It’s never too early to start planning for Chicago festivals.
The city on Thursday announced the dates for festivals and events for 2014, including the premier of a new fest called the Great Chicago Fire Festival.
Among the highlighted fests are:
- Chicago WinterDance: Dance lessons and live music will be offered Jan. 3-5 at the Chicago Cultural Center
- OnEdge: The new performance series will be featured from Jan. 11 through Feb. 1 at the Storefront Theater and Chicago Cultural Center
- City of Chicago 176th Birthday: March 4
- Loops and Variations: Contemporary classical music and electronica can be heard on Thursdays from May 29-July 3 at Millennium Park
- Downtown Sound: Indie rock and pop music will be heard on Mondays from June 2-Aug. 4 at Millennium Park
- Chicago Blues Festival: June 13-15 at Grant Park
- Chicago Bike Week: The citywide event will be from June 13-20.
- Millennium Park Film Series: June 24-Aug. 26, at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 26-29 at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and Grant Park
- Chicago SummerDance: Dance lessons and live music will be offered June 27-Sept. 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center
- Taste of Chicago: July 9-13 at Grant Park
- Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz: July 24-Aug. 28 at Millennium Park
- Chicago Air and Water Show: Aug. 16-17
- Chicago Jazz Festival: Aug. 28-31 at Millennium Park
- World Music Festival Chicago: Sept. 11-21 at Millennium Park , the Chicago Cultural Center and citywide
- Great Chicago Fire Festival: Oct. 3-4, Chicago River and citywide
- SpinOff 2014: The contemporary dance series will be featured in October at the Chicago Cultural Center and Storefront Theater
- Halloween Festival: The festival will be at the Chicago Cultural Center in late October
- Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony: The ceremony will be held at Daley Plaza on Nov. 25
- Santa House: The house will be open at Daley Plaza from Nov. 25-Dec. 24
- Caroling at Cloud Gate: The caroling will take place on Fridays at Millennium Park from Nov. 28-Dec. 19
