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Things to do - Special Events

The fun never ends at Navy Pier!

Navy Pier produces dozens of special events year-round including seasonal celebrations, festivals, concerts, and cultural events featuring traditional music and dance from around the globe.

BIGart at Navy Pier

Gateway Park

Navy Pier welcomes BIGart at Navy Pier, an annual, free outdoor art exhibition at the Pier. Navy Pier is pleased to partner with the Gagosian Gallery to display the artistic talent of world-renowned artist Roy Lichtenstein. A signature Lichtenstein sculpture – Brushstroke Group – will be one of the sculptures on display. Another signature piece is Monochrome II Chicago by American sculptor and installation artist Nancy Rubins. Monochrome II Chicago incorporates aluminum boats and wire cable to form a bursting web-like sculpture. Click here for more information and to view the sculptures by international artists.

Photo credit: © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, 2007. Courtesy of the Estate and Gagosian Gallery

Neighborhoods of the World

Sundays, February 17 – April 7
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Crystal Gardens

Navy Pier is proud to celebrate the rich tapestry of Chicago’s diverse ethnic communities in this third annual cultural tribute. This event is free and open to the public. Over the course of eight weeks, enjoy authentic live music, dance performances and folk art from each featured community. Plus, enter to win a giveaway for main cabin air transportation for two to select international cities including Beijing and new non-stop service to Dusseldorf, courtesy of American Airlines, the official airline of Navy Pier. Click here for more information.

Schedule*:
February 17: Bell’ Italia
Presented in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute and the Consulate General of Italy

February 24: Chinese Celebration
Presented in partnership with the Chinese Fine Arts Society

March 3: Celebrate Mexico
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico and the Mexico Tourism Board

March 10: Celebrate Lithuanian Independence
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania

March 17: Amazing India
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of India and the Indo-American Heritage Museum

March 24: Philippine Fest Chicago
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of the Philippine and the Philippine American Cultural Foundation

March 31: Africa In Chicago
Presented in partnership with Africa International House and the Chicago Commission on Human Relations

April 7: A Greek Journey in the Windy City
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Greece

*Schedule may be subject to change.

Swing Into Spring
March 22 – 31
Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m

Navy Pier’s Family Pavilion hosts an interactive family-friendly event celebrating all things spring! Pose for photos with the Bunny atop an inviting grassy hill. Play catch, hula hoop and jump rope led by Navy Pier’s expert team of fun-starters! Enjoy live music by the Swing Into Spring Band featuring trumpet, tuba, banjo and clarinet.

Enjoy special discounts from Navy Pier attractions, merchants and restaurants, March 22 - April 7 including $1 rides on the Wave Swinger in Pier Park. Click here for the coupon. All rides (with the exception of the Carousel) will be open for the season, weather permitting.

The fun continues even after the Bunny has hopped away. Disney’s hugely popular duck-billed, beaver-tailed, teal-colored Platybus from “Phineas and Ferb” rolls into Navy Pier, April 1 - 7! Step aboard the Platy-Bus for fun Perry related activities, giveaways and more. Plus, the Radio Disney AM 1300 Road Crew will provide games and your favorite tunes every day. Join the Platy-Bus Tour and “Swing into Spring” at Navy Pier!

Earth Hour 2013
Saturday, March 23
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Turn off your lights to help the planet

Join millions of people on Saturday, March 23 for Earth Hour as homeowners, businesses and governments around the world unite at 8:30 p.m. and turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness on the need to take action on climate change. The highlight of every Earth Hour is seeing a local iconic landmark go dark for one hour. Locally, ComEd and Navy Pier will celebrate Earth Hour when they turn off the lights to the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel. For more information on Earth Hour go to Facebook.com/EarthHourIL or follow on twitter @EarthHourIL.

Tall Ships Chicago 2013 at Navy Pier presented by Pepsi®

August 7 – 11

Navy Pier proudly welcomes an international fleet of majestic and historic Tall Ships. The five-day festival begins with a spectacular Parade of Sail on Wednesday, August 7. Thursday – Sunday, guests will have the opportunity to walk the festival grounds and view these Tall Ships more closely, board and tour participating ships or even take a sail away cruise aboard one of the visiting ships. Admission is required to the festival on August 8-11. No admission is charged on Parade of Sail day.

Dockside Boarding Admission (available August 8-11) : Includes one day’s entrance to the festival which includes the Chicago Match Cup and match race sailing competition AND access to board and tour participating Tall Ships.
Adults: $25 Children (ages 3-12): $12

General Admission (available August 8-11): Includes one day’s entrance to the festival including the Chicago Match Cup. Does not include boarding.
Adults or Children $5

Dockside Boarding Admission and General Admission are now on sale! Exclusive Limited Time Offer: Save 50% on Dockside Boarding Admissions*.
Click here to purchase.

*ONLINE ONLY. Limit six. Discount is 50% off the full retail price. No online service fees. Restrictions apply. While supplies last. Purchase required for access to Tall Ships Chicago 2013 presented by Pepsi®, August 8-11, 2013. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with any other offer, parking or any other package.

Discounts for groups of 10 or more are now available to Tall Ships Chicago 2013 presented by Pepsi®. Click here for more information and the order form or contact the Group Sales Department at (312) 595-5200 or groupsales@navypier.com

Within the Tall Ships festival grounds, modern match racing will meet maritime history on the east end of Navy Pier with The Chicago Match Cup. This $100,000 sailing competition and the only U.S. stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour features twelve of the world’s best teams in match race sailing, a form of head-to-head combat similar to the America’s Cup. Live commentary compliments the thrills on the water. For more information, visit www.chicagocup.org

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