Event Operations

The Mayor's Office of Special Events Operations Department is responsible for coordinating the logistical needs of the City of Chicago's internationally renowned downtown lakefront events and music festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Gospel Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Air & Water Show, Chicago Jazz Festival, Viva Latin Music Festival, the Jumping Jack program, Bike Chicago, the Holiday Treelighting Ceremony and the Ethnic Market.

The Operations Department is also responsible for overseeing and trouble shooting the logistical needs of newer events including Celtic Fest Chicago, Great Chicago Places & Spaces, Chicagoween, Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival and the Mayor's Cup Soccer Youth Tournament.

The event operations staff also coordinates the logistical needs of extraordinary events including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, U.S. Congressional Weekend, six Chicago Bulls NBA Championship rallies, the "Welcome Home Parade" for returning Desert Shield/Desert Storm troops and many public events surrounding the 1994 FIFA Men's World Cup Soccer Championship(including the "Chicago Welcomes the World-Parade of Nations"), the 1996 Democratic National Convention and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Championship.