BY WHITNEY HEWITT
You’ve probably been to Millennium Park plenty of times – showing off the bean to out-of-town visitors, ice skating in the winter, picnics in the sun during the coveted warmer weather. Dubbed a “new kind of town square,” Millennium Park has a lot more to offer than Chicagoans than what meets the eye. We’ve uncovered three activites that are fun – and best of all – free.
Work it out! Sweltering temperatures mean bathing suit season and gym memberships are far from inexpensive. Instead of digging into your wallet to pay for exercise, get your sweat on in Millennium Park on Saturday mornings for free, energizing fitness classes on the lawn of Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Starting at 7am, 45-minute sessions of Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba are taught by various instructors from fitness clubs and studios throughout the city. Whether you want to shake it out at Zumba or reach a Zen moment with the live music during Yoga and Pilates classes, there’s something here to help you get your groove on. Schedule and more information here.
Get Classical. Grab your favorite bottle of wine, some snacks and a blanket and spend Saturday night enjoying free concerts at Millennium Park. The Grant Park Music Festival puts on free classical music concerts all summer long, from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony to Brahm’s Double Concerto, giving Windy City residents an excuse to head outside and enjoy our wonderful summer weather. Most concerts start around 7pm and are perfect for having your dinner al fresco.
Family Fun. With school out for the summer, camps are winding down and kids are beginning to get restless. Just when you think you have run out of activities to keep your young ones entertained, let Millennium Park be your babysitter. At the Family Fun Festival, located in Chase Promenade North from July 9 – September 2, kids of all ages will have a blast with hands-on art projects, garden activities and family-friendly performances, every day between 10am and 3pm.
Whitney Hewitt is the founder of Gatz Optimize, a social media consulting and marketing agency. With over eight years in marketing and communications, Hewitt puts her skills to work for both small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations. She is also the President of the Chicago chapter of Femfessionals, a professional organization dedicated to connecting and promoting savvy women in the Windy City. Follow Whitney @GatzSocialMedia.
