Everything you need to know about visiting Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602).
This 24.5-acre park might be one of the most popular gathering spots in the city, known for its free concerts, famous public art installations and its proximity to the Loop. The centerpiece of Millennium Park is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a flowing Frank Gehry-designed structure that hosts of the city’s biggest outdoor festivals and concerts. You’ll also find the serene Lurie Garden, al fresco dining destination the Park Grill and pedestrian bridges that lead to the Art Institute and Maggie Daley Park. Welcome to the hub of Chicago’s front yard.
Enjoy a (permanent) outdoor gallery
Few works of public art are more iconic than Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (a.k.a. “The Bean”), a reflective sculpture that is nearly always surrounded by visitors snapping photos. Elsewhere in Millennium Park, you’ll find Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain, which features two screens depicting an ever-changing array of locals’ faces spewing water every five minutes in the summer months. Warm weather also marks the return of public art exhibitions on the Chase Promenades, where you’ll find large scale work from contemporary artists.
Mind the rules
While Millennium Park is still open to the public, visiting the attraction comes with some new rules. Currently, the only entry and exit points are at Michigan Ave and Madison St, at Michigan Ave and Washington St or the BP Bridge that connects to Maggie Daley Park. Guests will need to wear a face covering at all times, maintain six feet of distance from other groups and refrain from gatherings of 10 or more people. And if you want to sit on the Great Lawn, you'll need to use the marked social distancing circles.
Take in a free outdoor show
There’s no more quintessential Chicago experience than a picnic dinner on the lawn of the Pritzker Pavilion during a free concert at the outdoor venue. When the weather warms up, the Millennium Park Summer Concert Series brings rock, jazz and world music acts to the stage—no admission required. The venue also hosts annual events such as the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Grant Park Music Festival. Stop by during the afternoon and you might find an orchestra rehearsing on the spacious stage.
Our Chicago editorial team is constantly updating and reviewing the best attractions, activities and venues across the city, so that you're always in the know, with the best of Chicago at your fingertips. Millennium Park was most recently updated with new tips on August 20, 2020.
