Things to do
Cheap things to do in Chicago
Our top picks for enjoying the city without breaking the bank.
Things to Do
Discover the best things to do in Chicago, including popular events, festivals, attractions, tours and free activities
Attractions
Admire cherry blossoms
You'll find plenty of good spots for gazing at gorgeous spring blooms in and around Chicago.
Attractions
The best Chicago attractions
Chicago might be known as the Second City, but our attractions are first-class.
Things to do
The best things to do indoors
Don’t let the weather get in the way of having a great day.
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Things to do in Chicago every day
How to spend spring in Chicago
Shopping
The best flea markets in Chicago
A truly great flea market trip can take your weekend to the next level.
Health and beauty
The 23 best spas in Chicago
Before the city warms up, squeeze in some much-needed rest and relaxation.
Museums
The 28 best museums in Chicago
Experience art, history and science and these well-respected cultural institutions.
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The latest things to do in Chicago
Things to do
Chicago Humanities Spring Festival
This annual festival assembles luminaries from the fields of politics, journalism and the arts for a multi-week series of programming across the city, with...
Things to do
Northalsted Market Days
Northalsted Market Days is one of the largest street festivals in the Midwest, welcoming 100,000 people to the streets of Northalsted (formerly known as...
Things to do
Chinatown Summer Fair
Chinatown celebrates the arrival of summer at this annual event—featuring food, art and music—which became a two-day fest beginning in 2021. The...
Things to do
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
It's no secret that we unabashedly love burgers, so you can imagine how much we're anticipating Roscoe Village's annual celebration of succulent, beef patty...
Things to do
Ribfest Chicago
Head to North Center to dig into more than 50,000 pounds of ribs and barbecue across the streets of Lincoln, Damen and Irving Park. The annual...
The latest Chicago news
Things to do
Chicago's seasonal "Lights Out" program is now in effect through mid-June
Businesses and residents in tall buildings are encouraged to shut off lights at night to protect migrating birds.
Shopping
Japanese lifestyle and convenience shop Ebisu Life Store just opened inside Woodfield Mall
Yes, there are matcha Kit Kats.
Music
The Lollapalooza lineup just dropped and it’s a pop-heavy, nostalgia-tinged blowout
Charli XCX, Lorde and Tate McRae lead a stacked, genre-hopping lineup hitting Grant Park.
The latest Chicago events
Things to do
The Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy
Need a break from the monotonous sights of winter in Chicago? Head to the North Shore for the Chicago Botanic Garden's annual orchid show, where there are...
Things to do
Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color
To know Matisse is to know Jazz—or at least the vivid images that make up the book, which gathers some of his most iconic works of the 20th century....
Things to do
Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady
Ready to explore Chicago's amazing architecture while floating on the river? The Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise takes place aboard a...
Things to do in Chicago neighborhoods
Things to do
Avondale
The traditionally Polish neighborhood is dotted with arts centers, small parks and interesting shops.
Shopping & Style
Shopping
The best boutiques and shopping in Logan Square, Chicago
Fill an afternoon browsing the neighborhood's shops.
Shopping
19 Chicago gift shops for unique presents
It’s been said that the best gifts in life are free, but no one’s really buying that, right?
Most popular things to do features
Things to do
The best places to watch the Chicago River dyeing
Get a great view of the Chicago River dyeing ceremony for St. Patrick's Day from these vantage points.
Things to do
The 10 best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Chicago
Here's our guide to all things Celtic, including parades, street festivals and maker’s markets.
Things to do
Chicago was just named one of the best cities in the world for 2026
See where Chicago ranks on the latest global list and how it compares to top international destinations for culture, food and nightlife.
Things to do
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 guide: Time, route and where to watch
Find the best spots to watch the bagpipers and dancers in the St. Patrick's Day Parade with our guide to the festivities.
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Things to do
When will the snow and cold weather stop in Chicago?
After a late-season winter storm brings snow, gusty winds and below-zero wind chills, springlike temperatures are expected to return to Chicago by the end of...
Things to do
Obama’s long-awaited Chicago presidential center is finally opening in June
The long-anticipated Obama Presidential Center will debut with a four-day celebration in June, opening a new museum, civic campus and cultural hub in Jackson...
Things to do
The 50 best things to do in Chicago right now
Discover the best things to do in Chicago, from iconic venues and views to cultural musts and late-night shenanigans.
Things to do
The best things to do in Chicago this weekend
Find the best things to do in Chicago this weekend with our guide to concerts, exhibitions, festivals and more.
Things to do
April 2026 events calendar for Chicago
Plan your April in Chicago with our calendar of the best things to do, including concerts, theater and art exhibits.
Time In - movies we love
Movies
'Project Hail Mary' review: the science-fiction blockbuster we need in these fractious times
This giddy, wonderfully optimistic intergalactic epic teams Ryan Gosling up with a friendly extraterrestrial rock creature to save the galaxy from a...
Movies
'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' review: often enthralling, though rarely explosive
‘By order of the Peaky Blinders’ is the catchphrase of Steven Knight’s blockbuster Netflix crime saga show. And the order in this sturdy...
Movies
'The Bride!' review: Jesse Buckley is brilliantly unhinged as the ink-stained Bride
Frankenstein’s monster gets a companion: that didn’t end well in the Mary Shelley novel, or 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein. But, thanks to...
Movies
'The Testament of Ann Lee' review: Amanda Seyfried’s song of faith and devotion is unshakeable
Strange, ravishing and rhapsodic, there aren’t many movies like Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee, unless you can think of another...
Movies
Priyanka Chopra: ‘I would rip someone in half to protect my family’
Priyanka Chopra has sailed several seas in her multi-decade career, from winning Miss World in 2000 to conquering Bollywood to her recent rebirth as Hollywood...
Time In - songs we love
Music
The 50 best karaoke songs ever made
Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all.
Music
The 40 best party songs ever made
Party songs come in all shapes and sizes – here’s what should be on your playlist.
Music
The 37 best inspirational songs of all time
Get some pep in your step with these motivational anthems.
Music
The 35 best cover songs of all time
From soul and pop all the way through to heavy metal, covering other artist’s songs is an art form.
