Chicago's iconic Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park fired up for the summer 2026 season on Saturday. The free Switch on Summer event drew crowds to celebrate the unofficial start of warm weather. Water shot 150 feet high in a 20-minute display, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Organizers from ComEd and the Chicago Park District hosted the 12th annual gathering. It kicked off at 11:30 a.m. at 301 S. Columbus Drive.
Subscribe to Chicago Star’s Weekly City Buzz Newsletter
Live shows and family fun
The lineup included preview acts from the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks. Performances featured Clinard Dance with Steadfast Dance Center at 11:45 a.m., Hearing in Color’s Chroma at 12:20 p.m., and Bollywood Groove at 12:40 p.m., as listed by theChicago Park District.
A live countdown led the main fountain ceremony at 11:55 a.m. Art stations, vendors, and kid-friendly activities filled the scene. ComEd offered customer support resources too.
"Watching the water come out from this beautiful fountain, that's the best part of this," ComEd president and CEO Gil Quiniones said, as reported byABC7 Chicago.
Sweepstakes winner flips the switch
Zach Gray from Logan Square activated the fountain. He won ComEd's Switch on Summer sweepstakes with over 8,000 entries. "Well I got an email a few months ago was immediately like this just sounds like fun. I love all of Chicago get ready for summer events," Gray said, according toABC7 Chicago.
Read more on Chicago Star
Guide to Mother’s Day in Chicago: Luxurious brunches, afternoon tea & spa treatments
Chicago Cabaret Week set for May 8-17 with tribute shows & Broadway performances
CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady named No. 4 in “Top U.S. Experiences” by TripAdvisor
Michelin-starred duo expands with new venture All Well in Chicago’s West Loop
Progress in the life expectancy gap passes pre-pandemic levels for Black Chicagoans
ABC7's Cheryl Scott emceed the event. "We're also kicking off the 14th season of Night Out in the Parks, our wonderful programming, where you can access free cultural programming and entertainment in parks in every part of the city," said Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, per ABC7 Chicago.
The fountain switch-on ran from noon to 12:20 p.m. It signals free summer events citywide through Night Out in the Parks. Families enjoyed the fun under sunny skies.
Entries for the sweepstakes closed April 17, noted by Chicago Events. The event wrapped at 1 p.m., leaving Chicagoans buzzing for summer.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.