Venetian Night In Brief:
Venetian Night is the oldest city sponsored event and is very popular -- hundreds of thousands of people attend the lighted boat parade and impressive fireworks display.Where:
Lake Michigan shoreline between Monroe Street and Roosevelt RoadWhen:
Venetian Night 2009 Date: July 25, 2009Time:
8:15 p.m.Admission:
Admission is free.Getting to Venetian Night By Public Transportation:
CTA bus lines #145 or #151 to Monroe/Michigan stop. Monroe Harbor is also a short walk east from Loop Red and Blue line subway stops.Parking at Venetian Night:
There are several nearby garages: Parking garages are located at the Millennium Park Garage accessed on Columbus between Randolph and Monroe, the Monroe Street Garage at Monroe & Columbus, and the Grant Park garage with entrances at Michigan
and Madison or Michigan and Randolph. Parking is also available at Navy PierAbout the 52nd Annual Venetian Night 2009:
Venetian Night, named due to the fact that it is modeled after the boat parades in Venice, Italy, started in 1958 as part of Chicago's Lakefront Festival. While that festival is now defunct, Venetian Night lives on. About 30 boats get decked out with lights and decorations, and form a parade along the shore of Lake Michigan between the Shedd Aquarium (Roosevelt Road) and the Chicago Yacht Club (Monroe Street).
After the parade, the city puts on a great fireworks display at Monroe Harbor accompanied by music provided by local radio station WXRT (93.1).
