Chicago SummerDance

One of the city’s most beloved dance traditions, Chicago Summerdance, returns to the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park as well as neighborhood parks for open-air dancing, live music and dance lessons all summer long, from June until September 2025.

Courtesy of Summerdance

Every Wednesday through Saturday of each week, an eclectic array of bands and dancers will glide across the park’s dance floor. Various dance styles, including salsa, cumbia, swing, steppin’, flamenco, polka and Irish folk will shake up the park. Check out the weekly schedule when it’s up for the season.

The evening starts with an introductory dance lesson followed by live music and dancing. Summerdance is also at neighborhood parks throughout the city on select dates, including Pullman Park, Maxwell Street Market, Austin Town Hall Park and Calumet Park. Look out for special Summerdance pop-ups and events all over the city.

The historic Spirit of Music Garden in the South Loop at 601 S. Michigan hosts Summerdance Thursdays through Saturdays from August 7-23, 2025. Arrive early to set up chairs or blankets on the lawn and then head to the dance area where participants groove to live music and try out the dance steps they have learned.