American Prophets journeys through the pages of American history to explore the influence of religion and spirituality on writers and culture, with interactive displays incorporating…
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit explores the flora and fauna of six different habitats, including the Desert, Ocean, Rainforest, Sky, Woods and City.…
North Side Restaurant Week, running February 26 through March 8, 2026. Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of…
“All That Glam: Chicago’s Art Deco Masterpieces” is a 2-hour walking tour celebrating the glitz, elegance, and futuristic flair of Chicago’s 1920s Art Deco buildings…
Meet Roxanne, Petunia, and Babe…three Sister Piggies who set out to build their own houses. Roxanne (the Rock’n Roll Pig) builds hers out of Sticks,…
LOMA is a two-day multidisciplinary creative event centered on community, networking, and shared experience. The weekend will include a curated showcase featuring Chicago dancers, musicians,…
Immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors and rich history of Chicago’s Chinatown on our top-rated TripAdvisor food and culture tour. Enjoy seated dining at five…
This is the ORIGINAL Chicago food tour that takes you to the restaurants featured on the TV phenomenon, The Bear. We’ll take you to the actual…
Built for the Body: the Intersection of Architecture & Jewelry is an exhibition that will be on view in our downtown Chicago gallery from January…
Chicago is known across the world for inventing and perfecting five authentic dishes that are “must eats” and the Iconic Foods of Chicago Food tour…
Join us at Navy Pier for the largest FREE Holi celebration in the nation! Celebrate the Festival of Colors with an unforgettable day of live music, high-energy…
Every Saturday in March from 12PM-6PM in the Food Experience Corridor, Navy Pier will host the Women’s Makers Market in partnership with Sunshine Enterprises, spotlighting…
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Industry Ales with a full lineup of festive food, specialty brews, and live entertainment in the heart of the Loop.…
Join us for Chicago’s fifth Night of Ideas, organized by Villa Albertine in partnership with Intuit Art Museum. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States,…
Binkley, an outsider dwarf from the Kingdom of Magical Land, is quiet, timid and scared of the dark — not exactly the best characteristics for…
August Strindberg’s Miss Julie is a confrontation of class, gender, and desire at the turn of the twentieth century that’s as relevant today as when…
Join Watson Adventures on a murder mystery scavenger hunt at the Field Museum! Someone, or some “thing”, has been bumping off Field Museum staffers involved…
“Elegant and beguiling” – Evening Standard (UK) Warwickshire, 1582. Agnes Hathaway, a natural healer, meets the Latin tutor, William Shakespeare. Drawn together by powerful but…
Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to present The Irish … and How They Got That Way, by Frank McCourt, original musical arrangements by Rusty…
Midwest town. Forced into marriage due to an unexpected pregnancy, former beauty queen Lola and recovering alcoholic Doc live a quiet life of heartbreak and…
In the high stone tower of an isolated naval fortress, Alice and Edgar are about to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss—if decades of resentment,…
Premiered in Germany on February 18, 1933, and promptly banned by the recently elected Nazi party, Der Silbersee (The Silver Lake) was composer Kurt Weill’s…
Come celebrate Holi with Kalapriya! Famously known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is an annual celebration of spring, love, and new life throughout North…
“Haunted by Our Dark Side: Chicago Ghosts, Gangsters, and True Crime” is a 2-hour afternoon/evening walking tour that uncovers Chicago’s shadowy past through chilling tales…
March is dedicated to honoring the remarkable contributions of women throughout history, and Chicago is the perfect place to celebrate. From engaging educational events to…
March is certainly a celebratory time in Chicago, as the temperatures start to warm up and every weekend is packed with events. Watch the river…
This month in Chicago, explore lush indoor gardens, admire iconic works in one of the world’s top art museums, and join in colorful cultural celebrations…
Chicago’s legendary sports scene is never done and never outdone. This year, the city will be hosting an array of major athletic events, including the…
Want to know what’s happening this weekend in Chicago? Look no further. There’s a whole calendar of exciting events, exhibits, and activities taking place all…
St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is a celebration like no other. With a substantial Irish population — and one of the biggest city-wide St. Patrick’s…
In the springtime, Chicago lives up to its official city motto Urbs in Horto — “City in a Garden.” Our countless parks, green spaces, and…
Chicago is proud to be the official host city of International Jazz Day 2026, a global celebration that honors jazz and its unique power to…
Chicago’s event calendar reflects the city itself — bold, diverse, and always buzzing. From lakefront music festivals and neighborhood street fairs to major sporting events and food celebrations, there’s something happening in every season.
Here’s a look at the types of events you’ll find across the city:
Other Chicago events include cultural celebrations, sporting events, conventions, comedy shows, live theatre, and so much more.
Chicago’s biggest annual events draw visitors from around the world and highlight the very best of the city’s food, music, and culture.
These signature events help define Chicago as one of the top festival cities in the country.
If you’re planning a trip around Chicago’s event calendar, there’s something new to discover every month of the year.
Summer is peak festival season. The city comes alive with outdoor concerts, neighborhood street fests, and major events like Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, and the Chicago Air and Water Show. Nearly every weekend offers something new, especially along the lakefront and in Millennium Park.
Early fall brings cooler temperatures and marquee events like the Chicago Marathon and culinary celebrations such as Chicago Gourmet. It’s an ideal time for visitors seeking cultural events like the Chicago International Film Festival.
Winter brings a dose of holiday magic to Chicago, with beloved traditions like ZooLights and Christkindlmarket. Visitors can also check out cultural celebrations for the Lunar New Year and enjoy local-favorite annual events like Chicago Restaurant Week and Chicago Theatre Week.
Spring is the perfect time to visit Chicago for culture lovers. Check out spring flower shows, top art fairs like EXPO Chicago, and bucket-list traditions like Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It’s also the start of outdoor events, with baseball season kicking off in late March.
Chicago is known for offering an impressive lineup of free events, particularly in the summer months.
Some of the city’s most popular free events include:
Come experience the unmatched energy of Chicago’s legendary sports scene, from our fan-favorite teams to our historic stadiums and iconic events.
Catch a game by one of Chicago’s major league teams:
Other major annual sporting events in Chicago include:
