Dazzling demonstrations of the world's finest civilian and naval aircraft thrill crowds along the lakefront during the awesome and awe-inspiring Chicago Air & Water Show. Held annually in mid-August, this epic show isn't just the country's oldest and largest free air show - it's the largest spectator event in the U.S. Some activities, including water displays, take place at North Avenue Beach – but there's plenty of seating for the 2+ million people who line the lakefront from Oak Street to Fullerton Avenue and beyond to watch the fast-paced action in the sky and lake.

Audiences look forward to seeing such spectacular performers as USAF Thunderbirds, Blue Knights, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Lima Lima Flight Team, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, Shell Extreme Water Show, the F-22 Raptor, and many others. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Visitors from around the globe join Chicagoans as they spill outdoors every summer and head to beautiful Millennium Park and Grant Park to experience world-class music that celebrates various genres and cultures. And, to add to the appeal, these outstanding festivals are free and family-friendly.

Chicago Gospel Music Festival Opening the city's music festival season is Chicago Gospel Music Festival. For more than 25 years, this early June event in the city where gospel was born has celebrated with some 50 performances by such artists as Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Fantasia, acclaimed church choirs and many more. Other family-friendly activities include a gospel art fair. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

The city shows its deep blue roots during the world's largest free blues festival - the Chicago Blues Festival. Over three days in mid-June, more than 640,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the "Blues Capital of the World" as they listen to blues greats on three stages. Past performers include Ray Charles, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, and Koko Taylor, among countless others.(Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Grant Park gets spicy during iViva! Chicago Latin Music Festival. During this vibrant late-August event, talented musicians fill the air with the sounds of salsa, reggaeton, mariachi, norteña, Spanish pop y más. Latin food, arts and crafts, and special activities add more flavor to this festive weekend, the largest event of its kind in the Midwest.(Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

It's always "cooler by the lake" during the annual Chicago Jazz Festival. A Labor Day weekend tradition for more than 30 years, this event – the oldest of the lakefront festivals - celebrates the city's rich jazz heritage and showcases different genres of jazz music and the diverse talents of local, national and international musicians.(Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

The music and culture of seven Celtic nations are celebrated at Celtic Fest Chicago, held during the middle of September. Different Celtic instruments are highlighted in two tents, and the festival also features dance performances with lessons for the public and showcases young students who are keeping the Celtic music scene alive.(Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Chicago's World Music Festival is an exhilarating example of how music connects people from diverse cultures. Offering the best in international music in multiple city venues (some free, some ticketed), this late September festival offers more than 60 events featuring such artists as Amazones, Chango Spasiuk, Eastern Blok, Haale, L. Subramaniam,  Lekan Babalola, Puerto Plata, and many others. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Finally, in a city where even the mayor enjoys a little country, it's fitting that outdoor festival season ends with the Chicago Country Music Festival. Featuring top country performers such as Gretchen Wilson and Taylor Swift, this early October event attracts 100,000-plus attendees who enjoy music on three stages, a dancing tent, Kids Corral, delicious food and more. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Chicago's strong ties to Ireland and love of great celebrations make it the perfect place to spend Saint Patrick's Day. Festivities begin with the dyeing of the river when a boatful of local leprechauns pours orange powder into the Chicago River, which then magically turns green! Your best vantage points for seeing the waterway in all its emerald glory are aboard a special Shoreline Sightseeing cruise – where you can enjoy traditional fare while you learn about the role of the Irish in shaping modern Chicago – or from the upper level bridges at Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive.

Then head over to Columbus for the downtown Chicago Saint Patrick's Day Parade which usually begins at noon and proceeds north from its step-off point at Balbo and Columbus with the main viewing stand located at Buckingham Fountain. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

To experience the Far Eastern charm in the Midwest go over to Chinatown, where you will find a wide choice of eateries, bakeries and restaurants that serve various styles of Chinese cuisine. The town is speckled with small shops that carry books and gifts. A good time to visit is around the Chinese New Year when the mood is festive and the streets are adorned in Chinese décor. Visit Chinatown Square, and see the sculptures of animals in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinatown Mural is a famous mural that depicts the history of Chinese immigrants in United States. Most people head out to Wentworth Avenue for shopping and various dining options. If you want to look into the history of Chinese people in Chicago stop by the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago.

If you are somewhere near the Chicago River, go down to the 19th Street and the South Branch of the Chicago River to visit the 12-acre Ping Tom Memorial Park. The park is designed as a traditional Chinese-style garden, complete with moon shaped walls, stone floors and beautiful reflective ponds. It is owned and operated by the Chicago Park District. Here you can get a closer look at Chinese aesthetics. In summer, the park keeps really busy and the Dragon Boat Race, a popular event, also draws a lot of visitors. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

The contributions of great African Americans with Chicago connections have shaped virtually every arena of society in the city and the world – from early activists Ferdinand L. Barnett and his wife Ida B. Wells; politicians Oscar De Priest and Ed Wright; to literary artists Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Lorraine Hansberry; boxing champion Joe Louis; Democratic congressman William L. Dawson; Mayor Harold Washington; Barack Obama, America's first African American candidate for U.S. President, and countless other History Makers.

Chicago's diverse black music scene– molded by Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of Gospel; jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Alberta Hunter, and Joseph "King" Oliver and rhythm & blues icons Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy – continues to send shockwaves around the globe. See where history was – and continues to be – made via City of Chicago tours which spotlight treasured landmarks in historic Bronzeville and other neighborhoods settled by hundreds of thousands of African Americans during "The Great Migration" and at the DuSable Museum of African American History – the first of its type in the country to preserve and interpret the experiences and achievements of African Americans. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

You don't need to see the gateway which proclaims "Bienvenidos a Little Village" to know that you're entering a neighborhood pulsing with Latino culture. In La Villita and neighboring Pilsen, the sights, sounds and smells vividly evoke residents' Central and South American heritage. About 28 percent of Chicagoans have Latino roots, and their diversity, number and contributions to the city grow every day – especially throughout the arts.

One of Chicago's most brilliant arts centers, Pilsen emphasizes public art. Stunning murals provide an unmistakable connection to the Mexican muralist tradition. Studio and gallery tours, many with musical performances, crowd Chicago Arts District's busy calendar. And the magnificent National Museum of Mexican Art - the nation's largest Latino arts institution – offers a dazzling exploration of Mexican culture from ancient times to the present. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)

Gay pride is at home throughout the city and in communities such as Uptown and Andersonville – but it's most visible in Boystown, where rainbow pylons installed in 1998 are a colorful invitation to the epicenter of gay life in Chicago. The area (in the vicinity of North Halsted, Clark, Belmont, and Broadway) is a beautiful neighborhood with many gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses – shops, galleries, restaurants, nightlife, and more – interspersed with residences.

One important focal point for this burgeoning community is the new Center on Halsted which meets a wide range of social, recreational, cultural, and social service needs of youth and adults in a safe, inviting and nurturing environment. Northalsted is also the stepping off point for the annual and amazing Pride Parade and uninhibited North Halsted Halloween Parade as well as the site of Northalsted Market Days, the Midwest's largest two-day street fair – all spectacular events and all gaining steadily in participation and audience appreciation. (Courtesy of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)