Arts & Culture Programs

The Chicago Park District provides Arts & Culture Programs for all ages. Our experienced instructors and committed community partners offer guidance and open studios for a variety of mediums and skill levels. In addition, the Park District partners with renowned local arts organizations for programs, special events, and performances. At Chicago Park District Cultural Centers, you can find cultural programming including classes in art, music, dance and more; exciting events and unique cultural spaces. These facilities are located in neighborhoods throughout the city, making it easy to expand your cultural horizons. As part of the Culture in My Neighborhood initiative, a $40 million capital investment will be made to the City’s network of 15 cultural centers, upgrading their theater, music, dance, and visual art presentation capabilities. 

Programs

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Pencils in a mug, notepad, and potted plant on a desk.
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Two smiling ballerinas in white tutus pose before a cultural center backdrop.

Dance

 

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A hand picks a colored pencil from a container of various colored pencils.
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Two smiling children at a table with a Hamilton Park banner they decorated.

Drawing

 

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Young girl sitting on a blanket reading a children's book.
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Violinists playing outdoors.

Music

 

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Group of people painting on small canvases at a long table.
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Photo prints drying on mesh rack.
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Man using squeegee to create silkscreen print.
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Two smiling people work on clay projects at a table covered in newspaper and small sculptures.
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Children proudly display their colorful tie-dye creations.
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Students perform a musical number on stage.

Theater

 

Events

177 Events

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's Summer Concert Series at Cole

Luiz Ewerling & Amada - Brazilian Spirit at Washington Sq

South Asian Classical: Melody Meets Movement at Warren

Transilience: Chicago Trans Pride Festival at Gill

Yoga & Art in the park with Lovelee Being at Buttercup

Movies in the Parks at Grand Crossing

Movies in the Parks at Grand Crossing

Movies in the Parks at Piotrowski

Movies in the Parks at Touhy

Get Flea at Ping Tom

Transilience: Chicago Trans Pride Festival at Hamilton

Flamenco & Breaking at Back of the Yards

A Free Little Gompers Picnic and Music at Gompers

Fiesta Mexicana: Interactive Family Show at Throop

Bon Festival at NPV

Bon Festival at NPV

Chicago Astronomer at Portage

Movies in the Parks at Harold Washington

Movies in the Parks at Lake Shore

Movies in the Parks at Loyola

Emily Kuhn Quintet at Jefferson

Movies in the Parks at Bartelme

Movies in the Parks at Hollywood

Movies in the Parks at Rosenblum

Movies in the Parks at Rosenblum

Hide and Seek: Nature’s Hidden Gems at Ken-Well

Amateurs at Hayes

Tuesdays in the Gazebo - Sunshine Boys at Welles

Movies in the Parks at Eckhart

Movies in the Parks at Wildwood

Movies in the Parks at Wrightwood

Jamie Demeny’s 4-Player Game at Julia de Burgos

Chicago Astronomer at West Lawn

Movies in the Parks at Harrison

Movies in the Parks at Jefferson

Movies in the Parks at Smith Playlot

Hide and Seek: Nature's Hidden Gems at Wilson (Frank J.)

Amateurs at River

Blues In The Parks at Pendleton

Circus in the Park at Vittum

Cuatro Mujeres: Nina Simone’s Four Women at Hamilton

Movies in the Parks at Edgebrook

Movies in the Parks at Veteran's Memorial

Movies in the Parks at Wicker

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Auburn

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Auburn

Blue on the Bayou at Columbus Refectory

Luiz Ewerling & Amada - Brazilian Spirit at Rowan

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's Summer Concert Series at Rainbow

REMNANTS 2026 at Winnemac

Movies in the Parks at Athletic Field

Movies in the Parks at Berger

Movies in the Parks at Euclid

Movies in the Parks at West Chatham

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at McKinley

HALOFEST at Columbus

Celebrating Peruvian Independence through Arts at Dunham

Swing Dance Lesson at Berger

Many Voices, One Heart at Ping Tom

America: Songs of Protest and Freedom at Clarendon

REMNANTS 2026 at Winnemac

Chicago Astronomer at McKinley

Movies in the Parks at Lake Shore

Movies in the Parks at Osterman Beach

Movies in the Parks at Oz

Walking History: Exploring Chicago Parks at Washington

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Clark (Richard)

