Chicago-based artists and cultural organizations team up with the Park District to feature over 1,200 hours of safe, high-quality, cultural programming in over 260 Chicago neighborhood parks citywide; Movies in the Parks launches June 10.

CHICAGO- The Chicago Park District is excited to debut the full calendar of events for the 13th year of the Chicago Park District's highly successful Night Out in the Parks series. Night Out in the Parks brings together a lineup of local arts organizations, performers, and community members to provide every neighborhood in Chicago with free cultural events accessible to people of all ages. These performances highlight the talents and diverse cultures found all across the Chicago art scene and brings them to center stage for all to enjoy. A full lineup of events can be viewed at www.nightoutintheparks.com.

"Since its creation 91 years ago, the Chicago Park District has been a leader in providing accessible, equitable, and high-quality programming to Chicagoans and visitors alike at little to no cost. We continue this tradition through the 13th season of Night Out In The Parks," said Chicago Park District Superintendent & CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. "This free series of events will reach every neighborhood of the city, spotlighting Chicago-based artists with a wide variety of talents and cultural showcases right in your local park."

This year, the 13th annual Night Out in the Parks features over 600 cultural events in each of the city's 77 community areas. One hundred Chicago-based artists will be showcased as part of the family-friendly park event series happening in over 260 parks citywide. All events are free and encourage attendance by neighbors and beyond.

Last year, the Chicago Park District launched a 'Text to Subscribe' feature for park patrons to conveniently receive details about Night Out in the Parks events directly to their phones. Individuals may sign up for the service by texting the words 'Night Out' to (833) 270-0707.

Park audiences are encouraged to use the hashtag #NightOutInTheParks to share their Night Out in the Parks experiences for a chance to see them posted on the Chicago Park District's social media channels.
At today's launch event, hosted in conjunction with "Switch on Summer," an annual celebration held in partnership with ComEd to officially start the season by turning on Chicago's historic Buckingham Fountain, the attendees were treated to a small taste of the amazing performances that will be available citywide all summer long. These partners include NAJWA Dance Corps, Starr Chief Eagle, and the Cielito Family Mariachi. In addition, eventgoers interacted with the Chicago Creative Reuse Exchange at their maker space booth, and the wandering performers- Wender Collective, Cabinet of Curiosity, and Jabberwocky Marionettes. Patrons will be able to see these performers and more of Chicago's talent in parks across the city through October. Click here to learn more about the performers at the Switch om Summer event.

Some of this year's spotlight performances by new and returning partners that cannot be missed include:

Films

Movies in the Parks
June 10 - September 6, screening multiple dates and park locations

The Chicago Park District's signature summer movie program, Movies in the Parks, returns to locations across the city beginning June 10th with the musical sensation, Into the Woods, at Belmont Harbor. Screenings continue Mondays-Saturdays in over 120 parks citywide through September 6th. This year's 162 screenings will feature over 60 different film screenings for everyone to enjoy, from children and young families, to fans of classic cinema, comedies, classic adventures, and local film lovers. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/movies and/or Facebook.com/ChicagoParks.Movies.

Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase
Monday, August 25 - Saturday, August 30
Chicago Onscreen, the Chicago Park District's annual celebration of Chicago-made film and local filmmakers, will take over the parks from August 25-30 for its 12th season. 2025's Official Selections, made in Chicago by Chicagoans, will be featured in a week of screenings in parks across the city. For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/onscreen. 

Highlights: Night Out in the Parks Partners - celebrating world culture
773 Dance Project: Heft Into Wonder
Join 773 Dance Project for an evening of dance and exploration. The company will perform two original pieces. The first piece, titled Heft, is a study through movement on how to find safety in the community and arts during and after troubling times. The second piece, titled Wonder, is a journey down the rabbit hole as Nova (composer) takes us through an experience of sound that will make it hard to stay in your seat. Dipping into the sounds of house, jazz, and Chicago juke, Wonder is sure to live up to its title.

