🎷🌆 Brass, Beats & Breezes: Chicago Jazz Festival Saturday Night! 🎺✨

🎷🌆 Brass, Beats & Breezes: Chicago Jazz Festival Saturday Night! 🎺✨

🎶 Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park 🎶
📍 Jay Pritzker Pavilion & Millennium Park, Chicago
Jay Pritzker Pavilion: 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago
🗓️ Saturday, September 5, 2026
⏰ Meet around 4:30 PM • Stay through the evening 9 PM

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🌿 WHERE WE'LL BE
📍 Millennium Park – Great Lawn
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
201 E. Randolph St., Chicago
We'll meet WAY at the back of the Great Lawn near the sidewalk, just south of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
✔️ Look for the large group with blankets, chairs, wine, and lots of food!
✔️ Arriving early? Grab a nearby bench and wait for us.
✔️ Feel free to arrive anytime and stay as long as you'd like.

📌 Group Meet-Up Spot / Map:
https://tinyurl.com/3z26vc22

Bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Outside alcohol is officially not allowed, but discreet wine in plastic bottles sometimes makes it through light bag checks (no guarantees). WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET STUFF IN. You can also buy alcohol inside from vendors.

🎷 ABOUT THE CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL
One of Chicago's favorite summer traditions, the Chicago Jazz Festival brings world-class musicians, rising stars, and local talent together for a huge FREE celebration in the heart of downtown. 🎶🌆
The festival fills Millennium Park and nearby venues with multiple stages featuring everything from traditional jazz and swing to contemporary, experimental, Latin, and other styles.

Presented by the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) in partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, the festival has become one of the city's biggest annual music events.

🎺 This year's festival is extra special — 2026 marks the Miles Davis Centennial, with M.E.B. (Miles Electric Band) headlining the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Saturday night!

🎟️ And the best part? Admission is FREE!
🎷 Official Chicago Jazz Festival Information:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_jazz_festival.html

💡 Tip: Since we're meeting way back on the Great Lawn, don't just look for the Pavilion itself. Follow the lawn toward the back/sidewalk and look for our group! 🧺🎷

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🎶 SATURDAY NIGHT — JAY PRITZKER PAVILION

🎤 Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45–4:00 PM — Emcee Intro Remarks + National Anthem + Lift Every Voice
4:00–4:45 PM — Prodigio Claudio
5:05–6:05 PM — Patricia Brennan Septet ⭐ We'll watch this
6:25–7:25 PM — Paul Marinaro's “Mood Ellington” ⭐ We'll watch this
7:45–9:00 PM — M.E.B. (Miles Electric Band) — Celebrating the Miles Davis Centennial ⭐ We'll watch this

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🎷 OTHER FESTIVAL STAGES
Von Freeman
11:30 AM–12:25 PM — Josh Berman & Jason Stein Quartet
12:40–1:35 PM — Kevin King Regime
1:50–2:45 PM — Joan Collaso
3:00–3:45 PM — Miguel de la Cerna Trio

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace
11:00 AM — MYAC Jazz Combo
Noon–12:45 PM — Whitney Young High School Laflin Collective
1:00–1:45 PM — New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble 1
2:00–2:45 PM — DeKalb High School Jazz Ensemble
3:00–3:45 PM — Kenwood Academy High School Jazz Band

WDCB Jazz Lounge
Noon–1:45 PM — Gabriel Wade Quintet
2:15–4:00 PM — Ella Grace Sextet
4:30–6:15 PM — John Hanrahan Quartet (Coltrane Tribute)
6:45–7:45 PM — Frank Russell Quintet

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🧺 WHAT TO BRING
🪑 Blanket, lawn chair or portable table
🍿 Snacks to share
🥤 Non-alcoholic drinks
🥤 Cups, napkins, plates, etc. if you can help
🌤️ Layers/sunscreen depending on the weather
⚠️ Park rules: Outside alcohol is officially prohibited. Alcohol is available for purchase from festival vendors. No knives or corkscrews. (We always sneak in just be discreet!)

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🚇 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA: Red Line to Lake or State/Monroe
🚗 Driving: Grant Park North Garage or nearby garages — SpotHero/ParkWhiz recommended.

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📱 RUNNING LATE OR CAN'T FIND US?
Text/call the host!

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⚠️ RSVP REMINDER
✔️ Please check in with the host when you arrive.
✔️ Update your RSVP if your plans change.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event restriction.

🎷🌆 Come spend Saturday night under the Chicago skyline — great jazz, great food, great company, and one of Chicago's best summer traditions! 🎶🧺