Chicago in August

August in Chicago is typically hot, sweaty, sticky and crowded. Along with July, it's peak tourist season, and it's easy to see why. Despite the heat, the city comes alive in summer, with hot days made for cooling off at the beach or sweating through a run on the Lakefront Trail, and sultry nights spent at a free concert in Grant Park or with a cold beer on a rooftop deck.

This page is for planning the trip, from the weather to when rooms get scarce. For festivals and day-by-day ideas, go to things to do in Chicago in August.

The weather

The official 1991-2020 normals from the National Weather Service at O'Hare give August an average high of 82.5°F and a low of 65.1°F, so the nights don't cool off much. It's a little cooler than July, the hottest month, but it's wetter, with about 4.25 inches of rain on average. Most of that comes as short, loud thunderstorms in the late afternoon that clear the air for an hour or two. O'Hare averages about 17 days a year at 90°F or above, and a humid August heat wave is when locals start hoping for one of those storms. Our Chicago weather page has the full month-by-month numbers.

Remember that O'Hare is miles inland. Right on the lake, a breeze off the water can make the beaches and Streeterville a few degrees more bearable than the West Loop.

Crowds and hotel prices

Summer is when hotels are priciest, and August weekends book up. Two events move the needle more than anything else. Lollapalooza takes over Grant Park for four days in late July or the first days of August, with more than 170 artists on eight stages, and the Loop and South Loop hotels closest to the park fill fast. The Chicago Air and Water Show takes a weekend in mid-August and packs the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street. If your dates overlap either one, book your room early, or stay somewhere with an easy L ride in. Our where to stay in Chicago page breaks down the neighborhoods.

Weekdays are always easier than weekends, for rooms and for beach space. For exact festival dates in a given year, check the city's festival dates page before you book.

What to pack

Pack for heat. Shorts, light dresses, breathable shirts and sandals or sneakers you can walk in all day. Bring a swimsuit and sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Throw in one long-sleeve layer, because the museums, theaters and the L are air-conditioned hard, and an evening on the water can turn cool. A small umbrella is worth the space for those afternoon storms. More in what to wear in Chicago in summer.

What to do

There are so many things to do in Chicago in August, and you can pick activities that help you beat the heat or ones that help you embrace it. Cool down at one of the city's beaches, which have lifeguards through Labor Day, shop for peak-season produce at a farmers market, see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, dance at a street festival, or get out on the river on an architecture cruise.

Besides Lollapalooza and the air show, August brings Northalsted Market Days in Lakeview (see gay Chicago) and the Bud Billiken Parade on the South Side, the city's back-to-school celebration since 1929. When the heat gets to be too much, head indoors to one of the city's museums, or see our tips on ways to beat the heat.

>> things to do in Chicago in August
>> Chicago in summer
>> attending the Chicago Air and Water Show
>> holidays and events in Chicago

Photo by gLangille