Midwest Outdoor Concerts
Who doesn’t love an outdoor concert when the weather is great? You’re in luck! Here are some upcoming outdoor concerts or festivals around the Midwest. Be sure to bring your lawn chair or blanket!
Roosevelt Summer Sundays - Ames, Iowa
In its 20th year, Ames hosts a free outdoor concert at Roosevelt Park from 7:00 to 8:30 each summer Sunday. Roosevelt Park is located at the corner of Ninth Street and Roosevelt. This Sunday, August 27, features swamp soul group Stutterin’ Jimmy and the Goosebumps. I have no idea what swamp soul is but I am intrigued by the name. This Sunday a non-perishable food item is requested for a local charity. Find out more about the band here.
The Chicago Jazz Festival - August 31- September 3, 2023
If you enjoy jazz, you are sure to enjoy the free Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park and five additional Chicago locations this Labor Day weekend. A diverse group of performers will provide an array of entertainment for all. The festival began more than forty years ago, originally as a tribute to Duke Ellington. While you’re in the city, be sure to visit one or more of the city’s wonderful museums, especially the nearby Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum of Natural History.
Live at the Lake Concert Series - Arnold’s Park Amusement Park - September 2, 2023
Every summer Saturday Arnold’s Park hosts popular free summer concerts on Saturday nights at a beautiful location near West Lake Okoboji. Concerts start at 7:30 but folks congregate early for the best seats and closer parking.. I’ve attended these concerts several times and It’s a fun, free event. The amusement park, restaurants, and shops are a very short walk, so it’s fun to go early and look around, ride a few rides, and grab dinner or a famous nutty bar before the concert.
On Saturday, September 2, the tribute band Arch Allies is performing. It’s sure to be a good time and an opportunity to sing along or listen to some of your favorite rock songs. Stay for the whole concert and watch an impressive fireworks display afterwards. It’s worth keeping the kids up for!
Insider tip: If you’re looking for hotel reservations in the Okoboji area and they’re hard to come by, check out the nearby towns of Spencer and Estherville, Iowa and Jackson, Minnesota for availability.