Jay Pritzker Pavilion

The summertime movies in the park are the best thing ever! They let you bring your own food and alcohol even though they sell it, and you can stay for a while even after the movie ends.

The best for beautiful Chicago summers! I came for Broadway in the Park and it was fantastic! People hanging out drinking, eating, enjoying music and relaxing after work. It is such a relaxed atmosphere and people are allowed to bring food and alcohol. I will be back for summer events happening here!

I highly recommend the free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The Grant Park Music Festival takes place each week from June 17-​August 22. Go on Tuesday at noon for the rehearsal — bring a sandwich and enjoy this beautiful music with your lunch. The World Class Jazz is August 6 – 17. But other music offerings run through September 18.
The music is incredible, the second best thing is that it is free.
Many people bring blankets and sit on the lawn. You can see elaborate meals as well as snacks and bottles of wine being enjoyed during the concerts. If you are not a ground sitter, there are also theater seats closer to the band shell. A concession serving light snacks, beer, and wine is convenient to the band shell.
I find myself lost in the music while looking at the beauty of the skyline and the fabulous band shell designed by Frank Gehry.

Jay Pitzer Pavilion is a gorgeous pavilion in the middle of Millennium Park. It’s no more than 50 feet from the Bean aka the Cloud Gate. It’s an open arena and the architecture on it was very aesthetically pleasing to observe.
I was lucky enough to see it cover in snow. The snow made it look more charming than the pictures I’ve seen online. The criss-​cross rods gives it an amazing effect especially if you’re looking at the center stage from the very back. It’s a great place to relax and take in the cold wind chill.
It’s in a great location. You could sit and take in the Chicago skyline. Enjoy the pictures.

If I were a Chicagoan I would be here very often. I love the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Who does not love free concerts? One day I am here relaxing on the grass with the family and they have a classical orchestra playing music and the next morning some yoga instructor is teaching free yoga classes in to about 125 – 150 people. How cool is that? Very. Besides, the Pavilion itself is a standing work of art, the place is beautiful.
The architecture design is that of Deconstructivism, which comes from the 1980’s. It was designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 2004 and it seats a total of 11,000 people. The way this place was built was that it would provide optimal acoustics, the sound can easily reflect towards the audience.
If you are visiting Chicago, I definitely recommend checking this place out.
[Review #316] (Seventieth Sixth Review of 2015)

There are several good things about this venue. The first is that the lawn seating is generally free at least for concerts that are part of Grant Park Music festival. The lawn opens 90 minutes prior to the show and lawn space is first come first serve so get there early to secure a good view near the front. Second is the acoustics are pretty good too for the middle of the city. Third is it is BYOB and food, whAAAT? In a city as strict as Chicago that is practically unheard of. They’re is also a beer stand if you forgot to carry on. Taking advantage of the bucolic setting in the middle of downtown on a balmy summer evening is just overall pretty amazing. No complaints.

Came to the 2015 Gospel Fest and I love this pavillion. Plenty of seating or grass if you don’t get a seat. The screen above the main stage is big enough to see the show. To your left center and right are skyscrapers so your view from where ever you are is great.

Visited for a performance during World Music Festival. Sat on lawn area, great views, and acoustics. We brought some beers and wine. We saw others with a full picnic setup.
All around fantastic experience!

When I think of summer in Chicago (during winter), I mostly remember the picnics we had for the Concert in the Park events…
Oh I will miss summer (*sigh*…)

How fortunate are we to have a world class Frank Gehry masterpiece in the middle of our fabulous city, have it free and accessible, have it offer the breadth and depth of programming that it does, have it juxataposed against fabulous early 20^th century architecture by some of the greatest architects in the country at the time, have it within walking distance of so many downtown neighborhoods and have it set in one of the finest 21^st century urban parks in the the world.

This is a good place a for a concert if you don’t care about seeing a concert. We had lawn seats because the pavilion was sold out (even though we bought tickets the day they went on sale) and literally didn’t see one single part of the show at all. So, I saw Robyn and Royksopp’s light show, but didn’t catch even one glimpse of them. Kind of lame. If I ever go here again, it’s pavilion seats or bust.

