In August of 2021, Friends hosted the Summer Float Party to celebrate the river’s continued water quality improvements. Dozens of elected officials, families, and friends came together to float on the North Shore Channel on an array of inner tubes, floating loungers, and inflatable toys. A live DJ created a fun party atmosphere as floaters soaked up the sun and reveled in the novelty of floating on the river.

The Summer Float Party was an expansion of our annual Big Jump, where elected officials jumped in the Chicago River at Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown. Started in 2018 in partnership with MWRD commissioner Josina Morita, this event demonstrated the need for a swimmable river. Residents and visitors who experienced the Big Jump expressed their desire to join the fun, so we opened it up to everyone in 2021.

We hope the Summer Float Party becomes a staple event for Chicagoans for years to come and truly changes their perception of our river system. Check back for Summer Float Party 2022 details in July.