Catch the Sweet Sounds of Free Summer Music

Summer is here and the music is easy.  Patch scouted the area for free concerts and found plenty! So grab a blanket, pack a picnic and take advantage of the season.

The Wilmette Park District hosts the Mallinckrodt Park Concert Series on Sunday afternoons under the Centennial Gazebo at 1040 Ridge Road. Concerts begin at 2 p.m. and will be held on June 26, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14. 

The Northbrook Park District kicked off Park Fest 2011 on June 7 and will continue filling the with music for all ages on Tuesday nights through July 19. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and food service is available from local area vendors throughout the season beginning at 6 p.m.  A great playground, picnic tables and plenty of lawn make for a fun summer evening. 

Deerfield’s park district offers a musical Summer Sampler on Sundays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. This free musical entertainment series is held at and runs from June 13 through Aug. 22. Bring a picnic or purchase pizza from . Geared toward younger audiences, On Wednesdays from July 7 through August 18, the Deerfield Park District hosts Eat to the Beat at from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesdays from July 7 through Aug. 18. There is a great playground adjacent to the pavilion and plenty of picnic tables or buy lunch at . 

Thursday evening summer concerts are free in , 600 Central Ave. in Highland Park. Music begins at 7 p.m. and the series runs from June 16 through Aug. 18.

The Glenview Park District offers Bearfoot in the Park: Free Outdoor Concerts on Wednesday evenings at the  gazebo on Lehigh Avenue at Prairie Street. Held from June 15 through Aug. 10, the concerts begin at 7p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. Bring folding chairs, blankets and picnics. Little Bearfoot Children’s Concerts are held on Thursday mornings July 7-28 at 10:30 a.m. at (behind on Chestnut Ave.) This summer entertainment is just right for kids and will have your little ones wiggling and giggling. 

Also in Glenview, the Glen Town Center offers the Summer Sounds Concert Series beginning  June 7and running through Aug. 30.  Held on Tuesday nights at Navy Park in The Glen, free activities for kids begin at 4 p.m., including face painting, a balloon artist and a moon jump.  Music begins at 6:30 p.m.

In Winnetka, the Winnetka Park District is hosting a free concert at July 17 from 1 – 3 p.m. 

For more music on the beach, check out the Glencoe Park District, which sponsors summer concerts at Glencoe Beach June 12, July 10 and July 31. Admission to the beach is free for Glencoe residents and their guests after 6 p.m. or $5 for adults and $4 for children.