🌆🍷 End of Summer Potluck Party at Buckingham Fountain 🎉🥖

🌆🍷 End of Summer Potluck Party at Buckingham Fountain! 🎉🥖

✨ Water • Light Show • Wine • Food • Fun! ✨

📅 Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
📍 Meet: Buckingham Fountain – 301 S. Columbus Dr.
🍽️ Theme: Picnic Potluck

We’re trying something different this year—let’s have a nighttime potluck picnic by Buckingham Fountain!

We’ll set up near the fountain to enjoy the water + light show while sharing food, drinks, and conversation. Think of it like our Millennium Park picnics—just with the fountain as our backdrop.

✔️ Picnics are allowed (but be discreet with wine/beer—hide in bags or pour into thermoses).
✔️ I’ll bring tables for the food.
✔️ Restrooms are available.
✔️ Concessions may be closed this late in the season, so plan to bring your own!
✔️ Everyone brings something to drink/eat & share with the group!
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🍷 WHAT TO BRING:
✅ Wine, beer, or your favorite beverages (be discreet)
✅ Snacks & food to share—cheese, crackers, fruit, dips, baked goodies
✅ Blanket or lawn chairs (chairs are better!)
✅ Bottle opener or corkscrew
✅ Cups, napkins, plates, toothpicks (if you can)
✅ Dress for the weather (bring layers!)
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📍 WHERE TO FIND US:
✔️ We’ll set up near the fountain, in the grassy area to the side.
✔️ Easy to spot—we’ll be the big group with blankets, chairs, wine, and food!
✔️ If you arrive early, grab a bench and wait for the group.
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🏛 About Buckingham Fountain
The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain (1927) is one of the largest fountains in the world, designed by architect Edward H. Bennett and French sculptor Marcel Loyau. Its hourly displays shoot water up to 150 feet, and at dusk, the light-and-music show makes it magical. The fountain runs daily May–October, 8 a.m.–11 p.m., with the final display at 10:35 p.m.

Philanthropist Kate Sturges Buckingham donated the fountain in honor of her brother Clarence, a Chicago art patron. Kate worked closely with technicians to design the fountain’s colored lighting so that it would glow like “soft moonlight”.

Inspired by the Latona Fountain at Versailles, Buckingham Fountain is even larger than its French counterpart and symbolizes Lake Michigan. The four massive bronze sea horses around its base represent the four states bordering the lake.

🚗 PARKING & TRANSPORTATION:
Public Transit:
• Easy access via CTA trains & buses
• Plan your trip: CTA Trip Planner
Parking:
• Grant Park South Garage recommended
• Limited metered parking nearby—arrive early if driving
• Use SpotHero or ParkWhiz for deals
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🙌 RSVP & NO SHOW POLICY:
✅ Please update your RSVP if your plans change!
✅ The cutoff to change your RSVP is the event start time.
✅ If you’re running late, message your host directly.
❗ 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month RSVP freeze.
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✨ Let’s close out summer in style—with food, friends, wine, and one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks as our backdrop!