The city of Chicago has always been a popular tourist attraction because of the consumer appeal that our downtown shops offer, the historic museums, beautiful landscapes and  amazing food. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says, Chicago has the best hot dogs and pizza, but what really draws crowds these days is the cultural diversity that summertime Chi offers. Moreover, the Black event scene in Chicago undoubtedly has some of the most poppin’ happenings across the city. 

With the wave of popularity being vested into day parties, trap brunches, festivals, sip & paints and more, it is safe to say that a Chicago summer is not complete without the influence of Black culture. Here are eight of Chicago’s biggest and blackest events, in no particular ranking order.

1. The Silver Room Block Party

For the last 16 years, The Silver Room Sound System Block Party has been dubbed as Chicago’s “Black Taste” and one of the city’s greatest summer celebrations. Eric Williams owns The Silver Room, a store supporting art, culture and community for over 20 years, and started the block party in 2002. Open to the public and welcoming to all backgrounds, the Silver Room Block Party celebrates expression in music, arts and community. All they ask is for an optional donation at entry and a peaceful atmosphere. For nearly two decades, that has been enough to bring out thousands!

2. The Chicago Football Classic

Hosted over the weekend, The Chicago Football Classic holds several activities that end with a game between  two competing football programs from HBCUs across the country. It is a convening post for all current and former HBCU attendees to share some school spirit and bring the HBCU culture to Chicago.

Three Black businessmen: Larry Huggins, Everett Rand and Tim Rand, founded The Chicago Football Classic Scholarship Fund, Inc. in 1997. The not for profit’s goal is to encourage Black children to aim high academically and beyond.   The 2019 Chicago Football Classic will take place September 14, 2019 at Soldier Field.

3. Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival

What was once a small reunion picnic with family and close friends, the Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival, now hosts over 40,000 guests from across the globe.The event celebrating Chicago’s house music and dance culture was created by  the famously known originators of house music, the Chosen Few DJs.

House music is a Chicago sound staple that fuses rock, euro-dance, disco and drum machines to create a sound that became common on Chicago’s underground or “house” party circuit. The picnic and festival showcases DJs and artists from around the world, including the original Chosen Few!

4. Black Women’s Expo

The Black Women’s Expo is a three day experience with panel discussions, food, fashion and beauty vendors, performers, financial experts and health services.Thousands of women (men and children too) gather to celebrate beautiful bold, empowered Black women! The Chicago-based event has been so successful for the last 25 years that it has expanded to Atlanta, Georgia.

5. The Bud Billiken Parade

Since 1929, the Bud Billiken Parade has connected communities across Chicago and celebrated Black culture through dance, food, music and great vibes. Each parade, often considered the official back to school celebration for families on Chicago’s South-Side, brings young and seasoned Chicagoans together to commemorate the past and celebrate the future. The parade hails performances from local high school bands, drill and dance teams, promoting educational advancement while simultaneously honoring Chicago’s rich history within the Black community.

6. The Hyde Park Brew Fest

Named for its location, the Hyde Park Brew Festival welcomes over 50 diverse brewers in a free two-day, family friendly atmosphere. The festival, founded by a Black businessman six years ago, celebrates urban and underrepresented vendors who have amazing beer and even better character.  Now the event hosts over 40,000 attendees also inviting food vendors and music performers from various parts of the world to share their special gifts and convene with new friends who quickly come to feel like family.

7. Chicago Greek Weekend

For nearly a decade, members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Divine Nine have communed in Chicago for a weekend full of events focused on celebrating Black Greek Letter organizations. Dubbed the Chicago Greek Weekend, every year during the last weekend in July, members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta commune in the city to network, serve the community and party. Money from the event goes into the organization’s annual scholarship.

8. The Blackout Brunch

“Brunch, Drink, and Blackout!” That is the slogan for the newly popular Blackout Brunch. The event is part of a series of events curated by Liv Social, a team of millennials who wanted to create a safe haven for Chicago’s young, urban professionals to have the time of their lives and connect while enjoying some of their favorite pastimes. According to their website, each brunch has a special theme but the overall mission remains the same, “encouraging patrons to be themselves and live their best life.”