The popular tourist attraction in Chicago, Illinois is the United States state of Illinois. The Millennium Park is one of the most popular attractions and landmarks in Chicago. Millennium Park is located near Lake Michigan’s shoreline. It covers 24.5 acres. This area was previously part of Illinois Central’s rail yards. Millennium Park was opened in 2004 and is a great place to enjoy a picnic, watch a performance, walk in beautiful gardens, engage in interesting activities, or view some art.
This is all you need to know concerning Millennium Park.
How do I Reach
Millennium Park’s prime location makes it easy to reach. To reach the park, you can either take a bus or train or Metra. You can also park your car at the Millennium Park Garage, which is located under the park.
Timings
The Millennium Park is open from 8 AM to 9 PM every day, and closes at 9 PM in the evening.
Entry Fee
Millennium Park is free to enter. You may need to purchase tickets to attend some of the performances and concerts held at Millennium Park.
Attractions in Millennium Park
Millennium Park offers many attractions. These are some of the most notable features in this park.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion:
Jay Pritzker Pavilion is the main attraction in Millennium Park. Frank Gehry designed the pavilion, which is a state-of-the art amphitheater. The pavilion’s excellent acoustics are not only admired for their aesthetic appeal. It hosts concerts and other performances such as the Grant Park Music Festival, Summer Music Series, Summer Film Series, and others. Throughout the summer. There are 4000 seats fixed and a large lawn that can hold more than 7000 people.
Lurie Garden:
The 2.5-acre Lurie Garden is located in the middle the city. The garden is located at the southern end, in the Millennium Park. It houses a wide variety of perennials, trees and shrubs. You can enjoy guided walks, interactive demonstrations and lectures at the garden. Lurie Garden hosts family festivals. Lurie Garden is the perfect place to escape city life and read a book.
Cloud Gate:
The unique sculpture of the Cloud Gate is a landmark in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean”, was created by Sir Anish Kapoor, a British-Indian artist. This glistening archway is entirely made of steel. Mr. Kapoor took inspiration from liquid mercury’s qualities. The polished look was achieved by welding 168 plates of stainless steel. This is a great place to not only see the Chicago skyline from a different angle, but also to take amazing photos for social media.
Crown Fountain:
The Crown Fountain is another highlight of the Millennium Park. The Crown Fountain, designed by Jaume Plensa, a Spanish artist is interactive public art/videosculpture. The fountain is made from black granite and features a reflection pool with two 50-foot tall glass brick towers at its center. Each day, the towers display more than 1000 Chicagoans’ faces. The best part about the towers is the fact that water spots appear on the faces of people who are displayed on them during summer. Crown Fountain is fun for kids and adults.
The Plaza at Park Grill
Park Grill is the Millennium Park’s only restaurant. It offers a wide range of American cuisine and is a great place to enjoy a meal while taking in the views of the Cloud Gate and the Chicago skyline. The Plaza is Chicago’s largest outdoor dining space, and it is open during summer. You can also enjoy incredible live music here. The outdoor seating area can be transformed into an ice rink in winter.
Harris Theater:
Millennium Park has an indoor theatre, Harris Theater. It is perfect for small and medium-sized performances. Underground, this 1525-seat theater hosts local groups such as Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. It has hosted many international and national performances, including New York City Ballet.
Boeing Galleries:
Two outdoor galleries are part of the Millennium Park, the Boeing Galleries. One is located in the North, the other in South. These outdoor galleries host rotating exhibitions throughout each year. Here are works by Jean-Luc Mylayne and Chakaia Bucher. This place’s best feature is the fact that art lovers can enjoy the artworks on the benches.
Tips to Remember
- Millennium Park is a park that allows you to drink alcohol. You can’t drink anywhere you like. Park Grill and Jay Pritzker Pavilion are the only places where you can drink.
- The park is not permitted to house pets
- It is not allowed to ride a bicycle on the park grounds
- Although the park is great for picnicking, you can’t put up a tent there. Barbecue, grills, open flame candles, etc. These are also limited.