Photo Credit: gapersblock.com

Hurray! It’s finally summer and for the first time this year, it actually feels like summer in Chicago. To celebrate the occasion, we though we’d make a guide to some of the city’s best summer music festivals.

Of course we tackle the majors like Lollapalooza and Pitchfork Music Fest. But we also will highlight some of the lesser known summer fests. Want to catch Ben Folds weeks before his Lolla appearance? Check out Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party on July 10 & 11. Achin’ for some Local H? Try West Fest 2009 on July 11 & 12. The complete guide after the jump:

Chicago Soul Music Festival
WHEN: June 26: 5pm – 10pm, June 27 & 28: 3pm – 10pm
WHERE: Union Park located 1501 W. Randolph St. in Chicago’s West Loop
HOW MUCH: TDB (Metromix lists admission at $10)
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

29th Annual Taste Of Chicago
WHEN: June 26 – July 2: 11am – 9pm, July 3: 11am – 9:30pm, July 4: 11am – 9pm, July 5: 11am – 6pm
WHERE: Grant Park located at 300 S. Columbia Drive
HOW MUCH: Admission is FREE! But $8 for 12 Food & Drink tickets.
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

12th Annual Chicago Folk and Roots Festival
WHEN: July 11 & 12: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: Welles Park located at 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave. in Chicago’s Lincoln Squre Neighborhood
HOW MUCH: $8 suggested donation for adults, $4 for children and seniors
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party
WHEN: July 10 & 11: 5:30pm – 10:30 pm
WHERE: Madison & Des Plaines Streets in Chicago’s West Loop
HOW MUCH: $35 advance, $40 at the door. (21 & Over only)
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Rock Around The Block
WHEN: July 11: 12pm – 10pm, July 12: 12pm – 9pm
WHERE: 3200 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview Neighborhood
HOW MUCH: $5
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

West Fest 2009
WHEN: July 11 & 12: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: 800 N. Damen Ave. in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village
HOW MUCH: $5 Donation
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Pitchfork Music Festival
WHEN: July 17: 5pm – 10pm, July 18 & 19: 1pm – 10pm
WHERE: Union Park located at 1501 W. Randolph St. in Chicago’s West Loop
HOW MUCH: Single Day tickets $35 – Sunday tickets and three-day passes are SOLD OUT.
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

41st Annual Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival
WHEN: July 18 & 19: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: 2200 N. Sheffield Ave.
HOW MUCH: $6-$10
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Taste of Lincoln Avenue
WHEN: July 25 & 26: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: N. Lincoln Ave between Fullerton & Wrightwood
HOW MUCH: $7-$10 Donation.
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Wicker Park Fest
WHEN: July 25 & 26: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: Milwaukee Ave. between North Avenue and Wood Street in Chicago’s Bucktown Neighborhood
HOW MUCH: $5 Donation
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Celebrate Clark Street
WHEN: July 26: 1pm – 11pm
WHERE: Clark Street between Morse and Estes in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood
HOW MUCH: FREE!
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Retro On Roscoe
WHEN: August 1 & 2: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: 2000 W. Roscoe in Chicago’s Roscoe Village
HOW MUCH: $5
LINEUP & ADDIITONAL INFO

Lollapalooza
WHEN: August 7, 8 & 9: 11am – 11pm
WHERE: Grant Park located at 300 S. Columbia Drive
HOW MUCH: $205 for a three-day pass, $80 for single day tickets
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival
WHEN: August 8: 12pm – 10pm, August 9: 12pm – 9pm
WHERE: Racine Street between Fullerton & Webster Avenues in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood
HOW MUCH: $5 Donation
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Green Music Fest
WHEN: August 15 & 16: 12pm – 11pm
WHERE: Eckhart Park located at 1330 W. Chicago Avenue
HOW MUCH: $11.50 advance, $15 at the door
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Lake View Music Fest
WHEN: August 22 & 23: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: Sheffield & Addison Streets in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood
HOW MUCH: $5 Donation before 5pm and $7 Donation after 5pm
LINEUP & ADDITIONAL INFO

Chicago Jazz Festival
WHEN: September 4, 5 & 6: 12pm – 10pm
WHERE: Grant Park located at 300 S. Columbia Drive
HOW MUCH: FREE
LINE UP & ADDITIONAL INFO