5 summer celebration spots in Chicago

I took a break from writing as much in August because things were so busy – weddings, friends in town, traveling! To top it all off, Matt and I went out of town to Portland (first time for both of us) over Labor Day weekend to attend another wedding. If you’ve been following on Instagram, you know I absolutely love event details – and this wedding was full of pretty sentimental touches (not to mention the gorgeous fireworks at the end of the night). It was really fun to explore a new city, and we drove about 40 miles out into the mountains to go white water rafting. Needless to say, the trip was awesome, but I’m glad to be back and spend time in Chicago this weekend. 

Since I’m already seeing pumpkin spice coffees, tall boots, and chunky sweaters filling the Pinterest and Instagram feeds, I feel like I need to check off those last few Chicago summer bucket list items stat! If you’re feeling the same way, here are 5 fun summer things you can do to hold on to the last few warm weeks the season.  If you don’t live in Chicago, you can probably find some similar events in your local city too!

5 Summer Celebration Spots in Chicago

1.    Front Porch Concerts & SoFar Sounds

If you’ve never been to one of these musical events, add it to your list ASAP! It’s such a relaxing, intimate way to experience local music artists and enjoy time with friends without being at a super loud concert with crazy expensive ticket prices. Most of the venues for SoFar Sounds have surprise locations and are BYOB if that suits your fancy! One of my girlfriends did this for her birthday, and it was truly an awesome way to spend the evening. We all went out for ice cream after - definitely recommend haha :) [Check out Front Porch Concerts here.]

2.  Glass Roof River Boat Cruise

Head out for a night on the water. The Odyssey cruise line in Chicago just launched the 360 River Tour. It’s a beautiful glass top boat that offers full dining service while you’re on the water taking in the beautiful sights of the city. If you’re a local Chicagoan like me, you might be over the “touristy” Navy Pier cruises, but give this one a shot - it’s an elevated experience that isn’t the typical go-to for dinner.

This idea is great for an Anniversary Party too!

3.    Goose Island Block Party

Cheap + Good usually don’t mix, but here they do. Good Goose Island brews, special seasonal brews, and your classic favorites like 312 are all on tap right out of their warehouses. They shut down the streets, crank up some live music, and you know there will be food trucks. Grab a bunch of friends and head on over to this laid back block party. It’s the perfect send off for summer and kick off for fall all in one! 

4.    Aire (chicago bathhouse)

Trade in your local pools and beaches for a swim indoors! Head on over to Aire for a magical experience that suspends time and soothes the soul. This is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday with your girlfriends or a significant other. You have to keep the chatter to a minimum as you explore the temperature regulated pools and steam rooms, but it’s worth planning a dinner after to talk about your luxurious water experience. Matt and I went on New Year’s day, and it was the perfect way to start off 2019! 

5.    Helicopter Tour

Soar through the air and see the city like you never have before. Nuff said, right?! (pardon the spelling :D) This one is definitely a splurge activity that can cost your $150-300 per person, but the views just might be worth it! [Check out Chicago Helicopter Experience]

As always, if you’ve made it this far head back over to Instagram or Facebook and let me know what you think or if you’ve already tried any of these! I would love to hear about your experiences. 

Enjoy these warm summer days y’all! :)

xoxo - Arika