#1 Festival
The fest drew a record-breaking 100,000 music fans per day to Grant Park this year with 130-some acts including Nine Inch Nails, the Cure, and Phoenix. And to attract top ticket holders, a new Platinum Pass granted unprecedented perks like an open bar and elevated viewing areas. Next: August 1-3, 2014
#2 Festival
Founded in 2006, the increasingly popular event draws an average of 18,000 fans a day and—with weekend passes going for $120 a pop—is appreciated as one of the more affordable major music fests. This year’s event offered performances from the likes of Björk and R. Kelly, with higher production levels than in years past. Meanwhile, brands such as Popchips, Vans, and Zipcar had a major footprint on festival grounds. Next: July 2014
#3 Festival (up from #6)
Presented by Bon Appétit, Chicago Gourmet is arguably the city’s most prestigious food and wine event, and it’s growing every year. The festival’s attendance increases consistently: 12,456 guests made it out this fall, as compared to around 10,000 last year, and 6,000 when the event began in 2008. There were more big-name chefs than ever this year—a total of 175 participated—and there was also more food. The 11 tasting pavilions included new ones like dessert and La Femme du Chef, and new highlights to the programming included “Chef Smackdowns” in fun categories such as meatballs and tacos. Plus, the festival’s popular opening-night fete, the Hamburger Hop, grew in 2013 with its own after-party and a record-breaking 1,100 guests in attendance. Next: September 26-28, 2014
#4 Festival (up from #7)
There was good news for Chicago’s signature food festival this year: the fest was profitable for the first time since 2007, generating $272,000. In an effort to revitalize the event, organizers brought in new attractions including food trucks. Concerts each night featured buzzy headliners like Robin Thicke, and the 35 restaurants represented on site included some newcomers. Attendance also increased with 1.5 million guests this year as opposed 1.2 million in 2012. Next: July 9-13, 2014
#5 Festival
Held over Labor Day weekend, the Chicago Jazz Festival is a 35-year-old tradition. For the first time this year, the event relocated from Grant Park—which, some guests complained, had subpar acoustics—and set up shop in Millennium Park. The 2013 fest also had Friday-afternoon concerts, which had not been offered since 1997, plus a full day of Thursday programming at the Chicago Cultural Center. Estimated attendance was 125,000. Next: August 29-31, 2014
#6 Festival
The local tradition was significantly scaled down this year due to federal budget cuts. Gone were the beloved Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, though they were replaced with new acts. Among the first-time headliners were the Geico SkyTypers who wrote text-message-like phrases in the sky. Some 1.7 million spectators took in the event, down from the typical two million. The Blue Angels are likely to return next year. Next: August 2014
#7 Festival
Billed as the world’s largest free blues festival, the musical happening celebrated its 30th anniversary in June. With a “Rollin’ Up the River” theme, the Grant Park event drew 500,000 music fans and had sponsors including Pepsi and Humana. New touches included an opening-night concert at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion, where artists such as Shemekia Copeland performed. Next: June 13-15, 2014
#9 Festival
Known as the largest weekend street fair in the Midwest, the event typically draws some 100,000 guests. Occupying six city blocks, the fest offered three stages with entertainment from bands like Wilson Phillips. There were also about 400 vendors offering food, arts, and crafts. Next: August 9-10, 2014
#10 Festival
The largest annual outdoor dancing series in the United States is held in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden, offering free dance classes in styles ranging from tango to Irish folk. Chicago SummerDance sees some 1,200 participants gather at each session; at the conclusion of the classes, live bands take the stage and guests test out new moves on the alfresco dance floor. Next: Summer 2014
#11 Festival (up from #12)
Presented by The Chicago Tribune, the Lit Fest is the Midwest’s largest free, outdoor literary event. Featuring authors like Lauren Weisberger, this year’s event included readings, book signings, author conversations, poetry slams, and, of course, a book fair. There were also cooking demos with celebrity chefs-cum-cookbook-authors including Rick Bayless. Next: June 2014
