Join us for Homeschool Days at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago, where preschool families can enjoy an OINKTASTIC discount! Experience the magic of Peppa…
Imagine walking inside the thunderous sound of a taiko drum or feeling enveloped by the sinuous sounds of a saxophone, cello, or bass. What if…
Don your armor, pull out your spellbooks, and straighten your crown; Castle, presented by Shriners Children’s, is coming back to Chicago Children’s Museum. In this…
Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem, designed and co-curated by architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Center,…
This Halloween season, join us for the third year of Incredible Insects at The Butterfly House at Navy Pier: an interactive exhibit featuring wacky and…
Chicago Wolves hockey games are so much fun in person! Check out a Chicago Wolves game this fall at Allstate Arena. The 5-time league champions,…
Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History examines the full scope of Stebbins’s history‑making career as one of the most significant American sculptors of the nineteenth century. From…
LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style brings together 80 drawings and paintings, spanning the 1950s to 2000, that show how that early fashion work…
Día de Los Muertos Window Walk The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome you to Pilsen’s 18th Street commercial corridor to marvel at…
Design Graveyard is a free, two-week exhibition of design work that never made it out of the studio. It collects abandoned concepts, rejected pitches, unbuilt…
Intuit Art Museum (IAM), recognized worldwide as one of the few institutions dedicated solely to championing the work of self-taught artists, marks the 250th anniversary…
Japanese reggae-punk and metal band SiM is scheduled to perform live in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as part of their newly announced…
Showcasing some of the best performers in the city, Tuesday Good Show is a free weekly variety show hosted by Nick Bonsignore and Keller Paulson.…
The Book of Mormon is returning to Chicago for a limited limited engagement from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 1, 2026. From the creators…
Guy’z Nite is a wildly known weekly sold out comedy show headlined by Guy Reuven, starring NEW celebrity lineups of Hollywood’s BIGGEST comedians including Ismo,…
Join Xfinity from 7-9pm on Tuesday, October 27 for Surviving Dead Zones, a Halloween night of treats (and a few tricks) for guests 21+ at…
Join Adam Selzer—author, podcaster, and host of Mysterious Chicago Tours—for spine-tingling walkabouts that dig into the zoo’s cemetery roots and locations from throughout its allegedly…
Taylor McWilliams-Woods and Maddy Hudson bring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to life in Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers’ acclaimed 2003 play, Matt & Ben.…
Joanne McNally is performing live in Chicago on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as part of her hotly anticipated new North American stand-up comedy tour, “Pinotphile”.
The piano trio has long offered composers a direct and personal means of expression, and this program brings together three works that reveal the form…
“Take thuh cards and show me whatcha got!” Brothers Lincoln and Booth, named in jest, are two Black men living in America just trying to…
Award-winning blues-rock powerhouse The Tedeschi Trucks Band will conclude their “Future Soul 2026 Tour” with a four-night stand in Chicago in October 2026.
Sienna Spiro is performing live in Chicago on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at The Riviera Theatre as part of her massive My House Tour world…
The holiday season in Chicago is always an exciting time. With countless events across multiple neighborhoods, there are so many ways to celebrate. One of…
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…
Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 State Street The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, a local tradition for more than 90 years, kicks off the holiday season with a…
Chicago goes all out for the holidays, with something magical happening in every corner of the city. The season kicks off with the Christmas Tree…
If you’re looking for a getaway in January or February, Chicago continues to deliver a flurry of seasonal fun long after the holidays end. Between…
The best way to get to know Chicago is one meal at a time. This three-day Chicago food itinerary explores the city’s most iconic dishes and…
Chicago is the city that’s Never Done, Never Outdone. And we keep proving it year after year. In 2026, Chicago welcomed new immersive experiences, celebrated…
Celebrate cozy weather and changing leaves in the city made for autumn adventures. We’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect fall day in…
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:
