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Copernicus Center Upcoming Event Dates & Tickets
About this Venue
About the Copernicus Center & Copernicus Foundation
Copernicus Foundation History
- The Copernicus Center is a premiere event center in Chicago hosting small to large scale events and concerts, theatre, educational workshops, culturally diverse activities, as well as community engagement. Cultural and community events in Chicago are at the heart of what we do.
- We are also home to the LARGEST Polish music fest, Taste of Polonia Festival, held annually in September.
- The Center is supported by the Copernicus Foundation, a non-profit organization serving Chicago since 1971.
- Supporting Chicago’s large Polish population, community events on the Northwest side, and multicultural Arts & Entertainment are the heart of the Foundation’s mission.
- In 1977, the search began for a permanent site to house a Polish cultural center in Chicago.
- In 1979, the foundation purchased the old Gateway cinema building located near Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues.
- The historic portion of the building housed the first movie theater in Chicago built exclusively for the “talkies.”
- The Copernicus Foundation chose to preserve the theater itself while remodeling around it, dividing the original 40-foot entry lobby and constructing three floors of office, meeting rooms and classroom space for the Copernicus Center. This first stage was completed in 1981.
- Since then, the theater has been cleaned, a thrust stage has been built, and the theater has been utilized for a wide variety of programs, not only Polish in nature, but a vast mix of uses by the Northern and Northwest communities.
- Community organizations, schools, and many varied ethnic groups use the Center on a regular basis.
- The stage has been host to folk dancing, classical orchestras, kabaret, graduations, beauty pageants, fashion shows, body building tournaments, International music stars, local musicians, and more.
About this Venue Parking
Directions & Parking:
- Public Transportation to the Copernicus Center
- Public transportation to the Copernicus Center, walk to Copernicus Center from Jefferson Park terminal, Copernicus Center.
- The Copernicus Center is easily accessible by public transportation.
- The Blue Line, METRA (Union Pacific/Northwest Line), CTA Bus routes, and PACE all stop at the Jefferson Park Transit Center.
- A very short 1 1/2 block (5-minute walk) down N. Lipps Avenue takes you directly to the Center (cut through our parking lot entrance).
Main Entrance
- Our Main Entrance is located off our parking lot across from N. Lipps Avenue. It is not located on Avondale, which is the back of the building. Please disregard maps on the internet showing that this is our entrance location. A separate entrance for our Annex space is located on Lawrence.
- The Lawrence Avenue bus #81 stops in front of the building (eastbound) & at the corner (westbound).
Driving Directions to the Copernicus Center
- The Copernicus Center is located on the Northwest side of Chicago at 5216 West Lawrence Avenue, one block east of Milwaukee Avenue, and two blocks west of the Kennedy Expressway (I-90), Exit 84.
Copernicus Center Parking
- Additional non-Copernicus owned parking is available at the Veterans Square underground garage and the parking lot across the street directly to the east owned by outside companies.
- These are both paid parking.
- Street parking may also be available.
- Auxiliary parking is available ONLY when marked by signage.
VIP Parking:
- VIP parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Copernicus Center. Parking rate ($20) includes City and County taxes. (Cash only)
Additional Parking Information:
- Our Copernicus Center parking lot capacity is 110 (100% more than other city venues of similar size and scope
- Free city parking is available on Lawrence, Avondale and Milwaukee
- Lipps is metered parking
- Nearby parking lots are not owned by the Copernicus Center but are notified of shows and concerts so they may open and staff them. However, we have no control over extended hour’s decisions.
- Our front gate has a shared ride pick up area during shows & concert on Lawrence Avenue (Lyft and Uber).
