Festival Milestones
The Best of Chicago. Chicago at its Best.
1935
Festival Concerts performed in Grant Park Band Shell. Symphonic Concerts begin drawing crowds of 1.9 million for 65 concerts.
1944
Chicago Park District forms the Grant Park Orchestra under the direction of Principal Conductor Nikolai Malko.
1962
The Grant Park Chorus was established under the direction of Thomas Peck.
1978
Festival Concerts performed in Petrillo Bandshell.
2004
Millennium Park opens and the Grant Park Music Festival moves to the state-of-the-art Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.