Chicago officials on Tuesday announced the cancellation of in-person versions of most of the city’s iconic summer events due to COVID-19, including Taste of Chicago, the Air and Water Show, Lollapalooza and other yearly music festivals.
In place of these in-person events, the city is launching numerous livestreaming versions of the performances or holding smaller versions in neighborhoods.
These include livestreamed concerts, smaller food events in neighborhoods using food trucks, hosting small summer dance parties in homes and yards and six drive-in movie locations.
Read more: All of WBEZ’s coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Chicago and the region
Cultural Affairs officials also said city-run farmers markets would start up in Chicago neighborhoods in June and July.
“We must provide ways for people to enjoy the spirit of a Chicago summer while prioritizing health and safety,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “As difficult as it is to remove these in-person events from our calendar, we are pulling out all the stops for an inventive, engaging and fun festival season this summer.”
Lightfoot recently moved Chicago into Phase 3 of her five-phase plan to reopen the city’s economy and amusements following months of near-total shutdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
