CHICAGO— Navy Pier will celebrate Independence Day with the dazzling “Independence Weekend Fireworks Sponsored by Choose Chicago” at 9 p.m., Saturday, July 1. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a great viewing spot along the Pier. Featuring 10,000-plus pyrotechnic effects, more than a third of which are new to this year’s spectacle, the 10-minute fireworks show will be accompanied by rousing renditions of patriotic music.
“From the time fireworks painted the skies over the Pageant of Progress in 1921 to this spring when USA today named it the best place to experience an eye-popping display, Navy Pier has been synonymous with the patriotic pyrotechnics that are sure to thrill visitors over Chicago’s action-packed Independence Day weekend,” said Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner. “We’re grateful to Choose Chicago for sponsoring the oohs and ahhs, and we encourage guests to arrive early for a day of family fun.”
Navy Pier was voted winner of the 2023 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards for Best Place to See Fireworks. Dozens of nominees in the category were chosen by a panel of local travel experts from across the country, along with editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com. The final winner was selected by public votes.
“Fireworks at Navy Pier is a Chicago tradition, and it is no surprise they were named the best fireworks in the United States,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Choose Chicago is proud to be a partner in the 2023 celebration.”
Leading up to the fireworks on Saturday, July 1, Navy Pier will kick start the holiday weekend with a jam-packed lineup of free entertainment. The Pier’s summer music series, Live on the Lake!, will keep the Navy Pier Beer Garden rocking from 2 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. with performances by singer-songwriter Phillip Michael Scales, Blues artist Sheryl Youngblood, and party band Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Chicago DJ Mo Mami will mix house, dance, and popular music for Wave Wall Wax.
Guests can also explore The State Of Sound, a one-of-a-kind exhibit showcasing the achievements and contributions of Illinois’ finest in music, from Muddy Waters to REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick to Earth, Wind & Fire and Chance the Rapper. Located in Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, the exhibit is presented in partnership with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Ticketed events guests can add to their holiday-weekend itinerary include Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “It Came from Outer Space,” the new musical comedy adapted from the 1950’s cult classic sci-fi film. They can also tee it up on Pixar Putt, an 18-hole miniature golf course based on characters and scenes from Pixar’s classic films, or set sail on the cruise ships docked at Navy Pier, including Tall Ship Windy, which is offering a fireworks viewing party. And no visit is complete without a stop in Pier Park, featuring the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel.
On Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4, Live on the Lake! will add a special day of programming to its weekend music series, welcoming two-time Grammy-nominated blues artist John Primer to the Navy Pier Beer Garden. The Chicago native is the former bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Magic Slim and The Teardrops. He’s played alongside music legends The Rolling Stones and Buddy Guy. Following Primer’s performance, Trippin’ Billies, a Dave Matthews tribute band, will take to the stage, performing a jazz fusion of DMB’s top hits.
Note: There will not be fireworks on July 4. For more information on Navy Pier events happening on Independence Day, click here. All artists and dates are subject to change. All events are subject to change or cancellation.
Click here for b-roll of Navy Pier’s Summer Fireworks.
ABOUT NAVY PIER
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. In 2021, Navy Pier continued to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurants and partnerships, and thrilling additions to Pier Park. The Pier is also proud to continue providing free, year-round arts and cultural programming designed to inspire, educate and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization, in support of the organization’s post-pandemic revival and free public programming. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.
ABOUT CHOOSE CHICAGO
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
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