ILLINOIS SIZZLES!

Whether you want a mellow evening or a high-energy experience, Illinois has something to make nighttime or daytime the right time for anyone. Cool jazz, hot blues or “Stepping” with the beat, you will find it all here.

Festivals & Events | Nightlife | Comedy | Family Fun

Festivals & Events

Illinois is known for its wide range of outdoor activities that celebrate the summertime, especially. Always presented with a charm and character that pure Midwestern flair, these festivites range from folksy to funky-fresh and fly.

In Chicago

57th Street Art Fair (June)

African-Caribbean International Festival of Life (July)

In Illinois

Black Family Reunion (August; Rockford, Ill.)

Bloomington Cultural Festival (August; Bloomington, Ill.)

RiverLife Gospel Music Cruises (Peoria, Ill.)

Rockin' Rib Fest (July; Lake in the Hills, Ill.)

Southern Illinois Music Festival (June-July; Carbondale, Ill.)

Spirit of Peoria (Peoria, Ill.)

Strawberry Festival (June; Long Grove, Ill.)

back to top

 

Nightlife

Illinois offers an impressive assortment of places to enjoy all kinds of music and entertainment, featuring artists and personalities who range from the up-and-coming to the legendary. And be sure to pack your dancing shoes! Illinois is full of great places to strut your stuff no matter your style; Chicago is the birthplace and capitol of Stepping if you’re interested in learning or showing what you’ve got.

Blues, Jazz & Reggae

10Pin Bowling Lounge

1464 Club: 773.233.4604

Andy’s Jazz Club

The Apartment Lounge: 773.927.0465

Artis's Lounge: 773.734.0491

Blues Heaven

Buddy Guy’s Legends

CloseUp2

Exedus II

FitzGerald's (Berwyn, Ill.)

Green Dolphin Street

Green Mill

Harlem Avenue Lounge (Berwyn, Ill.)

Illinois Central Blues Club (Springfield, Ill.)

The Iron Flat

Jazz Showcase

Kingston Mines

Checkerboard Lounge for Blues N’ Jazz: 773.684.1472

Rosa’s

Velvet Lounge

The Wild Hare

The Apartment Lounge: 773.927.0465

Betty’s Blue Star Lounge

Boutique

Buzz

Climax Lounge

Club 720

Crobar

Darkroom

D'Vine: 773.235.5700

Excalibur

Funky Buddha Lounge

Galaxie

Geno's Place (Calumet Park): 708.385.3100

Heat Nightclub (Lombard & Schaumburg, Ill.)

Le Passage

M Lounge

The Martini Bar Chicago: 312.377.6111

Martini Ranch: 312.335.9500

Max Bar

Mix: 773.528.7569

Moreseland

Ontourage

Reserve: 312.455.1111

REDKiva

rednofive

Smart Bar

Sonotheque

Spy Bar

Stone Lotus

Tantrum: 312.939.9160

Taste Entertainment Center: 773.873.6700

Tini Martini

Transit Nightclub

Tonic Room

The Underground

Victor Hotel

The Violethour

Walter Payton's Roundhouse (Aurora, Ill.)

Y Bar Chicago

Zentra

Stepping

The 50-Yard Line: 773.846.0005

Concert Venues & Event Promoters

Auditorium Theatre: "Too Hot to Handel" (Jan. 19 & 20, 2008)

The Chicago List

Chicago Theatre

Congress Theatre

Coronado Theatre (Rockford, Ill.)

Country Club Hills Theater (Country Club Hills, Ill.)

Court Theater

The ENVE Groupe

Hot House

InChiCity

House of Blues

Metro

Phil & Nate

Soleil's To-Dos!

Subterranean

The Vic Theatre

 

back to top

Comedy

Some of the world’s most recognized and celebrated comedic talent got its start in Illinois, and the state is full of great places that offer big laughs.

Chicago Improv

Funny Bone Comedy Club (Springfield, Ill.)

Jokes & Notes

 

Family Fun

Illinois is the place to entertain the whole family. Children of all ages can enjoy zoos, water parks and so much more. Try one of these suggestions, and also check out ChicagoKids.com

63rd Street Beach House

Adler Planetarium

American Girl Place

Fox Valley Golf Club (Aurora, Ill.)

Gameworks

Hardy's Reindeer Ranch (Rantoul, Ill.)

back to top

Check out what else we have to offer on our web site and start planning your 3-Day Getaway now! You can also find lots to do on EnjoyIllinois.com or by calling 1-800-2CONNECT.