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Chicago River dyeing
Photograph: Grace DuVal

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.

Jeffy Mai
Edited by
Jeffy Mai
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Welcome to another weekend! Take a load off by soaking in a spa or spending some time at the best Chicago attractions. St. Patrick's Day weekend is here, and you can celebrate with river dyeing watch parties, parades and green beer at the best Irish pubs. Other fun events include an Easter egg hunt at NEWCITY, an interactive bingo rave and a vintage fest. So ready to make the most of your time off? Check out the rest of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend.

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Chicago right now

Events and to do this weekend in Chicago

  • Things to do
  • River West/West Town

Bingo Loco, an interactive rave show that’s taken place in cities around the world, comes to West Loop’s Recess this spring. The traditional game of bingo gets reimagined as a three-hour long immersive experience, complete with epic dance offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, confetti showers, CO2 cannons, conga lines and prizes ranging from international trips to lawnmowers. One thing’s for sure—this ain’t bingo night at the senior center.

  • Things to do
  • Hyde Park

The Museum of Science and Industry debuts a new exhibit dedicated to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

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  • Things to do
  • Wrigleyville

Head to Wrigleyville—the city's unofficial capital for themed pop-ups—to enter a glitzy leprechaun fever dream at Charm'd, Bamboo Club's annual Irish pop-up bar. The multi-level, multi-room bar is decked out in full green decor and, of course, stocked with a veritable pot of alcoholic gold. Standouts include an Irish mule and a boozy green shamrock shake sprinkled with Thin Mints and Peppermint Patties, plus an entire list of shamrock syringe shots. Feeling peckish? In between drinks, be sure to nab Irish classics like a Reuben sandwich or the not-so-classic Irish nachos topped with chipotle cheddar fondue. For dessert, tuck in with a Charm'd sundae, which comes with chopped Snickers, M&Ms, Twix, Reese's cups, peanuts, chocolate and caramel sauce and whipped cream.

FYI: You need a ticket to enter the pop-up, so be sure to buy one online before visiting.

  • Things to do
  • East Garfield Park

Winter is almost over and the Garfield Park Conservatory is here to usher in warmer days with its Spring Flower Show. Make a reservation to explore this year's show, "What's in a Name?" which explains the history and science of botanical nomenclature. You'll find spring bulbs like Tulipa ‘Rococo’, Lilium ‘Josephine,’ Viola ‘Matrix Yellow’ and Anemone ‘Giant Blue Poppy.’ The show only sticks around through Mother's Day weekend, so book your visit soon!

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  • Things to do
  • Logan Square

Chicago Gamespace, a video game museum and gallery, opens a new exhibit that explores the unique and ephemeral history of vector (line) graphics in contrast to the dominant raster (pixel) visual displays that reign today. Notable games like Asteroids, Battlezone and Star Wars will be highlighted, as well as a recently-preserved emulation of Moonlander.

  • Things to do
  • Streeterville

Navy Pier’s newest attraction is here, transporting guests to some of Chicago’s most epic places via exhilarating flights. The multi-sensory experience incorporates drone technologies with aerial shots and first-person views to showcase the city like never before. Guests will swoop, dip and turn in motion seats as they climb up skyscrapers, check out iconic landmarks, float through fireworks and more.

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  • Things to do
  • Skokie

The largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition comes to Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie. Visitors will experience a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the famous ship. Marvel at hundreds of artifacts that survived the sinking, plus props and costumes featured in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic. Music from the era will play as patrons walk through detailed recreations of the ship’s interiors, including the grand staircase, while the Discovery Gallery will simulate what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic’s wreckage site.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Suburbs

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 more than 10,000 vibrant blooms on display to brighten your day. This year's show is inspired by carnival and circus attractions—you'll walk under Ferris wheel seats and marvel at unicycles on tightropes while listening to classic circus tunes. Swing by on Saturdays and Sundays to shop for orchids of your own in a pop-up marketplace, or stay late on seled Thursday and Friday nights to have a cocktail and funnel cake during Orchids After Hours.

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  • Theater
  • River North

Gather a group of friends for this show, an off-the-cuff ode to Jane Austen that has gained a loyal following in the 15 years since its debut. The cast calls upon an audience suggestion to inspire the show’s title (ensuring a totally new performance each time), then creates a long-form, Regency Era "Rom-Com" with Austen tropes and manners of yore. Expect a tale of laughs, love and surprises.

  • Theater
  • Suburbs

Director Elizabeth Margolius presents a different take on this celebrated musical, which centers on tradition and family. Set in a small Russian village, a milkman tries to protect and impart wisdom on his five daughters as they grow up, fall in love and begin families of their own—all in the midst of social and political change. Come early for a bite at their onsite restaurant Lucille, plus specialty cocktails inspired by current shows.

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  • Things to do
  • Loop

Escape the frigid cold —at least temporarily—by heading to Cindy’s for a tropical pop-up experience. Sip on a selection of inventive drinks, like the buttery and complex Shake Ya Tailfeather and the fruity and spirit-forward Rum Ham, or nosh on bites such as egg rolls and pork sliders. The bar is open daily from 5-10pm for walk-ins.

  • Things to do
  • Suburbs

Sony Pictures Entertainment has brought its first immersive entertainment destination to Oakbrook Center, inviting guests to enter the worlds of popular franchises like Uncharted, Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Zombieland and more. The 45,000-square-foot space is home to a variety of activities, ranging from escape rooms to virtual reality and racing simulators to bumper cars. When you need to refuel, drop into the Commissary Restaurant for a full menu of food, desserts and cocktails. Entry to Wonderverse is free, with attractions priced separately.

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  • Things to do
  • Skokie

Downton Abbey: The Exhibition makes its way to Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, giving fans an opportunity to step into the world of the hit series. The immersive experience showcases the elaborate sets, detailed costumes and luxurious jewelry of Downton Abbey’s high society inhabitants, and transport visitors to the grand home of the Crawleys and those who served them. From Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and Carson’s office to the family’s glamorous dining room, the exhibition provides a fascinating look into the post-Edwardian period.

  • Things to do
  • Skokie

This exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center takes a look at how Jewish immigrants created an entirely new American cuisine through delicatessens. Organized into thematic sections that explore the history of the Jewish deli in America, I’ll Have What She’s Having tells the story of local Holocaust survivors and presents items like a meat slicer, cookbooks and signs from Chicagoland institutions. A film produced by the museum exploring the impact of Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen, Kaufman’s Delicatessen and The Bagel is also featured.

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  • Things to do
  • Grant Park

Explore dozens of prints and drawings from Picasso's rich and varied 70-year career, from his student years in Barcelona to the last years of his life. Picasso: Drawing from Life traces how this celebrated artist’s success was tied to his network of artists, dealers, printers, family members and more.

  • Sports and fitness
  • Yoga & Pilates
  • Streeterville

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levelsyou just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

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  • Comedy
  • Sketch shows
  • Lake View

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened over a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

  • Nightlife
  • Cabaret and burlesque

Settle in for an evening of burlesque performers, belly dancers, drag artists and variety entertainers during this weekly show at Newport Theater. The hour-long show features speciality cocktails and intimate seating arrangements, making this feel like a clandestine speakeasy experience. Bring some singles so that you can tip performers throughout the night!

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  • Theater
  • Experimental

For more than 30-years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

  • Comedy
  • Uptown

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

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