Are you in need of fun summer activities near downtown Chicago? Make sure to take a look at the list of activities you could do this summer!
- The Millennium Park Film Series
The Millennium Park Summer Film Series is a great and free activity to do over the summer with your friends or even with your family. This year, the city of Chicago announced they will be hosting a new film every Tuesday, starting July 1st through August 19th. Each film starts at approximately 6:30 PM and guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and beverages. My family and friends have been attending Millennium Park’s Film Series for a while now, and it makes great use of our time over the summer. Our perfect night includes a dip and a bag of chips to go along with a nice sparkling water or soda. If you’re someone who enjoys a big meal with a movie, there are various restaurants and fast food places you can stop by before the movie starts.
Some of the movies from last year’s Film Series included Barbie, E.T., and even Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. There is always a wide variety of movies for adults and family friendly movies.
Seating is also very limited if you like to sit on the lawn part of the Millennium auditorium. I suggest getting there about 30 minutes early to secure a nice spot on the lawn. If there’s no space on the lawn, there are seats in front of the movie screen, which don’t usually fill up. I always end up going with a big group of people and there’s always enough room to fit all of us.
2. Block 37 (Block Thirty Seven)
If you’re more of a shopper, this place is perfect for you! Block 37/Block Thirty Seven is also really close to Millennium Park and other big name-brand stores, like Macy’s. Block Thirty Seven provides numerous stores and has fun filled activities as well.
Around last year, Block Thirty Seven hosted a “Clue” themed event in which you had to solve the mystery of someone’s murder. The clues were all along Block Thirty Seven and it was closed to the public so only your group was inside the closed mall. Block 37’s website is always hosting themed events, so if your friends and family enjoy these types of activities, make sure to check it out!
Not only does Block Thirty Seven have a number of stores but it also has various entertainment centers, including an AMC Dine-In Theater, First Ascent Climbing & Gym, as well as Five Iron Golf.
(First Ascent Climbing & Fitness)
3. Wrigleyville Night Market
The Wrigleyville Night Market is the place to be during the summer! This night market has a variety of vendors, food, and clothing; however, the market is most known for its vintage clothing vendors. The Wrigleyville Night Market is extremely popular for those who enjoy collecting vintage items and clothing, but the market also has a variety of food stalls if you’re hungry after shopping! Wander around the market to discover something new, and bring a blanket or some lawn chairs to sit back and enjoy some live bands!
The market is open from the beginning of June until the end of late summer and entry is free!
(Secret Chicago)
4. The Farmer at the Green
The Farmer at the Green started May 20th and is open from 11am through 3pm. This farmer’s market is great if you enjoy fresh grown fruits and vegetables. This market will be open all through the summer and it’s conveniently located right outside of Union Station.
Some of the most prominent vendors include:
Alstrok Bundles: This vendor specializes in mini pound cakes, made with simple and high-quality ingredients which end up “bringing a sweet homemade touch to every bite” (The Green at 320). Some of their most popular flavors include strawberry, lemon, rum, and more.
Blooms N’ Bees: This vendor specializes in growing flowers, which come “fresh-cut” straight from the source. Blooms N’ Bees carries a variety of seasonal, vibrant flower arrangements to brighten your home, day, space, or even somebody else’s day!
Downstate Donuts: This vendor specializes in potato-based donuts and Vietnamese style coffee and other drinks. The potato-based donuts are made with farm fresh ingredients, as well as “nostalgic, seasonal flavors delivered through a soft melt-in-your-mouth donut” (The Green at 320).
Along with many produce stalls, The Farmer at the Green has many other food stalls, such as Canal Street Eatery, which serves $5 pizza slices straight from the oven, or even Onigiri Koroin, which serves Japanese style rice balls flavored with various Japanese-fusion flavors. If you’re interested in trying new foods and produce, come and support the vendors throughout the summer! (Vendors rotate almost every week, so there is always a variety of different foods to sample.)
(Green at 320)
5. Navy Pier Fireworks
Fireworks are displayed Wednesdays at 9pm and Saturdays at 10pm starting May 24th through August 30th at Navy Pier. Grab your friends and family and head on over to Navy Pier for a fun-filled fireworks show! Not only is Navy Pier a popular spot during the summer, it has also been voted the “Best Place to See Fireworks” according to USA TODAY’S “10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards”. Conveniently, Navy Pier has seating all throughout, so there’s no need to bring a chair or a blanket.
From fast-food restaurants to sit-down rooftop restaurants (which allow for a great fireworks view), there are plenty of options if you get a bit hungry. One of the most popular sit-down restaurants in Navy Pier is called the “Offshore Rooftop”. The Offshore Rooftop provides a number of “unmatched views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline, providing a completely unique perspective not found anywhere else” (Navy Pier). If you’re someone who enjoys fine dining and a great view of the lake, this place is perfect for you!
(Secret Chicago)
Although these are just a few inexpensive event options, there are so many other hidden inexpensive gems that your friends and/or family can explore throughout the city of Chicago! Enjoy them all throughout this summer!
Works Cited
- Works Cited Envisionit. “Millennium Park Summer Film Series: July 1 – Aug. 26, 2025: Free
Things to Do in Chicago.” Choose Chicago, 14 Apr. 2025,
www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/millennium-park-summer-film
series/. - McGowan, Elliot. “Chicago Will Experience Its First 11-Hour Day of the Year This Weekend.”
Secret Chicago, 19 Feb. 2024, secretchicago.com/chicago-11-hour-days/. - “The Farmer at the Green.” The Green at 320, 16 Apr. 2025,thegreenat320southcanal.com/farmers-market/.
- “Summer Fireworks.” Navy Pier, 23 May 2025, navypier.org/events/fireworks/2025-05-24/.
