Millennium Park 10th Anniversary Events Announced
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 28, 2014 9:00PM
Can you believe Millennium Park is celebrating its 10th anniversary this July? Time flies, for certain.
After several cost overruns and delays the much-heralded park opened to the public July 16, 2004 and has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions in the past decade. Last year, 4.75 million people visited Millennium Park for its free concerts, events and other cultural programs. (And we recognize there are several ticketed events there, as well.)
To honor the anniversary the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is hosting a 10th anniversary summer celebration featuring dozens of free events, new sculptures from Crown Fountain designer Jaume Plensa, a 40-foot LED screen to view films and documentaries and the parks annual array of indie rock, jazz, world music and other free concerts.
Plensa’s “1,000 Portraits” project, running June 18 through October 2015 in the South Boeing Gallery and at Michigan Avenue and Madison Street, will feature four 19-foot by 41-foot cast iron and resin sculptures inspired by portraits of four young girls and is billed as an extension of the original 1,000 portraits that illuminate Crown Fountain every day.
In the North Boeing Galleries, “Millennium Park: An Anatomy in Photographs” will feature over 50 images chronicling Millennium Park’s transformation from an old rail yard to what it is today.
See the full schedule of events here.