Chicago Onscreen at Bartelme

Jazz'n In The Parks at Owens

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Humboldt

Cuatro Mujeres: Nina Simone’s Four Women at Humboldt

Nahui Ollin Aztec Dance at Berger

Chicago Onscreen at Eugene Field

Chicago Onscreen at Kennicott

Emily Kuhn Quintet at Wicker

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Lane Beach

Music and Dance Around the Mediterranean at Dunham

Nahui Ollin Aztec Dance at Senka

Chicago Onscreen at Austin Town Hall

Chicago Onscreen at Pottawattomie

Community Lovelines at Tuley

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Sherman

Chicago Full Moon Jam at Palmisano

Chicago Full Moon Jam at Rainbow

Chicago Onscreen at Humboldt

Chicago Onscreen at Jackson Park

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Marquette

Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz at Burnside

REMNANTS 2026 at Byrnes

Chicago Onscreen at Avalon

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Ward

Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival at Eugene Field

A Multi-ethnic Ode to Autumn at McKinley

Imagination Station at McKinley

REMNANTS 2026 at Byrnes

Chicago Onscreen at Grant

Christian Larumbe: Refugio In The Parks at Palmer Square

Emily Kuhn Quintet at Dooley

Movies in the Parks at Bartelme

Movies in the Parks at Lincoln

Movies in the Parks at Wrightwood

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan at Leone Beach

Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz at Grandparents

Movies in the Parks at Chippewa

Movies in the Parks at Revere

We The People at West Ridge NP

Movies in the Parks at Lincoln Park

Movies in the Parks at Pottawattomie

Community Lovelines at White (Willye B.)

Cuatro Mujeres: Nina Simone’s Four Women at South Shore

Fiesta Mexicana: Interactive Family Show at Winnemac

Reclaimed Timber at River

Movies in the Parks at Hollywood

Movies in the Parks at Park No. 599

Movies in the Parks at Scottsdale

Reclaimed Timber at Park No. 571

Movies in the Parks at Ellis

Movies in the Parks at Wrightwood

Movies in the Parks at Hiawatha

IndigiFest: Celebrating Indigenous Culture at Grant

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Summer Soundwalks in the Park at Big Marsh

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Movies in the Parks at Brands

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Midnight Circus at Park No. 596

Cuatro Mujeres: Nina Simone’s Four Women at Austin Town Hall

The Pieces by Aloft Circus Arts at Athletic Field

Christian Larumbe: Refugio In The Parks at McKinley

The Pieces by Aloft Circus Arts at Touhy-Herbert

Dance to Chinatown! at Armour Square

The Pieces by Aloft Circus Arts at Valley Forge

Folklorico in the Park at Brands

Movies in the Parks at Austin Town Hall

Movies in the Parks at Holstein

Contra Dance to Baba Yaga's Stew at Horner

Little Village Skate Party & Film Screening at Piotrowski

Movies in the Parks at Indian Boundary

Books and Beats at Dearborn

Yoga & Art in the park with Lovelee Being at Eckhart

Empowerment and Connection Through Piñatas at Calumet

Hoop Dancing with Starr Chief Eagle at Shedd

Proud and Loud: Disability Art and Music at Garfield

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Gage

America: Songs of Protest and Freedom at Washington

We The People at Dunbar

Community Lovelines at Austin Town Hall

The Playground at Taylor-Lauridsen

The Playground at Graver

Chicago Astronomer at Graver

Beatdown Sound System's Vibrations of Freedom at Ping Tom

Ikebana for All at Lincoln

The Playground at Mt. Greenwood

Walking History: Exploring Chicago Parks at Humboldt

Chicago Full Moon Jam at Palmisano

Nahui Ollin Aztec Dance at West Lawn

Kitt Lyles’ Arabic Jazz Project at Douglass

Christian Larumbe: Refugio In The Parks at Calumet

World Music Festival Chicago at Humboldt

Nahui Ollin Aztec Dance at West Lawn

Contra Dance to Baba Yaga's Stew at Pottawattomie

Movies in the Parks at Bosley

The Heart of the Story at Douglass

Jazz City at Clarendon

Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration at Harrison

Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz at Cragin

Chicago Latino Dance Festival at Humboldt

Chicago Astronomer at Northerly Island

We The People at Douglass

Fiesta Mexicana: Interactive Family Show at Pasteur

Hoop Dancing with Starr Chief Eagle at Seward

Joel Hall Dancers & Center: NextGen at Douglass

Mitote Día De Los Muertos in La Ronda Parakata at Burnham

Walking History: Exploring Chicago Parks at Palmisano

Sock Hop at Warren

Hoop Dancing with Starr Chief Eagle at Douglass

Hoop Dancing with Starr Chief Eagle at Indian Boundary

Bollywood Groove Indian Dances & Stories at Seward

Dancin' Fridays - Salsa Social at Humboldt

Jazz City at Hamilton

Student Art Fair at Lincoln

Facilities

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Carpentry tools: hammer, saw, and speed square.