The City of Chicago recently announced the dates for festivals and events for 2014, including the premier of a brand new fest called the Great Chicago Fire Festival. Among the highlighted fests are:

Chicago WinterDance: Dance lessons and live music will be offered Jan. 3-5 at the Chicago Cultural Center

Dance lessons and live music will be offered Jan. 3-5 at the Chicago Cultural Center OnEdge: The new performance series will be featured from Jan. 11 through Feb. 1 at the Storefront Theater and Chicago Cultural Center

The new performance series will be featured from Jan. 11 through Feb. 1 at the Storefront Theater and Chicago Cultural Center City of Chicago 176th Birthday: March 4

March 4 Loops and Variations: Contemporary classical music and electronica can be heard on Thursdays from May 29-July 3 at Millennium Park

Contemporary classical music and electronica can be heard on Thursdays from May 29-July 3 at Millennium Park Downtown Sound: Indie rock and pop music will be heard on Mondays from June 2-Aug. 4 at Millennium Park

Indie rock and pop music will be heard on Mondays from June 2-Aug. 4 at Millennium Park Chicago Blues Festival: June 13-15 at Grant Park

June 13-15 at Grant Park Chicago Bike Week: The citywide event will be from June 13-20.

The citywide event will be from June 13-20. Millennium Park Film Series : June 24-Aug. 26, at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park

: June 24-Aug. 26, at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 26-29 at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and Grant Park

June 26-29 at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and Grant Park Chicago SummerDance : Dance lessons and live music will be offered June 27-Sept. 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center

: Dance lessons and live music will be offered June 27-Sept. 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center Taste of Chicago: July 9-13 at Grant Park

July 9-13 at Grant Park Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz: July 24-Aug. 28 at Millennium Park

World Class Jazz: July 24-Aug. 28 at Millennium Park Chicago Air and Water Show: Aug. 16-17

Aug. 16-17 Chicago Jazz Festival: Aug. 28-31 at Millennium Park

Aug. 28-31 at Millennium Park World Music Festival Chicago: Sept. 11-21 at Millennium Park , the Chicago Cultural Center and citywide

Sept. 11-21 at Millennium Park , the Chicago Cultural Center and citywide Great Chicago Fire Festival: Oct. 3-4, Chicago River and citywide

Oct. 3-4, Chicago River and citywide SpinOff 2014: The contemporary dance series will be featured in October at the Chicago Cultural Center and Storefront Theater

The contemporary dance series will be featured in October at the Chicago Cultural Center and Storefront Theater Halloween Festival: The festival will be at the Chicago Cultural Center in late October

The festival will be at the Chicago Cultural Center in late October Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony: The ceremony will be held at Daley Plaza on Nov. 25

The ceremony will be held at Daley Plaza on Nov. 25 Santa House: The house will be open at Daley Plaza from Nov. 25-Dec. 24

The house will be open at Daley Plaza from Nov. 25-Dec. 24 Caroling at Cloud Gate: The caroling will take place on Fridays at Millennium Park from Nov. 28-Dec. 19