What’s spring like in Chicago? Tulips bloom along iconic Michigan Avenue, cherry blossoms fill the Japanese garden in Jackson Park, and the Lakefront Trail fills with walkers and bikers. Fans flood our historic ballparks, waterfront patios line the Chicago Riverwalk, and our 77 vibrant neighborhoods buzz with life.

Spring typically brings the return of Chicago’s favorite outdoor activities, like boat tours, baseball games, music festivals, and our iconic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. But there are also plenty of indoor events, including art exhibits, film festivals, makers markets, concerts, improv shows, and beyond.

Spring in Chicago

Springtime in Chicago marks a vibrant transition to outdoor life, with lakefront bike rides, river cruises, flower shows, and more. This season is defined by iconic traditions like dyeing the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day, the start of baseball season, and cultural moments like internationalart fairs and film festivals. It’s also the start of festival season, with top events like Sueños in Grant Park, vintage markets, and neighborhood street fests.

Start planning your spring getaway with our guide to the best things to do in the spring in Chicago.

Spring events in Chicago

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

A Seadog boat cruises on the green river

Each March, the city goes green with over-the-top St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

One of the country’s most unique holiday traditions, the dyeing of the Chicago River attracts thousands of visitors from around the world to watch the river turn a vibrant shade of emerald green for the day.

St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Chicago also includes a festive downtown parade, family-friendly neighborhood celebrations, special holiday cruises, pub crawls, cultural happenings, and so much more.

Check out our full guide to St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Chicago.

Join International Jazz Day

The Green Mill in Uptown dance floor
The Green Mill in Uptown; photo by Kathleen Hinkel for DCASE

This year, Chicago has the distinct honor of hosting International Jazz Day 2026. This worldwide celebration honors the lasting legacy of jazz, while exploring the past, present, and future of the influential genre.

As a city with deep jazz roots, Chicago is the perfect place to serve as host city. Throughout April, the city will be filled with concerts, venue tours, educational events, and more. Check out the full schedule of events for International Jazz Day.

Geek out at C2E2

C2E2
C2E2

Find your fandom during C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, the largest pop culture convention in the Midwest. Whether you’re into gaming, comic books, superheroes, TV, movies, or basically anything else, there’s something here for you.

The multi-day fan festival takes over Chicago’s McCormick Place with hundreds of exhibitors and artists, panels and interactive content, cosplay contests and meet-ups, celebrity photo opps and autographs, after-hours parties and events, and so much more.

Kick off festival season

Suenos Music Festival
Suenos Music Festival

Chicago’s iconic festival season officially begins in late spring with one of the year’s most anticipated music festivals, plus some beloved neighborhood street fests.

A highlight of the city’s festival calendar, Sueños Music Festival brings electrifying reggaeton to downtown Grant Park, spotlighting Latin music’s hottest stars. This year’s festival will take place Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Also in spring, Mayfest is an annual celebration in the heart of Lincoln Park that features local cuisine, live music, and an art fair. And the Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest is a lively neighborhood street fair that has wrapped up the spring season for more than four decades.

Get a dose of culture

Admiring art at EXPO CHICAGO
EXPO CHICAGO; photo by Kyle Flubacker

Spring in Chicago is the perfect time for culture lovers.

Start the season with EXPO Chicago Contemporary Art Fair, when top galleries from around the world come to Navy Pier with an exciting line-up of exhibitors, programs, installations, speakers, and more.

See what’s playing during the Chicago Latino Film Festival, the longest-running event of its kind in the United States. The event has showcased exceptional Latino filmmaking with Chicago screenings for more than four decades.

Held throughout the year, the Chicago Humanities Festival brings a wide range of thought-provoking artists, authors, and visionaries from around the globe.

Shop local markets

Maxwell Street Market in Chicago
Maxwell Street Market in Chicago; photo by Walter S. Mitchell III

If you’re looking to refresh your home or wardrobe this spring, Chicago’s markets are brimming with unique finds and locally made goods. Each April, the One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale takes over THE MART with 350 talented creators showcasing their original handcrafted work.

Also in the spring, the European-style Randolph Street Market is a must for vintage treasure hunters. The indoor-outdoor event features antique furniture, vintage clothing and jewelry, salvaged goods, and more alongside food, drinks, and live music, creating a buzzy atmosphere.

