Things to do during your Chicago TEFL Course this Summer!

There is a strong belief that literally nothing beats summer in Chicago. Greenheart Travel is a little biased in that opinion, but since Chicagoans deal with such terrible winter weather, one could argue that we really know how to do it right when the sun is shining. Dining and drinking al fresco on a patio, playing volleyball on the beach, and biking along the lakeshore path are some favorite summertime activities.

If you’re planning on being a teacher abroad this fall, getting TEFL certified in Chicago this summer is the perfect first step to get there! With only a few spots lefts left on each summer course start date, it’s important to register as early as possible but it can be hard to decide which time is the best month to be in Chicago. Here’s a list of some of the amazing things to do and and see arranged by start date:

May 11 – June 5, 2015 Course

Pritzker Pavilion for Downtown Sound at Millennium Park

Bike the Drive: Lake Shore Drive May 29 – Join thousands of bikers for one of the best bike rides in the nation! The city shuts down Lake Shore Drive for almost 5 hours to provide car-free access to a beautiful stretch of road, with unbeatable views of the lake and the skyline.

Do Division Fest: Wicker Park June 3 – June 5 – This event usually signifies the beginning of street festival season, and it also happens to be one of my favorites. This stretch of street is known for its sidewalk patios that are bustling at the first sight of Spring. Add great music, vendors, and a sidewalk sale, and you’ve got a killer summer kickoff festival!

Chicago Blues Festival: Grant Park June – Guaranteed to deliver some legends, experience one of the things Chicago does best: Blues! This is the largest free Blues festival in the world.

Downtown Sound: Millennium Park, Mondays June – August: A personal favorite of mine. Pack a picnic and some wine and head downtown to Millennium Park after class on Monday nights for free concerts at the beautiful Pritzker Pavilion. Past years lineups have included Glen Hansard, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dawes, Sharon Van Etten, and many more!

June 15 – July 10, 2015 Course

Chicago Pride Parade

Taste of Randolph Street: West Loop June 17-19 – The Randolph Street Corridor features some of the best restaurants in Chicago, which makes it one of the most exciting street fests for foodies. It also happens to feature great music. The 2013 lineup boasts Divine Fits, Joy Formidable, Lord Huron, and many more.

Spring Awakening: Soldier Field mid June – Fans of electronic dance music will enjoy this huge festival housed in the iconic home of the Bears, Soldier Field. You’ll also want to check out the Wavefront Music Fest on Montrose Beach a couple of weeks later

Chicago Pride Parade: Boystown/East Lakeview June 18-19 – A world-famous parade! Anything goes during this colorful celebration, featuring hundreds of floats and plenty of dancing!

Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival: Lincoln Park late June – A popular event featuring great art and music in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

July 13 – August 7, 2015 Course

Lollapalooza

Pitchfork Music Festival:  Union Park July 17-19 – Indie music fans will be in heaven at this popular three day festival in Union Park. Headliners include Bjork, Bell & Sebastian, R. Kelly and MIA. However, the biggest draw of this festival is the smaller bands that you haven’t heard of yet, but will recognize soon! Find out what your future favorite band will be.

Lollapalooza: Grant Park July 31-August 2 – Surely you’ve heard of this one! No matter what your taste in music is, there is something for everyone at this massive summer music festival. Join 100,000 fans for a festival of epic proportions, right in downtown Chicago. Nothing beats seeing your favorite band with the Chicago skyline as your backdrop!

August 10 – September 4, 2015

Chicago Air and Water Show: North Avenue Beach August 16 – Watch this daredevil event take over the city of Chicago. With roaring jets flying in formation overhead, parachute teams jumping from the sky, and jumping boats, this event is quite the spectacle. Local tip: Avoid the crowds by getting to the lake in the days before the actual event to see the jets in action while they practice for the big event.

North Coast Music Festival: Union Park September 4-6 – This festival gets more and more popular every year, and I’m sure 2016 won’t disappoint. There’s no lineup yet, but past year’s lineups have featured Pretty Lights, Girl Talk, and STS9, The Roots and Steve Aoki!

The list goes on! What events are you planning to attend this summer?

Picture yourself in Chicago this summer! Sign up now!