City of Chicago announces changes to Summer events schedule

Our Madeline Nusser scooped the story a couple months back, and today the Mayor's office confirmed via press release that the slate of our city's summer events will look much slimmer in an economically challenged 2010.

"But like every level of government, the bad economy has challenged us to do more with less and to even more efficiently manage our limited resources,” said Megan McDonald, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events.

Here's a run down of the significant changes:

•    First, instead of holding one major Independence Day fireworks display in Grant Park on July 3rd, the City will be organizing three coordinated lakefront fireworks displays on July 4th so that residents can more easily enjoy them, closer to their homes.  The fireworks display on July 4th will be a coordinated show that includes a central location at Navy Pier as well as a South lakefront location and a North lakefront location.  It will begin at 9 p.m.

•    The City will move three music festivals from Grant Park to Millennium Park. The previously announced moves are Celtic Fest Chicago, May 8-9; íViva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, September 18-19; and the Chicago Country Music Festival, October 9-10.

•    Due to the challenging economy this year, the City was forced to cancel Venetian Nights, the Chicago Criterium, the Outdoor Film Festival and Great Chicago Places and Spaces.