{"id":2853,"date":"2015-09-25T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T13:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=2853"},"modified":"2019-10-08T13:36:59","modified_gmt":"2019-10-08T18:36:59","slug":"4-reasons-to-attend-the-great-chicago-fire-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/4-reasons-to-attend-the-great-chicago-fire-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Reasons to Attend the Great Chicago Fire Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all heard about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and how a large portion of the city burned down over the course of two days. At the time, the blow was devastating, leaving a majority of the central business district in ruins and over 100,000 people without homes.<\/p>\n

With the echo of the fire burning in its eyes, Chicago fought back by rebuilding and growing into one of the most populated and economically important cities in the country. The city was transformed behind esteemed architect Daniel Burnham\u2019s vision, and the Chicago you see before your eyes today can largely be attributed to both the fire and Burnham himself.<\/p>\n

In short, the fire was a disaster in the short run, though it can easily be argued that a much greater metropolis rose from the ashes as time went on. In remembrance of our great history, Chicago set out to create a festival to commemorate the day that our course was forever altered, dubbed the Great Chicago Fire Festival. While last year\u2019s inaugural version ultimately failed to impress, the city has reallocated a portion of their budget to relocating and upgrading this year\u2019s fest, and it looks much improved already. Here\u2019s why you should check it out.<\/p>\n

1) There\u2019s Something for Everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fest ultimately culminates in the burning of houselike structures and a huge firework show, but before that happens, you\u2019ll get to take part in a more immersive event. The festival includes the following:<\/p>\n