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July 30, 2020 · 11:14 am

Chicago’s Navy Pier

Navy Pier Navy Pier is the People’s Pier with plenty of dining options, unparalleled views of the city and lake from the spacious South Dock, and rides aboard the grand Centennial Wheel.

Take a boat ride on the lake and river, and enjoy free year-round arts and cultural programming.

Finding great music in the city doesn’t have to be expensive. Navy Pier hosts a free music and dance series Live on the Lake! during Chicago’s summer months. Set against the gorgeous waters of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is one of the more popular attractions with food and activities to please all ages.

600 E. Grand Avenue
(312) 595-7437

At one time, Navy Pier was a College Campus for the University of Illinois. It opened on October 21, 1946 to 4000 students.

The majestic grandeur of maritime history sometimes visits Navy Pier when Tall Ships® Chicago dock here. This festival was held from July 27-31, 2018.

Navy Pier proudly welcomes an international fleet of Tall Ships during the five-day festival. Visitors can walk the festival grounds to view the Tall Ships, board a Tall Ship for a dockside tour or get a taste of life at sea with a sail-away cruise on select Tall Ships. This nautical event also includes fun-filled festivities and educational opportunities for the whole family.

What is a Tall Ship?

A tall ship is a large traditionally rigged sailing vessel. A tall ship can be a schooner, ketch, sloop, barque, brigantine, barquentine, or a full-rigged ship depending on the number of masts and the cut of the sails. Traditional rigged may include square rigs and gaff rigs with separate topmasts and topsails. There will be 14 tall ships at Navy Pier for the festival.

Parade of Sail

The pageantry kicks-off with an opening day Parade of Sail on Wednesday, August 7 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Lake Michigan with Chicago’s skyline forming the perfect backdrop as the historic Tall Ships sail into dock at Navy Pier. You can even sail on a Tall Ship during the Parade of Sail and stand on deck as you get a breathtaking one-of-a-kind view of the ships sailing past Navy Pier.

Chicago Match Cup

Sailing of another kind will take place inside the festival grounds as 12 of the world’s best teams compete against each other in the Chicago Match Cup. This professional match race sailing competition is the only U.S. stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour.

Click here for the festival map.

Navy Pier is an official Great Lakes port of call as part of Tall Ship America’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2013 series. Commemorating the military events of the War of 1812, the series will be an event of numbers – two countries, over 25 participating tall ships, 22 port appearances, five races and millions of visitors.