April 2018 events calendar for Chicago

Each year, C2E2 brings a ton of comic book creators and some notable TV and movie stars to McCormick Place for a bonafide pop-culture bonanza. If you hit the floor, you'll find costumed attendees mingling in a sea of comics, toys and assorted memorabilia. Head for the panel halls (or autograph lines) to catch a glimpse of celebrities like Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, SpongeBob SquarePants voice actor Tom Kenny and Goosebumps author R.L. Stine.

Back for a third year, the spring edition of Chicago Humanities Festival brings a lineup of artists, activists and thinkers to the city. This season's lecture series features installationist Ai Weiwei, Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn and artist Molly Crabapple. With this spring series, Chicago Humanities Festival kicks off its 2018, The Year of Graphic!

Just because you’re a grown-up doesn’t mean you have to give up on hunting for Easter eggs. Longman & Eagle organizes this annual scramble, hiding eggs all throughout Logan Square. Teams of two can scour the neighborhood between noon and 2pm, with all proceeds benefitting One Tail at a Time. The party continues at Longman from 2–4pm, where a winner will be crowned and prizes from Jim Beam, Revolution Brewing and Gordon Food Service will be awarded.

Photographer Raeburn Flerlage documented Chicago blues musicians performing in the city in the ‘50s and ‘60s, providing an intimate look at some of the genre's biggest stars. "Amplified: Chicago Blues" sifts through a collection of than 1000 of Flerlage's images, including photos of Howlin Wolf, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor and Muddy Waters. If you want to travel back in time to an era when blues clubs ruled the city, this is the peek into the past you've been searching for.

Experience the Halal lifestyle at the inaugural I Heart Halal expo at Navy Pier, which features all-natural foods and a grand bazaar filled with products that are permissible under traditional Islamic law. Muslim celebrities such as beauty blogger Nura Afia and personal trainer Koshal Azami will be in attendance giving talks, while the evenings will be filled with special events like a fashion show and a Muslim stand-up comedy showcase.

Before Record Store Day arrives, the annual CHIRP Record Fair fills the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Hall with stacks of vinyl for collectors to sift through. More than 50 vendors show up for the event, which benefits CHIRP Radio and features sets from local DJs like ShowYouSuck and Miss Alex White. Plus, there'll be drinks from Dark Matter Coffee, a listening station and a family activity area. You've still got some room for records on that IKEA shelf—you might as well fill it.

The traveling Dragon Lights Festival has set up more than 40 gigantic Chinese lanterns in Soldier Field South Parking Lot, providing the perfect environment for some twilight selfies. The event features an enormous 200-foot-long dragon lantern, a whale, an adorable panda wall and plenty of other colorful creations. In addition to the lanterns, the festival also features nightly performances from acrobats, musicians and dancers as well as demonstrations of calligraphy, painting and knot-tying.

Celebrate the life and work of actor (and antique typewriter collector) Tom Hanks at this annual party. Each year, Hanks fans gather to show their appreciation for the nicest guy in Hollywood and raise money for his favorite charity, Lifeline Energy, while watching some of his finest films. The highlight of the afternoon is a raffle that includes items autographed by Hanks himself.

The downtown department store hosts this annual flower-filled extravaganza, transforming a floor of the historic building into a garden filled with real blooms and exotic plants. This season's "Once Upon a Springtime" theme explores the flora found in fairty tales—we're picturing romantic cherry blossoms, winding vines and cheerful daisies. Drop in to check out the free show during store hours. 

There's no need to debate about which city has the best pizza in the world because nine out of ten Chicagoans agree that ALL pizza is delicious. That's why we gather at the annual Chicago Pizza Summit to sample pies from all over the city and knock back cold cans of Old Style. Presented by Old Style and the Empty Bottle, this year's festivities move to Thalia Hall for two sessions (at 2 and 5pm) of cheese, pepperoni, music and more. Local emcee ShowYouSuck hosts the event, which will also feature Chicago-themed art, an exhibition from the US Pizza Museum, exclusive merch and a surprise hometown musical guest.

AMC's television adaptation of The Walking Dead continues to shamble on, as does this annual convention devoted to the franchise's undead universe. This year, the festivities move to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, where attendees will also have access to the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest. Actors Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Jeffery Dean Morgan (Negan) will be in attendance, alongside a long list of cast members, past and present.

If you're attending Walker Stalker Con, your ticket also gives you access to this superhero-focused event that takes place in the very same convention center. Heroes & Villains Fan Fest brings together talent from TV shows like Arrow, The Gifted and Gotham, giving you a chance to interact with some of the folks who bring your favorite stories to life on the small screen. The convention also lets attendees feel like a hero, with activities like archery, obstacle courses and more.

40 whisky distillers from across the country gather in Soldier Field from the Whisky X, which combines a plethora of boozy samples with food from local chefs and food trucks. Once you've sipped the offerings of Bulleit Bourbon, WhistlePig and The Macallan, stick around for a concert from alt-rockers the Mowgli's.

You don't have to spend a fortune in order to visit some of Chicago's best museums and cultural institutions. If you're willing to plan ahead, you can take in masterpieces at the Art Institute or gaze at tropical fish while strolling through Shedd Aquarium without spending a dime. You'll need to be an Illinois resident to take advantage of many of these offers, but that's just one of the perks of living in Chicago. 

This eclectic reading series is where good writing and good beer mix. Every month five local writers and authors put together pieces to read while you order off Hopleaf's extensive beer menu.