NBC Chicago will provide a livestream of the moment the fountain is turned on for the season. Watch live Saturday afternoon in the player above.
A popular tradition that signals the arrival of summer is right around the corner.
Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park will be turned on for the season on Saturday during the 12th annual Switch on Summer festival, an event put on in partnership between the Chicago Park District and ComEd.
The festival starts at 11:30 a.m., with the fountain expected to be switched on between 12 p.m. and 12:20 p.m., ComEd said in a news release. A northern Illinois resident selected through a sweepstakes will be the lucky one to flip the switch, ushering in the fountain’s seasonal debut.
Buckingham Fountain is among the largest in the world.
“While in operation, the Fountain produces a major water display for 20 minutes every hour,” the Park District explained on its website. “During the major display, a center jet shoots water to a height of 150 feet into the air.”
Throughout the season, major displays begin daily at 9:00 a.m. and continue each hour. After dusk, a lights and music display takes place at the beginning of each hour.
The final display each day is at 10:35 p.m., with the fountain shutting down shortly after, at 10:55 p.m.
You’ll have plenty of chances to see the fountain in action throughout the season.
It typically doesn’t shut down for winter maintenance until Oct. 31.
