Fun Things to Do in Chicago on Memorial Day

Have Monday off from work? Here are some fun ways to spend your Memorial Day in Chicago and start the summer off right. (But, then what’s a better way to kick off Summer 2010 than a Blackhawks win this weekend against Philadelphia? Three cheers for the Blackhawks road to the Stanley Cup and their winning performance Saturday night.)

Fun ways to spend your Memorial Day in Chicago include:

Memorial Day Parade: March through Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood with members of the Wellington-Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society (W.O.O.G.M.S) and the Jesse White Drum Corps. Tip: After the parade, the Jesse White Tumblers entertain on the front lawn of St. Joseph Hospital. Parade kicks off from 500 W. Wellington Ave. at 11 a.m.

Explore the Ocean: See sea lions, beluga whales and more ocean wonders at the Shedd Aquarium’s Oceanarium exhibit (1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.) (map)

Flower Power: Enjoy various flowers and plants, including begonias and hibiscus and other flowering wonders at the Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr) (map)

Music at Millennium Park: Like 90s indie rock music? Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) hosts a reunion show for the Champaign, IL band Hum as part of the “Downtown Sound series.” Show starts at 6:30 p.m. (map)

Cruise the River: See the best of Chicago’s architecture aboard the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise (112 E. Wacker Dr.), offering 90 minutes of more than 50 historic and architectural sites along the Chicago River. (map)

For Art Lovers: Admire more than 100 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints in the world premiere Matisse exhibit at the Art Institute (111 S. Michigan Ave.). (map)

Take a Balloon Ride: Enjoy the sights of Chicago from over 300 feet in the air in a helium-filled balloon at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.).  (map)

Photo credit: SXC