By Leentje De Leeuw
Navy Pier celebrates the return of live entertainment to Chicago with performances by more than 40 cultural icons
We may have officially entered fall but that does not mean outdoor festivities are over. This coming weekend, Friday, September 24th and Saturday, September 25th, Navy Pier plans to end its incredible summer of live entertainment with Chicago LIVE Again! performances by over forty Chicago cultural icons.
What better time to enjoy Chicago’s most amazing performers than right before temperatures start to drop and theaters welcome you back inside. And what better place to bring everyone together and invite Chicago’s amazing performers than the city’s most iconic cultural destination? This first-of-its-kind event will run continuously on two main stages, the Lake Stage at Polk Bros Park and the East End Stage, from 5 pm until 9 pm on Friday and from noon until 9:30 pm on Saturday.
The list of live performers is growing every day and includes Broadway in Chicago, Chicago’s Children Choir, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Black Ensemble Theatre, Lyric Opera’s Ryan Opera Center, Second City and many other highly valued cultural institutions and performers.
The event was made possible through a very generous grant from the Pritzker Foundation. Trustee Penny Pritzker is very excited about the unique event: “This event will allow our arts and cultural organizations to deliver a message of resiliency and inspiration together. This is not only a celebration of the city’s reopening but a meaningful tribute to the diversity and vibrance of our region. We know this event will have a deep impact in uniting and uplifting our community and we are proud to support it.”
To top off this fantastic weekend, there will be a special fireworks display at 9:45 pm on Saturday, courtesy of a donor who preferred to remain anonymous, as a tribute to the return of theater in Chicago.
We encourage everyone to join the event live at Navy Pier this weekend, but for those who are unable to make it, ABC7 Chicago will air a 30-minute TV special, featuring the highlights.
As the event is standing room only, guests are invited to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
The full list of Chicago LIVE Again! performers is available on Navy Pier’s website and will be updated until the very last minute, as more performances are finalized leading up to the event.
COVID-19: all guests will be required to show their vaccination card or a negative test that was taken within 48 hours before they enter the event. Alternatively, free rapid testing will be available on site for all guests age 2 and over. To help everyone prepare for the fall arts season, free vaccinations will also be available. Navy Pier is operating in accordance with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on matters relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This means a face covering should be worn indoors in public, regardless of your vaccination status.