navy pier supports the bitter jester music festival

Historic Navy Pier is an iconic thread in the fabric of Chicago. As the world's largest pier and a top leisure and cultural destination, it attracts more than nine million guests each year. We are proud to offer a diverse variety of public programs year-round. There’s something for everyone, from free fireworks to theater, art, dance, cultural celebrations, cruises on Lake Michigan, kids’ activities, and, of course, live music.

Since 2015, Navy Pier has been proud to partner with the not-for-profit Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, NFP. It’s become a yearly tradition for the Pier to close out its summer “Live on the Lake” music series with a showcase featuring some of the very best of the Bitter Jester Music Festival.

This exciting opportunity to headline at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden is part of Bitter Jester's annual prize offering for musicians. On any given day, an average of around 25,000 people will be strolling along the Pier (even more on holidays) and the Bitter Jester Labor Day concert is always a crowd-pleaser.

Over the years we have enjoyed hosting new bands and also some returning favorites back for a second show. It’s especially fun to watch those returning groups explore different styles and witness their evolution as musicians. The talent and variety on display at the “Best Of” Bitter Jester concerts helps Navy Pier keep its programming fresh and helps drive food and drink sales at the Beer Garden as passers-by get drawn in by the music cascading down the Pier.

From a production standpoint, our staff always enjoys working with Bitter Jester. As a producer for a major venue, it’s nice to know I can expect a certain level of professionalism from Bitter Jester acts. Booking an unknown band can be a nerve-wracking experience (you just don’t know how a band will work or “plug in” to your space until you get them on your stage). But with Bitter Jester, it’s always a tightly run production with producers who bring great performers with them. You can tell that production quality is a main focus.

Throughout its 100+ years, Navy Pier has helped launch the careers of many talented artists. We hope these new bands can use this opportunity to further their own dreams. The Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts is tremendous and we look forward to many more years of collaboration with their fantastic music fest.

Signed: Dylan Hankey, Director, Programming and Production, Arts, Culture, and Engagement Team, Navy Pier