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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

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® - Longest Ferris Wheel Ride Broken at Navy Pier!
New Record: 48 hours 8 minutes 25 seconds

Congratulations to Chicagoan and Navy Pier’s own Pier Park operations manager, Clinton, who broke a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® for the longest marathon on a fairground or theme park attraction by riding the Navy Pier Ferris wheel for a total of 48 hours 8 minutes 25 seconds with no sleep. This world record attempt was dedicated to the men and women of the Armed Forces and was capped by a spectacular patriotic themed Navy Pier fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Chicago Sun-Times: Navy Pier staffer's 48-hour Ferris wheel ride breaks Guinness record

Navy Pier staff Clinton Shepherd presented with the Guinness World Records award

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. Click here for more details about Tall Ships® Chicago 2013 presented by Pepsi®.

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: $5
Children (ages 3 and up): $5

Dockside Boarding Admission and General Admission are now on sale! Exclusive Limited Time Offer: Save 50% on Dockside Boarding Admissions*. Use code 82558131. 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

Volunteer for Tall Ships® Chicago 2013

Love Tall Ships and want to be more involved? We are looking for volunteers! Click here to fill out our volunteer form and to see the volunteer job descriptions.

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