Chicago City's skyline is set to be decorated with roaring jets and daredevil stunts a tad earlier this summer, as the Chicago Air & Water Show preps for an August 10-11 showcase, steering clear of an on-tap Democratic National Convention. In a ballet of scheduling logistics, Chicago shifts its summer staples to accommodate a political grandstand and a high-octane NASCAR event, proving that even beloved traditions have to play musical dates now and then.
As reported by NBC Chicago, the annual air show, which parks itself over North Avenue Beach, is changing dates due to the DNC's 2024 swing into town. Scheduled from August 19 to August 22 at the United Center and McCormick Place, the event attracts traditionally more than two million attendees and is a signature summer event for Chicagoans and tourists alike. The air show, typically aligning with the third week of August, now sets its sights on an earlier weekend to sidestep the political fanfare.
The Taste of Chicago is also taking a raincheck on its usual July festivities. This grub-filled festival will pack up its picnic and unpack in September for the second September in a row - this adjustment initially arose in 2023 due to the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race, as per NBC Chicago's coverage. The food fest, a long-honored tradition that usually fires up around the Fourth of July, is slated for September 6-8 to skirt around the NASCAR event, which zooms in on the weekend of July 6 and 7 this year.
According to WGN-TV, rehearsals for the Air & Water Show are marked for August 9, and for anyone itching for details, the event's fine print is up for grabs at ChooseChicago.com.
