Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Mark Kelly today to kick off summer programming along the Chicago Riverwalk during a day-long celebration. The Riverwalk programming will run through October with a number of activities, including “Dance of the Bridges,” Chicago Park District Fishing at the Jetty and parades with puppets. The opening celebration will include Chicago Architecture Foundation walking tours, a traveling music cruise and a pyrotechnic display.
 
“The Chicago Riverwalk will be bustling with activity this summer, offering a variety of venue and spaces for residents and visitors to experience the City’s next recreational frontier,” said Mayor Emanuel. “With a backdrop of our city’s iconic architecture and brides, the activities along this urban river provide a uniquely-Chicago experience for people from all walks of life to enjoy.”
 
On the 2nd Tuesday of every month, vendors, restaurants and tour operators will offer additional programming and discounts. Among these monthly events, performances and promotions include the Traveling Music Cruise and a live painting project with local artists sponsored by City Winery as part of Chicago’s Year of Public Art.
 
“Our Chicago Riverwalk celebration and summer series provide an unparalleled diversity of music, art, architecture puppetry and dining,” said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “We welcome Chicagoans and visitors alike to escape the everyday and embrace Chicago from a new vantage point.”
 
Completed in the fall of 2016, the Chicago Riverwalk (Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street) is a 1.25-mile promenade through the heart of the city and a summertime destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike. Summer season events are free unless otherwise noted. For more information about the Chicago Riverwalk and a complete schedule of events, visit chicagoriverwalk.us.
 
The Chicago Riverwalk Summer Kick-Off Celebration is presented by the City of Chicago and produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility Management, Choose Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the vendors and boat tour operators along the Riverwalk.
 
As a connected path system, the Chicago Riverwalk provides both continuity and variety for visitors. The distinct programs and forms of each typological space allow for diverse experiences on the river ranging from dining opportunities to expansive public event programming to new amenities for human-powered craft. It is comprised of six spaces, or “rooms,” that include the Marina Plaza, the Cove, the River Theater, the Water Plaza, the Jetty and the Riverbank.
 
The Riverwalk complements the work Mayor Emanuel has done to increase river access for Chicagoans and underscores his commitment to making the river the next great recreational frontier. Increasing open space is a key component in Building on Burnham, the Mayor's comprehensive plan to invest in the Lakefront, the Chicago River, natural areas and recreational opportunities in neighborhoods across the city.

  
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