Various locations throughout Chicago

Every two years, Chicago becomes a global hub of architecture and design during the Chicago Architecture Biennial. This edition’s theme is SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, bringing together over 100 projects by architects, artists and designers from 30 countries—each piece engaging with the cultural, social and environmental fluxes transforming our world. Not sure where to start? Check out our first-timer's guide to the exhibition. Stay up-to-date by visiting the Chicago Architecture Biennial website.

Celebrating Chicago culture through couture, Chicago Fashion Week brings runway shows, markets, educational programs and more—many of which are free to attend—throughout the city. The full gamut of programming is yet to be announced; stay updated via CFW's website. 

Satisfy the sweet tooth with a dessert crawl through Lincoln Park. Guests will visit businesses along Clark Street and enjoy a variety of delicious holiday cookies, plus surprises like hot chocolate and photos with Santa. Opt for Boozy Admission to receive three festive alcoholic drinks on the crawl. A ticket includes a map of participating businesses, a Cookie Crawl bag and a medley of pre-packaged holiday cookies.

Can't get enough of marionettes? You'll love the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, which brings puppeteers from across the globe to the city for 12 days of symposiums and more than 100 performances and events. The Puppet Hub returns this year, which includes events on the fourth floor of the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue—take a look around to find everything from a puppet-themed cafe to film screenings in the building’s massive Studebaker Theater. Also back is the Ellen Van Volkenburg Symposium, workshops with visiting puppet artists, the Catapult Artist Intensive and more. For a full list of performances, visit the festival’s website.