In the windy city, Fourth of July celebrations center on music, boat cruises, festivals, and, of course, fireworks. Navy Pier is the center of all celebrations for all Chicagoans and tourists alike.
Established in 1995 and located at 600 E. Grand Avenue, the Navy Pier is the city's lakefront playground. Situated on Lake Michigan, the 50-acre destination features parks, promenades, gardens, shops, eateries and attractions. It's also the main place to be and to see the Fourth of July fireworks in the greater Chicago area, according to its website.
Chicago Traveler sums up the fun-filled festivities and events for the Fourth of July Navy Pier Celebration. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on July 3, the festivities run well past midnight on the Fourth, with fireworks scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. In terms of what to expect, Chicago Traveler says "just like any Independence Day...beer, picnics, great music and a lot of good times to be had."
At Navy Pier's Landshark Beer Garden, there are free concerts all summer long, but things are taken up a notch on Independence Day, with great bands drawing even greater crowds of people.
The music lineup this year includes pop/rock band April's Reign performing at 1:00 p.m., followed by 80s tribute band The Breakfast Club at 4:00 p.m. and closing out the night with Bench Press performing at 7:00 p.m.
Navy Pier also joined forces with Cirque for its newest show. Cirque has premiered Dragon's Thunder, a family-friendly function with acrobats and performers directly from China. Shows are scheduled on the 4th at 2:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
A favorite Fourth of July tradition in Chicago is to book a cruise to see the fireworks aboard a boat on the waters of Lake Michigan. Seadog and Spirit cruiselines are reputed to be the best of the many options available.
Seadog's July 4 cruise departs at 9:00 p.m. and returns at 10:00p.m. During that hour, party-goers are treated to an open-aired vessel that gives panoramic views of the fireworks display, with the Chicago skyline offering an amazing setting.
Spirit Cruise's Fourth of July Dinner Cruise boards at 7:00 p.m., takes off at 7:30 and returns to port by 10:30 p.m. With a massive outdoor deck, views of the fireworks show and the Chicago skyline are priceless. The cruise also offers a great buffet and features an interactive emcee providing entertainment and offering opportunities to get down on the dance floor.
For those of you looking for a more intimate experience than you'll find at Navy Pier, ChicagoMag.com offers plenty of suggestions in terms of the best beaches in town to go to watch the fireworks show. The site also offers Independence Day celebratory alternatives, away from the exhausting hustle and bustle.
Revelers who want to be near the water to celebrate the festivities on the Fourth have seven options for the best lakefront locales. Bring along a blanket, pack your gear and head to any of the following:
Ohio Beach, located at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive or Oak Street Beach, located at 1000 N. Lake Shore Drive. More secluded options include: Foster Beach at 5200 N. Lake Shore Drive; Diversey Harbor at 2601 N. Cannon Drive; North Beach, located near Northwestern, just northeast of the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatics Center; or Promontory Point at 5491 S. Shore Drive in Hyde Park, with a fantastic view of the skyline and the perk of being the only place where fire pits are allowed (s'mores, anyone?).
Or you could rent a kayak. For $65 per person, you can paddle six miles (about a three hour ride) from North Avenue through downtown, along the Chicago River. No experience required.
To get away from the crowds you have a few options.
The Adler Planetarium at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive has lakefront seating on a gorgeous stretch of lawn with a fantastic view of the skyline. Northwestern University's parking lot, just off Shore Lake Drive, is the closest free parking to Navy Pier and is a perfect spot to set up a tailgate. A final option is to book a room in one of the hotels facing Navy Pier. Front-seat viewing can be reserved at The W Hotel (644 N. Lake Shore Drive), The Crowne Plaza (733 W. Madison Street) or Trump International Hotel & Tower (401 N. Wabash Avenue).
And finally, for the people who just can't deal with the crowds and partying but still want to enjoy the priceless pyrotechnic display, WGN-TV Chicago and WGN America will air "Chicago's Summer Blast: Fireworks & 4th of July." The segment will feature the fireworks display from Navy Pier live on Thursday July 4 at 9:30 p.m., WGN-TV announced.