Various venues

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? Attendees can explore the five Festival Days, full days of programming in a given neighborhood, including Bridgeport Day on April 18, Lakeview Day on May 9 and Northwestern Day on May 17, as well as thought-provoking discussions and exciting live performances sprinkled throughout the schedule.  Some of the fest’s biggest speakers this season include author George Saunders, How to Change Your Mind author Michael Pollan, musicians like Cut Worms and Jeff Tweedy and more. You can see a full schedule of programming on the Chicago Humanities Festival website.