I have had the opportunity to go to the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park to see several different performances and all of them have been superb. My advice to you is to arrive early and attend as often you can. Unless tickets were given to you for the performances, concert goers have to wait in a line until the gates are opened and the first people in line are admitted into the pavilion and select the better seats. Many of these people who enter save multiple seats for their friends. The performances are very well publicized and the line undulates through the park like a snake.
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park has won the National Medal of Art for designer Frank Gehry. Instead of the band shell Gehry has created brushed steel trellises, which supports a brushed steel overhanging connected with criss-​crossed rods. The side trellises support huge speakers that frame the stage. The pavilion accommodates 4000 people with fixed seat, in addition there is seating for though people who prefer to picnic on the lawn for 7000 people. There is a fantastic state of the art sound system that equalizes the sound supported in the pavilion seats and on the lawn seats, that enhances sound throughout the area. Whatever the choice of seating, it is wonderful to listen to the music with the Chicago skyline under the beautiful summer evening sky.

Pritzker Pavilion is AWESOME.
Went on a lovely evening date here last week. Sitting on the grass with a little picnic setup, listening to a concert, under a beautiful summer sky, with an engaging date… doesn’t get much better than this. One of my favorite parts about Pritzker Pavilion is that though it is totally outdoors, the metal arches over the lawn create a sheltered sort of feeling. The buildings around the pavilion frame the sky above very nicely too.

Chicago put this here. For me… and you.
Take advantage man. Take advantage.
Well I’m sure my tax paying dollars put this here as well. Not complaining though cause I take advantage. Aside from it being just really nice to look at with its modern appeal there is always something damn near free to attend during the summer. For instance, Tuesday night is movies in the park and Thursday night is a jazz series. Best of all, you can bring in your cooler and dinner from outside the park. There are still beer tents and whatnot but I’m not Wall Street, I’m more Fullerton Ave. Bring a blanket to throw down cause there will be geese shit and only white people let their children run barefoot and play through that. It’s a great time though. Take in the city from the park, hit up the bean, and especially wait for nightfall and take in all of the lights.
Take advantage man. Take advantage.
Really need to take in a concert here though.

I’ve gone to two movies in the park at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and each time I’ve been pleasantly surprised and disappointed at how sparse the crowd was.
I’ve sat in the chairs each time, under the silvery canopy that protects from rain, and it’s been a wonderful experience. Free movies, with BYO drinks and food, surrounded by the beautiful Chicago skyline, and wonderful architecture.
I’m sure movies in the other parks are just as great, but I’m really glad that Millennium Park is doing this at the Jay Prtizker Pavilion.

Pure Chicago.

There I was, tired of walking from the Navy Pier to the Millenium Park, neck craned to get a better grasp of where I was, looking for the Bean when I heard… Hhhmm. Orchestra! Following my ears, I saw people looking from the sides towards what turned to be the stage for the pavilion. It took me while to even appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the structure itself since I was focused on the music.
This is an open air arena. Perfect for summer nights where you can enjoy music with friends under a blanket of blue clouds or starry skies with a glass of wine or just soda water.
The architecture reminds of me Los Angeles’ Disney Concert Hall. Same concept. Very modern, sleek, classy.
Just another reason to fall in love with the city of Chicago.

Why is Chicago such an amazing city to be in during the summer? It’s not just because the temps are up and moods are brighter — the Pritzker Pavilion celebrates the unbeatable combination of art, architecture, and music under a blanket of gorgeous sky, with the urban cityscape starring as the backdrop.
It’s as close to perfect as it gets.
Though you might be tempted to nab fixed seats closer to the stage, the best bang for the buck lies on the Great Lawn. There, you can lay down a blanket, sprawl out with your dearest friends while imbibing wine or that homemade sangria and snacking on the goodies you packed up in your picnic basket… all the while listening to the sweet sounds of Andrew Bird or basking in the epic Ray LaMontagne and David Gray pairing (don’t be jealous). The acoustics are stellar (even from the middle of the lawn) and the ambiance is magical. Friends, this is what summer is all about!
The City also hosts a slew of free concerts after work, so check the official site on the regular. The Pavilion makes me miss being a Chicagoan — enjoy it!

This is amazing! It’s in the Millennium park and guess what Its an outdoor theatre. The architecture and the design is stunning and impressive. Frank Gehry designed this music venue and also the beautiful metallic looking serpentine bridge beside it.

What a wonderful venue! I caught a concert here randomly when walking through the park and was so glad that there is a green area for you to simply chill and listen to the great music. Let’s also not forget the great view of the city in this pavilion!
The acoustics are amazing and they really do take advantage of all the outdoor park space. Would definitely recommend you come here and check this out!

If Crown Fountain is the most fun & unexpected attraction in Millennium Park (
) then the Pritzker Pavilion is hands down the most beautiful.
Made of brushed stainless steel ribbons & pipes, it is another gorgeous creation by Frank Gehry and criss/​cross pattern extending over the lawn just enhances the beauty of the structure. Another must see in Chicago & Millennium Park.