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The best things to do in Chicago today

Find the best things to do in Chicago today, including parties, concerts, screenings and other can't-miss events.

Jeffy Mai
Written by
Jeffy Mai
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Not sure what's happening around the city today? Allow us to be of service. Chicago's best attractions, which include beautiful parks, neighborhoods and a free zoo, are always a good start. So are Chicago's best museums, from the Art Institute of Chicago to the Shedd Aquarium. Plus—as always—we're keeping track of the top parties, concerts, museum exhibitions, community events and more interesting stuff happening in Chicago day-by-day. Grab your calendar and check out all the best things to do in Chicago today.

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Chicago right now 

Best things to do in Chicago today

  • Comedy
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  • 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.
Green City Market Lincoln Park
  • Things to do
  • Markets and fairs
  • Lincoln Park
One of Chicago's most popular farmer's markets, Green City Market welcomes vendors selling regional produce to the south end of Lincoln Park (between Clark Street and Stockton Drive) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Amid the rows, you’ll find farm-fresh eggs from Michigan, cheese from Wisconsin and scrumptious pies baked by Chicago’s own Hoosier Mama Pie Co.
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  • Things to do
  • River North
Tropical speakeasy Three Dots and a Dash is partnering with some of the best Japanese bars from the U.S. and Japan for a pop-up series throughout the month of April. The event will feature guest bartenders creating a menu of specialty cocktails, plus a selection of exclusive and rare Japanese whiskeys. To enhance the ambiance, a retro jukebox spinning vintage vinyls will provide the soundtrack. The guest lineup includes Bar Goto (April 4-7), Katana Kitchen (April 11-14), Bar Trench (April 18-21) and SG Club (April 25-28).
  • 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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  • Art
  • Film and video
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Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. It’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.
  • 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
  • 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!
  • 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.
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  • Things to do
  • Conventions
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  • Museum Campus
Get ready to show off your most creative and exquisite cosplay outfit when the ChicagoComic & Entertainment Expo, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the country,returns to its annual stomping grounds at McCormick Place. You'll be able to wander through a massive wonderland filled with comics, toys, games, movies and television. Mingle with fellow fans, search for one-of-a-kind merch or attend live panels featuring some of biggest names in the industry. This year’s guest lineup includes professional wrestler Sting, Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachel Leigh Cook, Amy Jo Johnson and more.
  • Movies
  • Drama
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  • Loop
Open, critical and reflective, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival returns with a selection of films showcasing contemporary Palestinian life through the experiences of the artists. This time, you'll be able to catch screenings virtually and at the Gene Siskel Film Center. The festival will open with award-winning film Bye Bye Tiberias, a memoir about the burden of leaving, the endurance of memory and the determination to forge one’s own destinies and identities.
  • Things to do
  • Festivals
  • Loop
Do you love all things pickled? Well there’s a festival for you. This Wrigleyville event—taking place at some of the neighborhood's top bars—will feature pickle cocktails and mocktails, pickle-focused foods, pickleback shots, live music, photo ops and much more. It’s a day you’ll relish forever.
  • 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
  • Festivals
  • Loop
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 events ranging from lectures and discussions to screenings and musical performances. Not sure which events to hit? Some of the fest’s biggest speakers this season include former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, architect Jeanne Gang, musician Kathleen Hanna and comedian Reggie Watts. You can see a full schedule of programming on the Chicago Humanities Festival website.
  • Shopping
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They call this three-day market One of a Kind for a reason. A whopping 350 artists from around the country will fill out one floor in the Merchandise Mart for the spring edition of this seasonal bazaar. Take a look at the show's website for a full list of vendors making everything from handpainted ceramic mugs and cool textured pillows to carved wooden bottlestoppers. Come for the shopping and stick around for daily fashion shows and a gourmet market stocked with lots of tasty treats.
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  • Dance
  • Ballet
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  • Loop
The Joffrey Ballet is bringing back a favorite to close out its 2023-24 season—Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s ballet rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which takes cues from Scandinavian Midsummer traditions rather than Shakespeare. The Lyric Opera Orchestra performs the score by Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, with Swedish singer Anna von Hausswolff joining the dancers onstage at every performance.
  • 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.
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  • Shopping
  • Wrigleyville
Wrap up Earth Month with a handmade craft fair highlighting vendors that transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods. You’ll be able to shop for home goods, art, clothes and more, and you can drop off unwanted items for repurposing at the Reuse & Recycling Pop-Up. There will also be a live art installation featuring tapestries made up of unwearable clothing and textiles from attendees.
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  • Sports and fitness
  • Yoga & Pilates
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  • 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 levels—you 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.
  • Things to do
If you’ve ever wanted to get behind the wheel of a supercar and take it around a track, head out to Autobahn Country Club in Joliet from April 25-28. Xtreme Xperience will allow participants to drive or ride along in a host of exotic cars, including the Ferrari 488 GTB, Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4, Porsche 911 GT3, Audi R8 V10 Performance, Nissan GT-R and more. The four-lap rides will happen on a 1.46-mile race track; no experience needed—professional instructors will teach you how to navigate the course.
  • Things to do
  • Rogers Park
The inaugural season of Major League Table Tennis will conclude with a championship weekend in Chicago. Watch as the best players in the world battle it out for the title over two days. Whether you’re a beginner or a die-hard fan, the semifinals and championship game promise to deliver jaw-dropping shots and electrifying moments.
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  • Things to do
  • Wrigleyville
Chicago's long-running dance party devoted to Northern soul, Motown and R&B is throwing a dance party at Gman Tavern. Windy City Soul Club DJs oversee an all-vinyl soundtrack, digging through their personal collection to put together playlists that keep the dance floor grooving. The beats start at 9pm and go until 2am.
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  • Things to do
  • River West/West Town
Autism Speaks hosts its eighth annual Chip in Casino Night, raising money to help support those with autism. The evening will feature an open bar, delicious bites from some of Chicago’s top restaurants, a silent auction and casino-style games like blackjack, craps and roulette.
  • Shopping
  • Bookstores
  • Loop
In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day, 46 shops across Chicagoland will come together to host a bookstore crawl on Saturday, April 27. Upon visiting a store, customers will receive a passport and/or a stamp. Those who collect 10 stamps during the day will receive 10% off participating shops for an entire year. If you manage to visit 15 shops, you’ll receive 15% off for a year.
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