Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced Chicago Friday Night Flights, a summer-long series of events that will highlight Chicago’s thriving craft beer scene. Produced by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild and Choose Chicago, the six festivals from June to August will showcase neighborhood breweries and celebrate Chicago’s beer scene, which has become an epicenter of the global craft beer movement. Chicago’s neighborhoods are home to more than 60 breweries featuring some of the nation’s best award-winning beers, creating a diverse array of styles.

“Chicago’s thriving craft beer scene is second to none and reaches neighborhoods across the city,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Friday Night Flights will showcase the world-class breweries found in Chicago’s neighborhoods while serving up top-notch local beverages for Chicagoans throughout the summer.”

Each event will include a tasting pass for purchase allowing participants to sample various beers from the participating breweries. Local entertainment and food for purchase will round out each Chicago Friday Night Flight experience, making each event a true taste of the neighborhoods.

“Chicago Friday Night Flights is a perfect opportunity for visitors to explore Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods and sample a variety of craft beer produced by award-winning breweries,” David Whitaker, Choose Chicago President and CEO said. “Chicago’s amazing craft beer culture is another reason Chicago is the culinary capital of America, including being the home to the only
Michelin rated brewpub in the country, Band of Bohemia, awarded a Michelin Star in November.”

“The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is proud of the craft breweries that are located throughout the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago, from Lincoln Square to the Ukrainian Village to Pullman,” Danielle D’Alessandro, executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild said. “We are excited to partner with Choose Chicago to bring this series of community events and appreciate the Mayor's efforts to promote and support our local craft brewers.”

The Friday Night Flights events will begin on Friday, June 2nd with subsequent “Flights” on June 16th, July 7th, July 21st, August 11th and August 25th.

• Friday, June 2nd: Pilsen, Bridgeport & Pullman, 2700 Block of South Eleanor Street
• Friday, June 16th: Milwaukee Avenue Corridor, 2700 Block of North Milwaukee Avenue
• Friday, July 7th: Lincoln Park & Lakeview
• Friday, July 21st: Loop, South Loop & Bronzeville, 2300 Block of South Indiana Avenue
• Friday, August 11th: West Loop & West Town, 300 Block of North Sangamon Street
• Friday, August 25th: Ravenswood Corridor, 4700 Block of North Ravenswood Avenue

For full details and to pre-purchase tickets visit www.chicagofridaynightflights.com.

The announcement will be made during Beer Under Glass – an event to kick off Chicago Craft Beer Week. The Week kicks off with one of the premier craft beer events in the city, “Beer Under Glass,” on Thursday, May 18 at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.

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