FAQs
Q: What are the park's hours of operation?
A: Millennium Park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Hours for private events and special events sponsored by the City of Chicago may vary. The two parking garages beneath the park will be open 24 hours a day. Some areas of the park may occasionally be closed for maintenance or private events.
Q: Is there a fee to enter Millennium Park?
A: No, Millennium Park is free to the public.
Q: Are tours of the park available?
A: Yes, there are several tours of the park. The new self-guided Millennium Park audio tour is available for rental in the Department of Cultural Affairs Shop, located on the first floor of the Cultural Center, 78 E. Randolph Street. You can also download the tour for your MP3 player.
During the summer months, the Millennium Park Greeters offer a free, tour of the park daily at 11:30am and 1pm. Tours meet at the Millennium Park Welcome Center, located at 201 E. Randolph Street in the Northwest Exelon Pavilion. For more information on pre-arranged grouptours, please call 312.742.1168.
Larger groups can purchase walking tours through the Chicago Architecture Foundation, www.architecture.org.
Q: How do I request a brochure about Millennium Park?
A: Individuals can request a copy of our latest brochure by calling the Millennium Park Information Line at 312-742-1168, or by email at millennium-park@cityofchicago.org.
Q: I want to bring a group to the park, do I need to make special arrangements or notify someone?
A: Millennium Park does not require advance notification for group visits.
Q: Where is the bus drop-off point?
A: Motor Coach and school bus drop off is on Upper Randolph Street, east of the turn-around by the Harris Theater. Buses may then proceed to Lower Randolph to stage, or wait for their group. The garages that serve Millennium Park can generally accommodate vehicles up to 6'8". Certain areas can accommodate vehicles up to 8'2". For more information, please call the Millennium Park and Grant Park East Garages at 312-744-7644, or the Grant Park North Garage at 312-742-7530.
Q: Is Millennium Park accessible to people with disabilities?
A: The entire Millennium Park is accessible to people with disabilities. Free wheelchair rental is available at the Millennium Park Welcome Center. Integrated spaces for wheelchair seating are provided in all seating sections of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Wireless headsets for patrons with hearing impairments are located at the Pavilion's sound booth. Accessible restrooms are located adjacent to the Park Grill at McCormick Tribune Plaza and on the east and west sides of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Service animals are permitted in the park. Audio tour scripts are also available in the Millennium Park Welcome Center for the hearing impaired.
Q: Is alcohol permitted in the park?
A: Alcohol is allowed in designated areas in the park - the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during public performances and the McCormick Tribune Plaza. Glass bottles and cans are not permitted on the Great Lawn.
Q: Are dogs allowed in Millennium Park?
A: Dogs are not permitted in Millennium Park unless they are service animals.
Q: Are there places to eat in Millennium Park?
A: Millennium Park has several dining options.
Refreshments are available for purchase in the area around the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Great Lawn during the summer months.
Throughout the entire year, visitors can dine in the Park Grill, a 300-seat restaurant that sits directly beside the Ice Rink in McCormick Tribune Plaza at Michigan Avenue and Washington Street. In the warm-weather months, the Ice Rink converts into a 150-seat outdoor dining area. For more information regarding the Park Grill, please call 312.521.7275.
Q: Are reservations required for the Park Grill, and how can I make one?
A: Reservations are not required for the Park Grill, but are encouraged. Individuals may contact the Park Grill by calling 312-521-7275. For more information visit their website, www.parkgrillchicago.com.
Q: Are Millennium Park souvenirs available?
A: The City of Chicago stores sell official Millennium Park and Chicago souvenirs, including hats, T-Shirts, towels, pins and more. Visit www.chicagostore.com to purchase online.
Q: Why is the Great Lawn occasionally closed?
A. When there are no performances taking place, the Great Lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion may be closed for aeration, fertilization, or protection.
Q: What kinds of events are held in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion?
A: The Pritzker Pavilion is home to free concerts and events throughout the year. From mid-June through mid-August, the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, resident tenants of the Pavilion, perform on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Other free events, including jazz, gospel and classical concerts, are also held throughout the summer. During the winter, more intimate concerts are held on the stage of the Pavilion, behind its closed glass doors.
For a complete schedule of events, visit our events calendar.
Q: How do I get a ticket to free public programs in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion?
A: You don't need a ticket - admission to both the fixed and lawn seats for events presented by the City of Chicago is always free. Early attendance is advised for popular events.
Q: Do the Pavilion's seats provide any cover from the rain? What is the rain policy?
A: The Pritzker Pavilion's open-air seating is a significant part of the experience it was designed to provide, with stars overhead and the city's skyline as a backdrop. In the event of rain, the great lawn under the trellis has a high-tech design with underlying layers of sand and gravel that allows water to drain quickly. Concerts and performances in the pavilion are held rain or shine.
Q: How do I buy tickets for performances at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance?
A: Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-334-7777 or visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org.
Q: When is the water in The Crown Fountain turned on? What about the rest of the water features in the park?
A: The water features in Millennium Park are on from approximately May 1 until October 22 (weather permitting).
Q: What are the dates of the ice rink?
A: The ice rink is open from November 14 through March 16 (weather permitting.)
Q: During the skating season, will the rink be closed on days with mild weather?
A: The ice rink has a state-of-the-art chiller system that can maintain the ice even in the event of unseasonably warm weather. Several factors would need to be considered before the rink is closed. If you have questions about the weather, please call 312-742-5222 before you come.
Q: How do I get my face on The Crown Fountain?
A: The 1000 faces on The Crown Fountain were photographed by students from the School of the Art Institute during 2003. There are no current plans to add more faces.
Q: Is there a schedule to when the faces appear on The Crown Fountain?
A: The faces appear on the fountain in a random order, so there is no way to tell when a particular face will be shown. Each face remains on screen for approximately 5 minutes.
Q: Why are the trees in the Lurie Garden's Shoulder Hedge planted so close together?
A: The Shoulder Hedge is a hedge screen in progress. Eventually these trees - which consist of deciduous Fagus (beech) and Carpinus (hornbeam) and evergreen Thuja (arborvitae) - will branch horizontally to fill the frame and create a solid hedge, a process that is expected to take approximately 10 years. The armature structure is permanent. This type of hedge is often seen in older estates throughout Europe.
Q: Are there any annuals planted in the Lurie Garden?
A: No, the Lurie Garden consists of perennials. As of now, there are no plans to plant annuals, which usually do not survive Chicago winters.
Q: Are all of the perennials native?
A: About 60% of the plant material in the light and dark plate are native to Illinois. The remaining plants are "native-esque" in style, and mimic the true natives.
Q: What is the main difference between the light and dark plate?
A: The dark plate, which represents Chicago's history, consists of shade-loving plant material. In the dark plate is a combination of trees called Cloud Grove. With time, these trees will provide a shade canopy for these plants.
The light plate, which represents the city's future, contains the sun-loving perennials. These plants thrive in the heat and the sun. There are no trees planted throughout the light plate.
Q: Are there plans to label the plants in the Lurie Garden?
A: Because the Lurie Garden is a public garden and not a botanic garden, there are not plans to use labels. As a general rule, labels require a significant amount of detail work to keep accurate. Unfortunately, people often remove the labels and they can damage easily. It is our goal to properly map the garden and provide these resources to the public.
Q: When is the best time to visit the Lurie Garden?
A: The garden is always evolving and changing. However, its most colorful time begins in June and lasts throughout autumn. |
