Chicago sees busy holiday weekend with Sueños Festival, Navy Pier fireworks, more events
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicagoans are emerging from the cold winter months and "Summertime Chi" is making its highly-anticipated return.
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Hibernation is over with Memorial Day weekend festivities in full force across the city.
"Summertime Chi is the best... no city like it," Chicago resident Matthew Fakhouri said.
There's action everywhere, and one of the premier events of the summer is Sueños Music Festival, which was blasting over Grant Park Saturday through Sunday night.
"We're excited to see the Latin culture around here, you know, we're big Hispanics and we love seeing our fellow Latin members out here and enjoying themselves having a good time," said Jose Granados who is visiting from Indiana.
There are more than 25 Latin artists on deck for the two-day event, and there is of course all of the phenomenal traditional food available with dozens of vendors on hand.
"Everyone coming together... the culture," attendee Jerry Ocampo said. "It's amazing... amazing."
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ABC7 spoke with some people as they entered the festival, and they explain what makes this weekend so special.
"It's great to see the community coming together over an event like this... especially in a place like this," attendee Jose Granados said. 'It's a really nice city and makes it stand out you know... makes you feel brown and proud, it's awesome man."
On the Southwest Side, people brought out their best dance moves under the sun at Mole de Mayo in Pilsen.
"Beautiful... get out there," attendee Rick Gutierrez said. "The music is great... food is great... drinks are great... having a good time and enjoying it."
With Memorial Day weekend comes the return of one of Chicago's best traditions fireworks at Navy Pier every Saturday night.
They happen every Wednesday and Saturday through the summer.
"It's romantic it's beautiful ... it feels like a sense of community... festive again in the summer," Fakhouri said.
The first show of the season had people packing the lakefront to take in the special atmosphere.
"It's amazing, just living downtown, it comes alive," resident Abigail Cajiyon said. "So summertime is where you wanna be in Chicago."
Meanwhile, the city hosted Memorial Day events to remember the fallen.
There was a lot more going on for the holiday weekend in Chicago, with a number of street festivals in downtown.
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Also on Saturday, the Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest kicked off in Lakeview East. In addition to the music, there was plenty of food, drinks and artists. The festival continues Sunday.
Maxwell Street Market opens Sunday, back at its original location for the first time in 30 years. The market moved as UIC expanded.
Earlier this month, business owners announced it was returning to its old home on Maxwell Street in University Village, but the new market will set up shop for six days only.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month from Sunday through the end of October.
Also, the Chicago Sky hosted a game Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena.
