Chicago City Wire

The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has announced the schedule for the 2025 Chicago House Music Festival and Conference, set to take place from August 21 to 24. The four-day event will feature free programming, performances, and activities at Millennium Park and other downtown locations.

The festival begins on Thursday, August 21, with the Chicago House Music Conference and a Cultural Center Open House at the Chicago Cultural Center. The evening will include community discussions, dance workshops, live DJ sets, and panel discussions covering topics such as collaboration in music, creative processes, nightlife culture, and music marketing.

“The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference celebrates Chicago’s global impact on House music,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “This year’s lineup pays tribute to the genre’s deep roots in the city while spotlighting the next generation of DJs and artists. Whether you’re a longtime ‘house head’ or new to the scene, everyone’s invited to join us for a weekend of music, dance, and community.”

On Friday, August 22, events move outdoors to Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden for SummerDance programming. Daytime activities will include dance masterclasses led by professional instructors at the Dance Studio inside the Chicago Cultural Center. Evening events feature additional dance lessons and DJ sets by Vince Adams and DJ Lil John in Grant Park.

Saturday’s program on August 23 centers around Millennium Park with performances across four stages: Legacy Stage at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Soulful House Stage, Chicago House Stage, and Groove Garden Stage. Youth workshops and a Chicago House Dance Summit are also scheduled. Mainstage performers include Andre and Tony Hatchett of Chosen Few DJs, DJ Pharris Thomas, Waxmaster, Tyree Cooper, Ralphi Rosario among others.

The festival concludes Sunday afternoon with Wind Down: House on the Riverwalk along The Confluence where three branches of the Chicago River meet. Attendees can enjoy music from DJ Jerome Baker and Julio Bishop in a relaxed setting.

For more information about event schedules or accessibility accommodations—including ASL interpretation—attendees are encouraged to visit https://ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us or contact DCASE directly before August 18.

The festival is presented by DCASE with sponsorship from Millennium Garages https://www.millenniumgarages.com/ , support from organizations like Lloyd A. Fry Foundation https://www.fryfoundation.org/ , Millennium Park Foundation https://www.millenniumparkfoundation.org/ , as well as assistance from public agencies such as the Chicago Transit Authority https://www.transitchicago.com/ .

Millennium Park serves as one of the main venues for this event; it is recognized as a leading attraction in both Illinois and nationally within the United States (https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/tours-and-attractions/millennium-park-guide/) . It anchors an urban cultural campus that includes several major sites such as Maggie Daley Park and The Art Institute of Chicago.

DCASE continues its mission to support artists across all neighborhoods in Chicago through events like this festival while providing resources for cultural organizations throughout its communities (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca.html) .

###