Ferris Bueller's Day Off takes place primarily in the Chicago area and its northern suburbs. The fictional town is called Shermer, Illinois, which is based on the real suburb of Northbrook near Chicago. Key filming locations include Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, downtown Chicago landmarks like the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Federal Center. The Bueller family home scenes were filmed in Long Beach, California. The movie prominently features various iconic Chicago sites such as the Von Steuben Day Parade on Dearborn Street and the German-American Parade setting, making Chicago the central backdrop of the story.
