The Windy City’s music legacy takes center stage at Chicago House Music Festival

Chicago will celebrate the global reach of House music with a four-day festival and conference from Thursday, Aug. 27, through Sunday, Aug. 30, as the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) brings back the Chicago House Music Festival and Conference. The free event will unfold across Daley Plaza, Grant Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and the Chicago Riverwalk, with more than 40 DJs and artists, along with dance, education and community programming.

Subscribe to Chicago Star’s Weekly City Buzz Newsletter

According to the DCASE announcement, the city says the festival honors Chicago as the birthplace of House music and highlights the genre’s lasting influence on music and dance culture worldwide. DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt said, “House music is one of Chicago's greatest cultural gifts to the world, and its influence continues to inspire artists, dancers and communities across generations,” per the press release.

Festival, summit and conference expand the program

The opening day begins at the Daley Plaza Farmers Market, followed by the return of the House Dance Summit at the Chicago Cultural Center. The summit will include a DJ set, an all-ages dance lesson, a documentary screening, a panel on Chicago House Dance and the qualifying rounds of a dance competition.

The Chicago House Music Conference will offer free public panels on topics including independent artists, vinyl culture, AI in music, DJ advocacy and mentorship between generations, as reported by the press release. A featured workshop will focus on publishing registration, financial literacy, royalty management, intellectual property and hearing protection.

Read more on Chicago Star

• Gibsons Steakhouse to expand for the first time outside of Illinois, heads to Nashville

• Spooky season is almost here! Chicago’s puppet haunted house returns with lullaby theme

• Chicago real estate competition heats up: Homebuyers face fierce bidding wars

• Get buggy with it: New kid-friendly Bug Squad exhibit opens at Peggy Notebaert Museum

• Move over, NASCAR! RPM Raceway plans 90,000 sqft go-kart venue, longest in the Midwest

The festival will also include a keynote conversation with Jamie Principle, presented in partnership with S&S Chicago, where attendees will hear about his early role in Chicago House and the recent induction of his song “Your Love” into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, as reported by the release.

For the full lineup and accessibility requests, DCASE says attendees can visit the festival website.