The Return of Summer Fun

The Return of Summer Fun

We’ve been starved for carefree fun for way too long. Now that it’s summertime, we’re excited to gather again over the things that bring us joy! From nightlife to live music, theater and comedy, entertainment is back in the cities we love. For our picks on how best to enjoy the season, read on for the Virgin Hotels Guide to Summer Fun.

Chicago

There’s nothing like laughter for a cathartic release and fortunately for us all, comedy is back in Chicago at The Second City. The theater that launched the brightest lights in contemporary comedy—from Joan Rivers to John Belushi and Tina Fey to Stephen Colbert—has welcomed audiences back with a variety of new sketch comedy, improv shows and open mics, as well as The Best of Second City featuring classic sketches from the archive.

Virgin Hotels Chicago is in the Loop Business District

Nashville

Live music is back in Music City with the return of the Bluebird Café and the Grand Ole Opry. Enjoy the musical stylings of Nashville’s most talented up and coming singer-songwriters inside the Bluebird’s intimate listening room or head to the iconic Grand Ole Opry house with headliners like Trace Adkins, Vince Gil and Little Big Town on the summer calendar.

Virgin Hotels Nashville is conveniently situated at the helm of Nashville’s historic Music Row.

Las Vegas

Vegas is back, baby! And while major headliners like Celine Dion and Katy Perry won’t return to Vegas theaters until November and December, respectively, Cirque du Soleil’s shows are amongst the first to return to the Strip, starting with Michael Jackson One reopening on August 19 and The Beatles Love on August 26.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is now open and located just off the Las Vegas Strip

New Orleans

Let the good times roll in New Orleans once again! From Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street, the irrepressible spirit of New Orleans is flying high. And while Jazz Fest is on the agenda for October (with a lineup that includes Dead & Company, Foo Fighters and Jimmy Buffett), the city’s classic music venues and bars are already welcoming guests back with live music, from the iconic Preservation Hall to Frenchmen Street classics dba and The Spotted Cat.

Virgin Hotels New Orleans will open summer of 2021 and will be in the Warehouse District at 550 Baronne Street.

New York City

The Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park has returned to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park with Merry Wives, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor set in South Harlem amongst a West African community. Performances run through September 18 with free tickets available via a digital lottery.

While Broadway houses are set to reopen in September, Bruce Springsteen on Broadway has ushered in the return of the Great White Way with the revival of his critically lauded one-man acoustic show at the St. James Theater through September 4.

With New York City reopening, nightlife is also back, whether it’s a warehouse rave at the Brooklyn Mirage, a slick Manhattan nightclub like Marquee or bar hopping on the Lower East Side.

Virgin Hotels New York opening in late 2021.

At Virgin Hotels Dallas & Virgin Hotels Nashville…

We’re also getting into the fun with Summer Sessions at Virgin Hotels Dallas (July 23-25) and Virgin Hotels Nashville (August 13-15). These tropical-themed, entertainment experiences will transform each hotel’s pool, The Pool Club into The Beach Club at Bimini by Virgin Voyages for a resort-style lounge with Belvedere flowing and headline performances by Channel Tres, Yung Bae, Sam Blacky and more. We think it’s the perfect excuse to catch flights (not feelings) and book that summer vacation.

A fresh batch of songs to heat up your summer, start listening.

Written By: Shayne Benowitz