Historic Navy Pier is Chicago's lakefront playground

Fireworks BIGart at Navy Pier Rides & Attractions Entertainment Boats/Cruises Buy Tickets Online Calendar of Events Navy Pier Home	Things to do - Special Events The fun never ends at Navy Pier! Navy Pier produces dozens of special events year-round including seasonal celebrations, festivals, concerts, and cultural events featuring traditional music and dance from around the globe. The New York Times College Life Fair Thursday, May 31 Festival Hall A 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (break between 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.) An innovative introduction to the full breadth of the college experience, from navigating admissions to academics to campus living, for high school sophomores and juniors. Explore hundreds of exhibitors, meet with representatives from a wide range of educational institutions, hear from expert speakers and have fun. Admission is free. Presented in conjunction with the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling and Chicago Public Schools. For more information, click here. BIGart at Navy Pier May - October Gateway Park Navy Pier welcomes BIGart at Navy Pier, an annual, free outdoor art exhibition at the Pier. For this year’s exhibition, Navy Pier is pleased to partner with the Gagosian Gallery to display the artistic talent of world-renowned artist Roy Lichtenstein. A signature Lichtenstein sculpture – *Brushstroke Group* – will be one of the sculptures on display. In the weeks to come, sculptures and artistic works of various sizes, designs and materials from international artists will make their way to Navy Pier and welcome visitors to Gateway Park through October. Click here for more information. Photo credit: © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, 2007. Courtesy of the Estate and Gagosian Gallery Creation of the Sand Mandala: Tibetan Monks from Drepung Gomang Monastery August 13-15, 2012 Crystal Gardens Free Admission Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Daily Chanting at 6:00 p.m. Navy Pier welcomes the Tibetan Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery (Mundgod, India) as they make a stop in Chicago during their 2012 U.S. Tour. Over three days, witness the monks carefully construct a Mandala – or sand painting – by pouring the dyed sand particles into intricate patterns onto a flat platform, forming a diagram that represents the principles and traditions of Buddhism. Each day at 6:00pm, the monks will chant and play traditional instruments. On Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 6:00pm, after the sand painting is completed, the event will culminate with a Closing Ceremony and the Dismantling of the Sand Mandala. For more information on Drepung Gomang, visit www.gomang.org.

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