It’s spring in Chicago, which means the sun is shining, the temperature is warming up, and the city begins to venture out after a long winter at home as the city responsibly reopens.
Luckily, we’ve got more than 50 reasons — free museum days, outdoor activities, boat tours, cooking classes, live music, Mother’s Day brunches, and so much more. It’s time to shake off that cabin fever, mask up, and check out there top things to do in Chicago this month (and check out things to do this weekend!)
Fireworks at Navy Pier (Saturdays in May)
Asian Pop-up Cinema at the Drive-in (May 1 and 2)
Horror Movie Weekend at the Drive-in (May 1 and 2)
Center Sundays at Hyde Park Art Center (May 2)
Spotlight Garden Tour at the Chicago Botanic Garden (May 4)
Free outdoor DJ shows at Navy Pier (May 1, 8, 15, 29)
CineYouth Film Festival (May 6 – 13)
The Second City live shows (reopen May 7)
Virtual Tour: Pilsen Murals by Chicago History Museum (May 11)
Free admission at Field Museum (May 3, 6, 10, and 13)
The Office Pop-up at Replay (through May 16)
Wicker Park Farmers Market (begins May 16)
Live comedy shows at Zanies Chicago (various dates)
Artopia: The Immersive Art Experience (through May 16)
Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall at Field Museum (opens May 21)
Chicago Fire home game at Soldier Field (May 22)
Art on theMART (all month long)
Free Chicago Greeter tours (all month long)
Historic Theatre Tour at Auditorium Theatre (May 13 and 24)
Black Creativity at Museum of Science and Industry (all month long)
WOMANISH experience (various dates)
Shoreline Sightseeing cruises (various dates)
Odyssey Chicago River cruises (various dates)
Wendella lake cruises (various dates)
Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise (various dates)
Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Chicago (select dates)
Virtual animal experiences from Lincoln Park Zoo (May 8 and 21)
Mandela: Struggle for Freedom virtual tour (various dates)
Spring Flower Show: Saturation at Garfield Park Conservatory (through May 9)
Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory (through May 8)
Yoga at Morton Arboretum (various dates)
Monet and Chicago at the Art Institute of Chicago (select dates)
Secret Saturdays at Davis Theater (various dates)
Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes at the Museum of Science and Industry (all month long)
Chicago Architecture Center walking tours (various dates)
Chicago Humanities Festival (various dates)
The FRIENDS Experience (various dates)
40 Years of Pac-Man Design and History (various dates)
Bikes, Bites & Brews tours (various dates)
Live music series at Epiphany Arts Center (various dates)
Intelligentsia Home Brew Class (May 20)
Late Great Nocturnal Night at North Park Village Nature Center (May 28)
The Long Dream at the Museum of Contemporary Art (select dates)
Steppenwolf NOW (various dates)
Virtual Filmmaker Sessions from Gene Siskel Film Center (various dates)
The Magic Parlour at Home (various dates)
Virtual Shark Feeding from Shedd Aquarium (various dates)
Joffrey Ballet studio series (various dates)
Virtual Author Talks at the American Writers Museum (various dates)