• Austin Town Hall Park 25-Jul Friday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM

Palenque LSNA: Los Logansitos: Collage of our Heart Beings
Youth theater group Los Logansitos invites you to a powerful and heartfelt performance that blends puppetry, spoken word, dance, and theater as a bold call to action. These passionate young Chicagoans have created large-scale puppets and original stories that reflect their personal experiences, hopes, and visions for change. Through movement, art, and voice, they'll share what today's youth care about and are willing to fight for. This is more than a show-it's a community gathering, a celebration of youth power, and a reminder that art can spark transformation. Change starts locally, so come be inspired -- Let's dream, move, and act together.

• Mozart Park 17-Jun Tuesday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Shedd Park 22-Jun Sunday 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
• Kosciuszko Park 20-Jun Friday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Lit Lawndale: Little Lawndale in the Parks
Little Lawndale in the Park is an annual community event designed to celebrate the vibrant cultures of North & South Lawndale by gathering neighbors in Douglass Park. The event provides an opportunity for residents to connect, experience local entertainment and art, engage with community organizations and businesses, and enjoy the park as a central community resource. The first year will feature live performances by local youth groups, musicians, and artists with connections to the Lawndale neighborhood, plus a non-profit and artisan vendor area, food trucks, and more.

• Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center 6-Sep Saturday 12:00 PM 6:00 PM

Marcel Bonfim "Funkeria - Brazilian Funk Jazz Show"
Funkeria's show blends the best Brazilian groove with the energy and swing of American Funk music. Heavily inspired by bands such as Black Rio Band, Jamiroquai, Incognito, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, the Brazilian Funk Jazz Group puts together an uplifting and danceable show with the best of the past & present in the genre. The group is a nine-piece band of top-notch musicians from Chicagoland producing a uniquely full and diverse sound, celebrating music with contagious energy.

• Armour Square Park 19-Aug Tuesday 6:00 PM 7:30 PM
• Independence Park 12-Aug Tuesday 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

CircEsteem: Circus in the Parks
Step right up for CircEsteem's "Circus in the Parks", an exhilarating outdoor show bringing the thrill of the circus right to your neighborhood! Watch in awe as our talented performers soar, balance, and dazzle with jaw-dropping feats.

• Grand Crossing Park 17-Jul Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Rainbow Beach & Park 14-Aug Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Fuller Park 11-Jul Friday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Valley Forge Park 24-Jul Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Lake Shore Park 7-Aug Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Oakdale Park 27-Jun Friday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Hiawatha Park 26-Jun Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Kilbourn Park 15-Aug Friday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Holstein Park 1-Aug Friday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Alpha and the Princes of Futa: Hirde with Alpha and The Princes of Futa
Hirde with Alpha and the Princes of Futa is a spiritual journey of love, celebration, and meditation through a drumming circle, music, singing and dancing.

• Walsh Playground Park 26-Jul Saturday 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
• Touhy Park 16-Aug Saturday 3:30 PM 5:00 PM
• Garfield Park 28-Jun Saturday 3:30 PM 5:00 PM

Lookingglass Theater Company: Ice Cream Circus
An original, circus-infused story that showcases the transformative magic of a simple act of kindness. Conveyed without spoken language, and through dance, clown, and circus, Ice Cream Circus! is designed for all generations and for all languages. Presented by Lookingglass Theatre Company.

• Seneca Playlot Park 19-Aug Tuesday 5:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Kennicott Park 22-Aug Friday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Trumbull Park 21-Aug Thursday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Gill Park 17-Aug Sunday 5:30 PM 7:30 PM

Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Shakes in the City
Chicago Shakespeare Theater's annual summer tradition Shakes in the City brings free pop-up performances of an original Shakespeare play to green spaces, neighborhood festivals, and events across the city, July 19-August 17, 2025. Enjoy this immersive 45-minute pop-up performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream and interact with artists in hands-on activities inspired by the play. This is Shakespeare at his most whimsical and fun!

