Music of the Baroque's next big splash: Chicago Fireworks Music Cruise

The Music of the Baroque: The Chicago Fireworks Music Cruise is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2, 2027, aboard the Odyssey Lake Michigan, departing from Navy Pier. The 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. event will feature a three-course dinner, complimentary drinks and live excerpts from George Frideric Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, performed in its original instrumentation for winds, brass and percussion.

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The evening’s musical centerpiece has a royal history. Handel composed Music for the Royal Fireworks in 1749 to celebrate the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. The work was written for a grand outdoor celebration in London’s Green Park, where music and fireworks were intended to create a spectacular public event. Its bold brass, winds and percussion give the composition its unmistakably festive sound.

But this is more than a night of music and fireworks. A portion of every ticket supports Music of the Baroque’s community and education programs. Of the $400 ticket price, $150 is tax-deductible and benefits Strong Voices, the organization’s choral arts education program serving students at seven Chicago public high schools, along with its free community concerts.

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With limited space aboard the ship, the cruise offers a distinctive way to experience Chicago’s lakefront spectacle while supporting the city’s classical music community.

Tickets are $400 per person. Reservations and additional information are available at Music of the Baroque’s official event page.