25+ Free Chicago Summer Concerts: Best Outdoor Music Festivals for Families

For the limited time that the great outdoors are truly enjoyable in the Chicago area, families can have fun listening to a wide array of colorful local children's musicians, cover bands, and other acts. The Chicago Park District hosts free concerts almost every day in different parks throughout the city, or families can hear music at Navy Pier, Willis Tower, or Gallagher Way. Suburban families don't have to make it to city limits to get in on the action. Many suburban park districts host free weekly outdoor concerts and shows for kids of all ages.
We recommend finding comfortable lawn chairs or a quality picnic blanket and a favorite grocer or restaurant to acquire a picnic dinner as these concerts could become a weekly or monthly staple for your kids! The shows on this list are family friendly, but be sure to check the artists ahead of time to ensure your child(ren) will be interested enough in the music to sit through a whole set. Consider sitting farther back or bringing earplugs for sound sensitive kids.
Here's some great free concerts in Chicago this summer!
Free Concerts in Chicago
Free Music in the Western Suburbs
Free Music in the Northern Suburbs
Free Music in the South and Southwest Suburbs
Places featured in this article:
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Willis Tower
Various Chicago Parks
Scoville Park
Elmhurst City Centre
Naperville Community Concert Center
Community Square
Fishel Park
Lovelace Park
Hubbard Woods Park
Northbrook Village Green
Village Green Park Skokie
Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center
Downtown Lemont
Burr Ridge Village Center
Breidert Green
Kasey Meadow Park
Oak Lawn Village Green