Things to do
Chicago in winter: Our ultimate guide
Bundle up and prepare to brave the cold weather while exploring some of Chicago's best winter offerings.
Things to Do
Discover the best things to do in Chicago, including popular events, festivals, attractions, tours and free activities
Museums
The best Chicago museums
Want to see premier pieces from famous artists? We've got you covered.
Things to do
Where to go ice skating
Show off those figure eights while sliding around the best ice skating rinks in the city.
Things to do
Cheap things to do in Chicago
Our top picks for enjoying the city without breaking the bank.
Things to do
The best things to do indoors
Don’t let the weather get in the way of having a great day.
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Things to do in Chicago every day
Celebrate the holidays in Chicago
Things to do
Our guide to celebrating the holidays
Celebrate Christmas in Chicago with light displays, holiday theater and more festive events.
Things to do
See twinkling Christmas lights
Few sights jumpstart feelings of holiday cheer quite like sparkling Christmas lights.
Bars
Visit a rooftop bar
Hot drinks, fireplaces, curling lanes and over-the-top holiday decorations make these bars worth a visit.
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Events at Time Out Market Chicago
Things to do
Storytime with Elsa
Come join us at Time Out Market Chicago for a magical Character Storytime with Elsa & Olaf from Frozen! Get ready for an enchanting experience filled...
Things to do
Holiday Vintage Market
Get ready for the ultimate vintage experience this holiday season!
Join us in person to browse unique finds, sip on festive drinks, and enjoy great music....
Things to do
New Year's Eve: Midnight Fever
Midnight Fever returns for our best New Year's Eve experience yet by transforming the market into a three-story celebration. Chicago house music legend,...
Things to do
Industry Mondays
Enjoy delicious food while sipping specialty Cafeto cocktails; all hospitality workers will receive 20% off their bar tabs.
The latest things to do in Chicago
Things to do
11 things to look forward to in Chicago in 2026
A Gilded Age magic palace, a major WNBA weekend and Obama’s expansive civic campus await in the new year.
Things to do
The best January 2026 events in Chicago
Start the new year with events, festivals, concerts, theater shows and more great things to do in Chicago during January.
Things to do
The best February 2026 events in Chicago
Keep yourself busy in February with the Chicago Auto Show, a folk festival, Lunar New Year celebrations and more.
Things to do
Dancing the Revolution
This first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago explores the visual, political and spiritual histories of dancehall and...
Things to do
Pokémon Fossil Museum
Whether you’re parenting a pint-sized Pokémon devotee or a nostalgic millennial still clinging to a holographic Charizard card for its...
The latest Chicago news
Things to do
11 things to look forward to in Chicago in 2026
A Gilded Age magic palace, a major WNBA weekend and Obama’s expansive civic campus await in the new year.
Music
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum will officially close
The South Side institution will shutter its Indiana Avenue home on December 27.
Travel
This national park is just a one-hour train ride from Chicago—and it’s perfect for a winter day trip
With snow-capped dunes, miles of trails and postcard-worthy views of the Chicago skyline, Indiana Dunes National Park is a standout escape for Midwesterners.
The latest Chicago events
Theater
A Christmas Carol
The Goodman Theatre’s annual holiday production of the Charles Dickens classic returns to the stage, with Christopher Donahue and Austin...
Things to do
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Every two years, Chicago becomes a global hub of architecture and design during the Chicago Architecture Biennial. This edition’s theme is SHIFT:...
Things to do
Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park
Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago with the city's sweeping skyline as a backdrop, the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is a winter attraction...
Things to do in Chicago neighborhoods
Things to do
Avondale
The traditionally Polish neighborhood is dotted with arts centers, small parks and interesting shops.
Shopping & Style
Shopping
The best boutiques and shopping in Logan Square, Chicago
Fill an afternoon browsing the neighborhood's shops.
Shopping
19 Chicago gift shops for unique presents
It’s been said that the best gifts in life are free, but no one’s really buying that, right?
Most popular things to do features
Things to do
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Dennis Scott is the man who makes the Music Box sing
For over three decades, he’s filled Chicago’s beloved movie palace with music, laughter and enough Christmas cheer to make even Scrooge crack a smile.
Things to do
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For Maya-Camille Broussard, a humble pie can create more change than you might think
The owner of Chicago’s Justice of the Pies shares how food can make just as much of an impact on the dinner table as it can in social movements.
Things to do
This former quarry is the most stunning park to visit in Chicago this winter
Every winter, Bridgeport’s Palmisano Park transforms into a winter wonderland thanks to its massive sledding hill and snow-capped walking paths.
Things to do
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Simone Mitchell-Peterson is proving that joy doesn’t age
The Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly CEO of 21 years has architected programs that provide friendship and companionship to older adults throughout...
Things to do
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.
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Things to do
The best New Year’s Eve events and parties in Chicago to ring in 2026
Kiss 2025 goodbye with the help of these big hotel soirees, rooftop bashes and more.
Things to do
Illinoisans: It’s your final year to visit the viral Taylor Swift–themed Christmas house.
2025 will be the last time to celebrate Christmas (Taylor’s Version) at Naperville's “Swiftmas” house.
Things to do
Chicago’s first-ever cookie market is coming to Wrigleyville—and it’s benefitting a great cause
At Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, 40 of Chicago’s finest pastry chefs will be offering confections to raise critical funds for pediatric cancer research.
Things to do
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.
Things to do
The best January 2026 events in Chicago
Start the new year with events, festivals, concerts, theater shows and more great things to do in Chicago during January.
Time In - movies we love
Movies
The best Christmas movies of all time
It’s easy to be a Scrooge about Christmas movies, especially these days. Streaming platforms have shamelessly muscled into the Hallmark market, churning...
Movies
'Marty Supreme' review: Timothée Chalamet is on fire in this stunning achievement of a movie
American cinema’s fake-it-til-you-make-it brigade – Catch Me If You Can’s Frank Abagnale Jr, Moses Pray in Paper Moon, Rizzo in Midnight...
Movies
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' review: This threequel is sometimes spectacular, occasionally stultifying
Aside from an overlong film, there’s little more dull than hearing some overprivileged critic whining about film length. After all, an extra helping of...
Movies
The best new Christmas movies of 2025 to stream
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, especially on streaming services. Every year, a stuffed stocking’s worth of peppermint-sweet holiday...
Movies
'Zootropolis 2' review: Disney drops possibly the most adorable sequel ever
There have been better animated sequels and more epic ones, but has there ever been a fluffier follow-up than this bouncy, buoyant caper starring at least half...
Time In - songs we love
Music
The 50 best karaoke songs ever made
Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all.
Music
The 40 best party songs ever made
Party songs come in all shapes and sizes, but to be a party song, there are some rules.