Chicago tops Orbitz list of July 4th destinations

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago is the No. 1 travel destination in the country this Fourth of July weekend, according to travel website Orbitz. From concerts, to sporting events, to festivals, the list is long this weekend, and the crowds will be huge.

The stage is set for a busy holiday weekend in Chicago. Soldier Field is about to make music history as the Grateful Dead play their final three concerts ever on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Outside the stadium, vendors were prepping their wares Thursday. Dillon, Jessica Flueres and John Noll are among the many "Deadheads" in from out of town.

"The music's a big part of it. It always was. It's kind of been the soundtrack to my life especially," Noll said.

"It's going to be amazing. We've got great friends, East and West Coast, and looking forward to it," Flueres said.

The Grateful Dead are not the only show in town. The Cubs and Sox are both at home this weekend.

Thousands will descend on Jackson Park on the South Side for the Chosen Few house musical festival.

And though it was windy along the lake on Thursday, sunny skies are expected for the weekend, meaning the beaches will be full.

"It's very active. You can tell there's a lot of stuff going on. We've heard a lot about festivals and different things," said Lisa Almand, who is visiting from Oklahoma.

Public transit is your best bet, especially if you're headed to Navy Pier, where more than 100,000 people are expected Saturday for a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show to cap a day of fun.

"Every year we try to go bigger and better, and so we're doing it again this year. It'll be an extended fireworks show, patriotic of course," said Nick Shields, a Navy Pier spokesperson.

Wherever you go this weekend, leave plenty of time. Judging by the amount of car and foot traffic already seen on Thursday, it's going to be slow getting around.