• Ping Tom Memorial Park 24-Jul Thursday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Piotrowski Park 29-Jul Tuesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Ogden Park 30-Jul Wednesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• South Shore Cultural Center 1-Aug Friday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Sauganash Park 5-Aug Tuesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Wilson (Frank J.) Park 6-Aug Wednesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Garfield Park 7-Aug Thursday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Rainbow Beach & Park 12-Aug Tuesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• West Pullman Park 13-Aug Wednesday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM
• Tuley Park 14-Aug Thursday 6:00 PM 6:45 PM

South Side Jazz Coalition: Jazz'n in the Parks
The South Side Jazz Coalition is asking for a partnership with Night Out In The Parks to present live music concerts in southside parks. The SSJC will hire Chicago local musicians and local sound engineers for the presentation. Though The South Side Jazz Coalition focuses on keeping jazz alive on the south side, we also present other genres in order to keep our programs appealing to all family members. Southside communities are sadly underserved in any kind of arts presentation. Our organization brings the arts to the neighborhood, so residents don't have to travel to other areas of the city in order to enjoy free programs.

• Owens Park 15-Jul Tuesday 5:00 PM 7:00 PM
• South Shore Cultural Center 18-Aug Monday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Bessemer Park 29-Jul Tuesday 5:00 PM 7:00 PM

Deep Fried Pickle Jug Band: Pickles Pickin' in the Park!
Join the Deep Fried Pickle Project Jug Band for a concert at the park! Brimming with a frankenstonian array of homemade monster instruments, the Pickle Project's recipe is flavored with jug band, hokum, and honkytonk spices. Kids can build their own homemade instrument to take home, and join in a Pickle Parade around the park.

• Prinz (Tobey) Beach Park 27-Jun Friday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Scottsdale Playground Park 11-Jun Wednesday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Throop Park 17-Jul Thursday 6:00 PM 8:00 PM

Chicago Astronomer
Explore the wonders of the night sky with Chicago Psrk's premier astronomy event series. Join the Chicago Astronomer for guided stargazing sessions using professional-grade telescopes, perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Each event features educational presentations on celestial phenomena visible that evening, hands-on telescope instruction, and breathtaking views of planets, stars, and deep-space objects. Our special events combine astronomy education with the thrill of discovery, creating unforgettable experiences under the stars. Weather permitting, all ages welcome. Discover the universe from Chicago!

• Harrison Park 1-Aug Friday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Graver Park 7-Jun Saturday
• Smith (Joseph Higgins) Park 10-May Saturday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• West Lawn Park 30-May Friday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• McKinley Park 7-Jul Monday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Graver Park 7-Jun Saturday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Northerly Island 6-Sep Saturday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Portage Park 3-Jun Tuesday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
• Horner Park TBD TBD 7:00 PM 9:00 PM

Night Out in the Parks artists featured at "Switch on Summer" May 10th announcement
Starr Chief Eagle "Hoop Dancing with Starr Chief Eagle": Starr Chief Eagle will provide an interactive and educational dive into Native American culture that will explore the language, art, and knowledge of Lakota people. During her show, she will perform the rare tradition of Hoop Dancing in which she uses 22 hoops to create several designs, shapes, and creatures to tell a story. Audience members may be invited to participate in hands-on activities with the hoops. The program is family-friendly and open to all ages, backgrounds, and cultures.

• Piotrowski Park 11-Jun Wednesday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Bartelme, Mary Park 26-Jun Thursday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Indian Boundary Park and Cultural Center 15-Nov Saturday 12:30 PM 1:30 PM

Wender Collective "Remnants" - Presented by Wender Collective, "REMNANTS" is a roaming spectacle performance centering the ancient ecosystems of Chicago. Explore Chicago Parks Natural Areas with several "spirits of the place" in the form of giant puppet creatures and stiltwalkers, representing the remnant prairies, wetlands, savannas, and woodlands that once covered the region. Converging on a central performance at dusk, "REMNANTS" provides opportunities for renewal and rewilding in the face of grief and loss. Free native plants and educational materials will be available at each performance.

• Humboldt Park C1 Nature Trail 5-Sep Friday 3 5:45 PM 7:15 PM
• Humboldt Park C1 Nature Trail 6-Sep Saturday 6 5:45 PM 7:15 PM
• Horner Park N4 Nature Trail 22-Aug Friday 3 6:00 PM 7:30 PM
• Horner Park N4 Nature Trail 23-Aug Saturday 7 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

NAJWA Dance Corps: Celebration Dances of West Africa
NAJWA DANCE CORPS will present a one-hour interactive program entitled "Dances of West Africa," which includes dances from the Sene-Gambia Region, Guinea, and Liberia. This Program is comprised of live drumming, narration, and audience participation and is geared to all ages. At the end of the program, NDC will teach audience members selected African dance steps.

