Karizma, Anané, Tony Touch, Ash Lauryn, Jana Rush, Johnny Fiasco, Andrew Emil, DJ Slugo, Lori Branch, Wayne Williams, Alan King, Carla Prather and more are among the incredible number of artists booked for the 2024 Chicago House Music Festival, marking its return to Millennium Park and the Jay Pritzker Paviliion this June 2, 2024 from 10am-9pm.

Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago House Music Festival is a free all-day event held in the heart of the city where house music began.

“House Music is a global phenomenon born and raised in Chicago 40 years ago, with roots that go back even further,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a release. “Like Blues, Jazz, and Gospel that came before, House is our true cultural heritage as a city — it galvanizes Chicagoans, celebrates our diversity, innovation, and joy and invites the world to join in.”

This year’s festival features a blend of leading international house music artists with some of the best DJs in Chicago, with two stages featuring DJs playing into the night. In addition to the Main Stage at Pritzker Pavilion, the North Promenade of the Park features Queer Fam Pride Jam, a presentation from 10am to 1pm by queer dance party people Slo ‘Mo and South Loop children’s boutique Kido and featuring dance lessons, DJ sets and performances. Afterward, Viva Acid takes over at 1pm featuring Chicago DJs Andrew Emil, DJ Jes, Janesita, Jana Rush, Microdot, Flores Negras, Johnny Fiasco, DJ Slugo and host Luis Baro.

The main stage features Lori Branch, Ash Lauryn, Karizma, Anané, Tony Touch, Wayne Williams and Alan King, with hosts Carla Prather and Natty Figgs.

This year’s festival is preceded by 3 days of free house music-oriented events spread between the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) and Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Stage (600 E. Grand).

Launching the full weekend of events on Thursday May 30 is an Open House at the Chicago Cultural Center from 4 to 8pm, featuring a DJ Workshop on the 1st floor, a film screening of a house music documentary on the 2nd floor’s Claudia Cassidy Theatre, a house dance workshop with Boogie McClarin on the 2nd floor’s G.A.R. Hall and DJ Kenny Ray and CTRLZORA DJing on the 3rd floor. 

The Chicago House Music Conference returns on Friday May 31 at the Chicago Cultural Center from 5pm to 10pm featuring panels and workshops on industry events and capped by a keynote from Chicago house legend Steve “Silk” Hurley.

On Saturday June 1 is the Chicago House Music Festival Pre-party from 1pm to 10pm at Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Stage featuring DJs Mickey Oliver and Mario Smokin Diaz from the Hot Mix 5, Juliio Bishop b2b with DJ Frique, CTRLZORA, LoveBug, Sonny Daze, DeeJay Alicia, Stacy Kidd and Gene Hunt, with host Melissa DuPrey.

All of these events and the Chicago House Music Festival itself are free.

The Chicago House Music Festival is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and in 2024 is celebrated as part of Millennium Park’s 20th Anniversary Season. We’ll be posting up detailed line-ups and descriptions of each event shortly. For more info visit chicagohousemusicfestival.us.

Photo by Patrick L. Pyszka, Samuel Sotelo-Avila, City of Chicago