Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (April 11-13, 2025).
(If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here.)
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.
Best Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are the best weekend events in Chicago:
C2E2: Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo – April 11-13, 2025
PlayFrom the Upper Deck Inside Wrigley Field – April 11-12, 2025
CSO x The Joffrey Ballet – April 10-13, 2025
Chicago Tea Festival at the Copernicus Center – April 12-13, 2025 – An annual event that celebrates the world of tea and brings together tea lovers and enthusiasts.
Chicago Artisan Market (Ravenswood) – April 12-13, 2025, 11am-5pm
Chicago Palestine Film Festival – April 12-26, 2025
Asian Pop-Up Cinema – Through April 13, 2025
Chicago Latino Film Festival – Through April 14, 2025
Bingo Loco: The Ultimate Bingo Party – Friday, April 11, 2025, 8pm
Taylor Swift Bar Crawl: Eras, Ex’s and Everything Taylor (Wrigleyville) – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 12-6pm
Godfrey Wine Fest – Wine Tasting at I|O Godfrey Rooftop (Ages 21+) – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 1-5pm
Boozin’ Bunny Bar Hop (Northalsted) (21+) – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 1pm – Bar crawl through Northalsted with a pink dress code.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago at Indian Boundary Park – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 2-3pm | FREE – A free evening of chamber music with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at Indian Boundary Park.
The Latin Side of Jazz Guitar by Richard Peña – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 7-9pm | FREE – World premier of Richard Peña’s newest album at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center.
Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami CF at Soldier Field – Sunday, April 13, 2025
3:30pm – See the famous soccer star Lionel Messi in action.
J Balvin at United Center – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 8pm
The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 8:30pm – In this live theater show, the audience becomes part of the show. As a member of the jury, you’ll analyze witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and forensic evidence in your search for the truth and ultimately decide: guilty or innocent.
Twyla Tharp Dance at the Harris Theater – April 10-12, 2025
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
The Commercial Works of David Lynch at the Music Box – Friday, April 11, 2025, 4pm | FREE
Opening Reception of the Puntadas del Alma, Told Through Quilts and El Arte de lo Pequeño exhibitions at the National Museum of Mexican Art – Friday, April 11, 2025, 6-8pm | FREE
Tom Papa Grateful Bread Tour at The Chicago Theatre – Friday, April 11, 2025, 8pm
Easter Egg Hunt at Gallagher Way – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 11am-2pm | FREE
MCA Family Day | It’s Alive! – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 11am-3pm | FREE – Enjoy free admission and interactive events that redefine the way that children and families explore and create art together.
Earth Day Resource Fair at Dvorak (Anton) Park – Saturday, April 12, 2025, noon-3pm | FREE – Visit tables from various environmental organizations, gardening, recycling, forest preserves, water/ energy conservation, native plants/animals, plus sign up for park clean-up, etc.
Handmade Market (at the Empty Bottle) – Saturday, April 12, 2025, noon-4pm
The Newport Peekeasy: Burlesque and Variety Show – Saturday, April 12, 2025, 7:00–8:30pm – Combination of burlesque, belly dance, drag and other live dance performances.
Hyde Park Handmade Artisan Bazaar at the Promontory – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 11am-3pm – Monthly showcase of south side Chicago craft, fashion and food makers.
Schubas 4th Annual Garage Sale – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 12pm | FREE
Golf Watch Party at Gallagher Way – Sunday, April 13, 2025, 2-6pm | FREE and no RSVP required.
The Listeners at Lyric Opera of Chicago -Through April 11, 2025
La Bohème at Lyric Opera – Through April 12, 2025
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – Through April 20, 2025
More Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
In addition to the weekend events listed above, below are more of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend:
The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case
Step into the heart of a high-stakes trial with The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case. In this live theater show, the audience becomes part of the show. As a member of the jury, you’ll analyze witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and forensic evidence in your search for the truth and ultimately decide: guilty or innocent.
When: Every Sunday from April 13-June 8, 2025
Where: Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60642
Cost: Prices start at $46 per person. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody at The Studebaker Theater
The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody at The Studebaker Theater is a limited time burlesque parody show which drops classic Star Wars characters into the world of burlesque with a unique blend of seduction and sci-fi.
When: April 11-May 4, 2025
Where: The Studebaker Theater, 410 South Michigan Avenue Fine Arts Building, Chicago, 60605, IL 60642
Cost: Prices start at $54 per person. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must do Chicago experience.
Look for Street Art
See Chicago’s many murals by joining a street art tour.
Take a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop
Grab some spray paint and unleash your inner street artist at a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop. This interactive spray paint workshop will teach you the ins and outs of working with spray paint and other elements of graffiti and street art as you create your own painted mural.
Where: Studio W.I.P. – Uptown, 1047 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Cost: $40 per person for adults. Click here to purchase tickets.
Spring Flower Show at the Garfield Park Conservatory
Check out the annual Spring Flower Show, “Rooted in Mystery” at the Garfield Park Conservatory, which explores the different types of roots and the cool stuff they do plus a marvelous display of spring plants, including azaleas, pansies, snapdragons, astilbe, baptisia, hydrangeas, and 26 different varieties of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory
The free Lincoln Park Conservatory also as its annual Spring Flower Show, “Spectrum of Spring”, which highlights the color families of plants and flowers and offers a unique design and color scheme.
Watch a Drunk Shakespeare Play
Join The Drunk Shakespeare Society for an unforgettable evening of Shakespearean revelry. Set within a speakeasy, five actors attempt to perform a Shakespearean play after one of them downs multiple shots of various alcohols. Every show is different depending on who is drinking and what they’re drinking. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
Where: The Lounge At The Lion, 182 North Wabash Avenue
Cost: Prices start at $29 per person. Click here to purchase tickets.
Colors in Bloom at the Color Factory
Through May 12, 2025, immerse yourself in joy, color, and spring in limited-time Colors in Bloom confetti installation at the Color Factory. Stroll through larger-than-life tulips and participate in their scavenger hunt to win a reward.
Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds at Art Institute of Chicago
Through July 13, 2025, check out the first exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s work organized by the Art Institute of Chicago. The Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds exhibition focuses on a pivotal period in 1939 when Kahlo resided at the Paris home of Mary Reynolds, an American avant-garde bookbinder, whose home was a hub for the city’s artistic community.
Cost: Price varies. There are discounts for Chicago and Illinois residents. Click here to buy a skip the line ticket if you want to avoid long lines.
As you can see there are many things to do in #Chicago this weekend. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are looking for things to do during the week, you can find more things to do in Chicago in April here.