• White (Willye B.) Park 21-Jun Saturday 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
• Hermitage Park 2-Jul Wednesday 6:30 PM 7:30 PM
• Garfield Park 28-Jun Saturday 2:00 PM 3:00 PM

Cielito Lindo Family Mariachi
Experience the vibrant sounds of mariachi Cielito Lindo, a talented family with music running deep in their veins. Their purpose and goal is to share their music and cultural traditions with families of diverse cultural origins.

• Kelly Park 17-Jul Thursday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• Senka Park 25-Jun Wednesday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• Lawler Park 15-Aug Friday 4:30 PM 5:30 PM
• Bosley Playground Park 10-Jul Thursday 3:00 PM 4:00 PM
• Kelvyn Park 14-Aug Thursday 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Brands Park 12-Sep Friday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM

Chicago Creative Reuse Exchange (CCRx): Imagination Station
The Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange is a 501c3 nonprofit organization launched in 2017 to redistribute donations of clean, safe + working materials, supplies + equipment to Chicago teachers, nonprofits, arts + community groups. The Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange's Imagination Station, provides a pop-up creative reuse making project for children, youth, adults, and families. At the Imagination Station, participants can reimagine old things into fantastic new things: -Vinyl Street banners become Recyclo-Pouches.

• Union Park 6-Jun Friday 5:00 PM 6:30 PM
• Northerly Island 17-Jul Thursday 10:00 AM 2:00 PM
• Gompers Park 27-Sep Saturday 1:00 PM 4:00 PM
• Smith (Joseph Higgins) Park 6-Aug Wednesday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• Senka Park 25-Jun Wednesday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• McKinley Park 30-Aug Saturday 1:00 PM 3:30 PM
• Shedd Park 1-Jul Tuesday 7:00 PM 8:30 PM
• Jackson Park 22-Jul Tuesday 6:30 PM 7:30 PM
• Strohacker Park 7-Aug Thursday 5:00 PM 6:15 PM

Jabberwocky Marionettes: Puppet Vacation
Come along with Jabberwocky Marionettes on a Puppet Vacation! Camping in the mountains, close encounters with wildlife, canoeing on the white-water river, travel into the ocean to go Humpback Whale watching. Arthur the Robot makes an appearance to take us on a run, run, run. A musical ending with our puppet Dart Frog Puppet Band. A puppet introduction and a new meet the artist Q & A scene - Lolly and Amber come out from behind the scenes to take one question. This 60-minute puppet show tours Chicago Parks with a pop-up hour of hilarity and outdoors appreciation.

• Russell Square Park 17-Jun Tuesday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• Carver Park 31-Jul Thursday 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
• Skinner Park 23-Jul Wednesday 6:30 PM 7:30 PM
• Berger Park Cultural Center 29-Jul Tuesday 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
• Grandparents Playlot Park 15-Jul Tuesday 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
• Pulaski Park 12-Jul Saturday 2:00 PM 3:00 PM

Cabinet of Curiosity: Kazoozapalooza!
This Pedal Powered Program Year 4 is an interactive participatory show. This bike-powered panoramic spectacle shares the visual tale of Alabama Vest, the inventor of the Kazoo. Each guest gets a free kazoo and is invited to be part of the show's musical score!

• Marquette Park 9-Aug Saturday 1:00 PM 2:30 PM
• Roscoe Lee Boler Park 19-Jul Saturday 1:00 PM 2:30 PM

History of Night Out in the Parks
Launched in the summer of 2013, Night Out in the Parks brings world-class arts performances, including theater, dance, and live music to neighborhood parks across the city, providing residents with access to unique cultural opportunities. Park neighborhood activations foster a long-time appreciation for the arts and parks among diverse audiences and continue to create safe spaces for entertainment and educational experiences to thrive throughout the year. Since its inception, Night Out in the Parks has provided thousands of hours of safe, diverse, and unique arts programming with yearly grant support from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).