Help Celebrate Chicago’s Birthday at Our 3rd Annual Party

For the third year in a row, the McKinley Park neighborhood will celebrate our city by inviting all to Chicago’s Birthday Party: a free, collaborative, volunteer-run community event at the city’s center to celebrate and sing Happy Birthday to Chicago in multiple languages. Click here for past coverage.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is the 189th anniversary of the founding of the City of Chicago, and the planning process has started for its birthday party.

We’re beginning with the first Chicago’s Birthday Party Planning Meeting at 10 a.m. next Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 3658 S. Honore St. (right next to the Geographic Center of Chicago sign).

Growing Support

Committed collaborators already include St. Andrew Lutheran, the McKinley Park Civic Association, Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball League, Horizon Science Academy – McKinley Park, Tu Casa Guanajuato, Rio Event Studios and the McKinley Park News.

Executive Director Grace Chan McKibben, left, and Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community members lead the Cantonese longevity song at Chicago's Birthday Party on March 4, 2025.Last year’s group included dozens of local organizations, institutions, schools, elected officials, enterprises and individuals, and we look forward to again growing the birthday party coalition to collaboratively produce a fantastic and fun community event.

Collaborator Benefits

Participants receive acknowledgment, presence and promotion, including online and live at the event. It’s also fun and satisfying to meet and work with all kinds of local people on a community project open to everybody.

Would you like to join us? We welcome the involvement of local groups and neighbors. Attend next Saturday’s meeting or send email to info@mckinleypark.news to indicate your interest and how you might help.

Leadership Roles

Mariachi Luis Alfredo leads singers at Chicago's Birthday Party on March 4, 2025.As Chicago’s Birthday Party has grown, so has our need for structure to help support and share the workload. We’re likely looking at committees — including an executive producer chair — with roles up for grabs for those qualified and ready to help.

I am excited to not only again help throw a great party for our neighborhood, but also see so many returning to our coalition. We invite you to take part, and look forward to your engagement and attendance at Chicago’s Birthday Party!

— Justin Kerr
Publisher, McKinley Park News