood Beach.

Visit www.silverroomblockparty.com for more information.

Come celebrate this 4th of July with the return of the traditional 4th on 53rd Parade & Picnic. The parade staging is at 54th and Old Lake Park Avenue in the Hyde Park Bank parking lot. Bike decorating begins at 10 a.m. Assembly is at 10:30 a.m. and step off is at 11 a.m. The parade will head south on Lake Park Avenue, east on 55th Street, north on Hyde Park Boulevard and then west on 53rd Street, ending at Nichols Park. Stay for an afternoon of family fun at the 4th on 53rd Picnic in Nichols Park. The Picnic runs from 12-3:30PM and includes many picnic classics and new activities too.

Celebrating 30 years, the Chosen Few Picnic will be held Saturday, July 2, 2022 returning to Jackson Park, two miles south of Hyatt Place Chicago-South. What started as a small gathering of friends behind Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry in 1990 is now the world’s longest-running event dedicated to House Music, attracting more than 40,000 fans each year. The family-reunion-style event features 12+ hours of music from the Chosen Few DJs – Wayne Williams, Jesse Saunders, Tony Hatchett, Alan King, Andre Hatchett, Terry Hunter, and Mike Dunn - plus guest performers to be announced.

For more information visit www.chosenfewdjs.com.

Celebrate the best of reggae, Caribbean, R&B, Pop, Gospel, Blues, Jazz, African, Latin and more July 2nd – July 4th in Washington Park. Enjoy ample food, crafts, games and more for the family. Learn more at www.internationalfestivaloflife.com.

After 2 years, the long-awaited Hyde Park Summer Fest has returned! Formerly known as the Hyde Park Brew Fest, the 2022 Hyde Park Summer Fest is taking place Saturday June 11, 2022, and Sunday, June 12, 2022, at the Midway Plaisance Park near the University of Chicago campus, one mile from the Hyatt Place Chicago-South. Entry gates are located at 59th St. & Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 from 12 Noon to 10PM Saturday and Sunday.

Special lineup includes Busta Rhymes, Ashanti, Jhene Aiko, Lupe Fiasco, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Marsha Ambrosius and so many more! Visit www.hydeparksummerfest.com for more information.

Come and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the 57th Street Art Fair June 4 – 5, 2022! Whether you are looking for glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, digital arts, wood, ceramics or fiber — you are sure to find something special at this one-of-a-kind event; Providing a wonderful venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public. Learn more at https://www.57thstreetartfair.org/.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Jazz in the Court is back for 2022! Sponsored by the University of Chicago, the popular free outdoor concerts are scheduled for the first Fridays of June, July, August, and September at Harper Court, 5235 S. Harper Court, Hyde Park (53rd Street and S. Lake Park Avenue). Learn more at www.hpjazz.com.

The Harper Court Summer Music Series is back for 2022!
Join us on the first Thursdays of June, July, and August from 6-9 p.m. at Harper Court for a night of outdoor music and fun. For more details visit www.harpercourtmusic.com.

Located in the parking lot of the Hyde Park Bank just off 53rd St. and Old Lake Park Ave., the Hyde Park Farmers Market offers an array of fresh produce, freshly baked breads and desserts, beautiful plants, packaged foods, personal beauty supplies and traditional farmers market fare. Visit every Sunday from 9am – 2pm, starting June 5, 2022, running through September 25, 2022, rain, or shine. Learn more at https://www.secc-chicago.org/hpfm/.