In May, Chicago’s oldest market returns for the season with an eclectic mix of food, handmade crafts, housewares, clothing, live entertainment, and so much more. The open-air Maxwell Street Market has been a local tradition for more than a century.

Spring activities in Chicago

Rent a kayak or paddleboard

Chicago is home to two stunning waterfronts — the Chicago River, which winds through the heart of the city, and Lake Michigan, featuring more than 20 miles of sandy shoreline. And one of the most popular ways to explore both is via kayak or paddleboard.

Hop on a Chicago River kayak tour from Urban Kayaks for the perfect mix of exercise, fascinating history, and breathtaking views. Join a guided tour or reserve a rental and explore the river at your own pace.

Near Navy Pier, check out kayak and paddleboard rentals from Bobby’s Kayak Chicago. Set off from Ohio Street Beach and explore the lakefront with a single or tandem kayak or a stand-up paddle board.

Take a boat cruise

A boat drifts down the Chicago River with the skyline around it
Photo by Dimitry Anikin

One of the best ways to see Chicago in springtime is from the water. The city’s many boat cruises set sail each spring, with tours of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Choose from sunset dinner cruises, skyline speedboat rides, informational architecture tours, kid-friendly experiences, and more.

Find the right Chicago boat tour for you.

Enjoy the start of baseball season

Chicago Cubs
Photo by Matt Alaniz

It’s time to play ball! Chicago’s two legendary MLB teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, kick off their baseball season in the spring.

Catch the Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field in Wrigleyville, where you can watch the game from the sunny bleachers, a nearby rooftop, or one of the neighborhood’s many sports bars filled with locals. This year’s home opener falls on March 26, 2026. 

The Chicago White Sox play at Rate Field in Bridgeport, where traditions include tailgating in the stadium parking lot before the game and fireworks after every run. Their season kicks off with their first home game on April 2, 2026. 

Explore more: Find more things to do in Chicago all year round.

Walk or bike the Lakefront Trail

Mandatory Photo Credit:
Abel Arciniega :: @tequilagraphics

If you’re looking for stretches of scenic lakefront dotted with grassy parks and stunning skyline views — look no further. The Lakefront Trail is the place to be in Chicago each spring, when bikers, walkers, and runners converge on the 18-mile paved path that hugs the edge of Lake Michigan.

Rent a bike from Bike and Roll Chicago or public bike-share Divvy, or take a tour with Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago to explore the trail on two wheels.

The trail runs by several neighborhoods, dozens of popular parks and beaches, museums, waterfront restaurants, and more.

Explore more: Check out our guide to springtime things to do with kids in Chicago.

See the spring flowers

Chicago tulips during spring

Every year, the city fills with spring blooms, from our downtown streets to our charming neighborhood parks. Here are some of the best places to see the first flowers of the season throughout Chicago:

Check out our full guide on the best places to see spring flowers around Chicago.

Explore Chicago’s zoos

Lincoln Park Zoo
Abel Arciniega: @tequilagraphics

Spring is one of the best times to visit Chicago’s zoos, as the mild weather brings animals out to play.

Right on the city’s scenic lakefront, you’ll find the historic Lincoln Park Zoo. This free zoo, one of the oldest in the country, is home to creatures from around the world. Don’t miss the innovative lion house, where big cats roam in a naturalistic safari. The spring season also brings a variety of popular events, including a family-friendly egg hunt, fun run, after-hours parties, and more.

Just outside the city, the family-friendly Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a world leader in animal care and conservation. This spring, catch their new Glow Wild event that features an illuminated path of handmade animal lanterns.

See the skyline at an observation deck

A clear spring day is the perfect time to visit Chicago’s observation decks for a breathtaking vantage point of the city.

Skydeck Chicago is located inside the iconic Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, one of the tallest buildings on the planet. This 103rd-floor observation deck offers stunning views that cover up to four states. It’s also home to The Ledge, which dares visitors to step out onto a transparent, all-glass platform that hovers more than 1,353 feet in the air.

360 CHICAGO is an observation deck inside one of the city’s most famous skyscrapers — the former John Hancock Center at 875 N. Michigan Ave. This is where you’ll find the one-of-a-kind TILT, a moving platform that literally tilts you out and over Michigan Avenue at a staggering 1,030 feet up. It’s a thrilling experience the whole family won’t forget.

More things to do in Chicago this spring