Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (April 25-27, 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:
EXPO CHICAGO Contemporary Art Fair – April 24-27, 2025
One of a Kind Spring Show – April 25-27, 2025
20th Annual CineYouth Film Festival – April 25-27, 2025 | FREE – Cinema/Chicago’s annual film festival celebrating filmmakers 22 and younger from around the world featuring in-theater and online screenings, hands-on workshops, live Q&As, and more.
Riverdance 30 – The New Generation at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – April 22-27, 2025
One Earth Film Festival – April 22-28, 2025
NEON REVOLUTION at Inside Town Art Collective – April 24-27, 2025, 3-11pm | FREE – “Neon Mike” Aguilar, showcases a stunning collection of custom art and original neon pieces in his first solo exhibition.
Chicago Palestine Film Festival – Through April 26, 2025
MUBI Fest at the Music Box – April 26-27, 2025
Doc10 Film Festival – April 25 – May 4, 2025
Bingo Loco: The Ultimate Bingo Party – Friday, April 25, 2025, 8pm
Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl Independent Bookstore Day – Saturday, April 26, 2025 – More than 50 independent bookstores in the greater Chicago area are collaborating on the annual Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl, which encourages book lovers to indulge in bookstore tourism by visiting 10 or more stores in a single day.
Howard Street Carnaval – Saturday, April 26, 2025
Explore Your Lyric at the Lyric Opera House – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 11am-2pm | FREE – People of all ages are welcomed into the Lyric Opera House for a day of exploration and fun.
Hanami Festival at Jackson Park – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1-3pm | FREE celebration hosted by the Japanese Culture Center with classical Japanese dance, Taiko drums and origami workshops among the cherry blossom trees.
Spring Taste of Northalsted Food & Drink Sampling Crawl (21+) – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 2-5pm
9th Chicago Rum Festival, aka Midwest Rum Fest (Ages 21+) – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 2-7pm
Mapleseed Piano Concert at Indian Boundary Park – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 3-4pm | FREE
Candlelight Concert: Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 6:30pm
The Goonies In Concert – 40th Anniversary at the Auditorium Theatre – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:30pm
Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Strings – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 4:30pm & 8:30pm
Legally Blonde: The Improvised Musical – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9-10pm | FREE
Chicago Humanities Spring Festival Lakeview Day – Sunday, April 27, 2025
Modern Vintage Chicago Fashion & Home – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 10am–5pm – See and shop a selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, handbags and accessories, plus housewares and decorative arts from the 1890’s to 2000’s. Food, bar and DJ.
The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 6pm & 8:30pm
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Sor Juana Festival at the National Museum of Mexican Art – Through April 26, 2025
Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry – Through April 27, 2025
Out In The Open Comedy – Friday, April 25, 2025, 7-9pm | FREE – Stand-up under the stars at Humboldt Park.
Clean and Green Day (Roscoe Village) – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8am – Volunteer to clean up the neighborhood. All volunteers will be provided with tools, clean-up bags and gloves.
Trash Bash at Dan Ryan Woods – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9am-12pm | FREE
FREE Community Pop-Up Thrift Boutique at Chicago Public Library- Dunning Branch – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 12-3pm
Chicago City Nature Challenge at McKinley Park – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 12:30–2pm | FREE – Join the City Nature Challenge at McKinley Park with the zoo’s Conservation Ambassadors Board.
Earth Day Clean-up – Saturday, April 26, 2025, noon-3pm | FREE – The Chicago Park District is hosting an Earth Day Clean-up in parks across the city. Join thousands of volunteers in parks across Chicago in picking up litter and putting down mulch to give green spaces a fresh start for the season.
Ravenswood Makers Market – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1-6pm
Sensory Feast: A Magical Dining Experience – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 6pm – Step into the land of Oz at Sensory Feast, a captivating dining experience. Cutting-edge projection mapping transforms your table into a living canvas where Dorothy’s adventures come to life—all while you enjoy a 3-course meal.
Trisha Paytas: The Eras of Trish Tour at The Chicago Theatre – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:30pm
The Newport Peekeasy: Burlesque and Variety Show – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:00–8:30pm – See a combination of burlesque, belly dance, drag and other live dance performances. Intimate tables and seating will offer a true speakeasy vibe for the show.
Third Annual Stones Fest at the Irish-American Heritage Center – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7-11pm | FREE
Hide N Seek A Night in Monte Carlo at the Chicago Children’s Museum (21+) – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7pm-12am – Try your luck as you explore a transformed museum after hours in this glamorous adults’ night out including drinks, food, dancing, and play.
Ravenswood Run – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 8am
Nature Boardwalk Safari Family Day at Lincoln Park Zoo – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 10am–1pm | FREE – On the Family Nature Boardwalk Safari, you can take part in free activities and join this year’s City Nature Challenge.
FIND YOUR THING at The Spring Volunteer Fair – Midwest Coast Brewing – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 12-4pm | FREE – Come for the opportunities, stay for the connections, and leave inspired to get involved and make a difference.
Mexico in a Bottle at Bridgeport Art Center – Sunday, April 27, 2025, 4-7pm – Afternoon of mezcal, Mexican craft spirits, food, art, music and more.
A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration at the Chicago Cultural Center – Through April 27, 2025 | FREE
Berlin at Court Theatre – Through May 11, 2025
Titanique the Musical – Through July 13, 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:
See Beautiful Tulips In and Around Chicago
Tulip season is here! There are several places in Chicago and the suburbs where you can admire these beautiful spring flowers.
Every year thousands of tulip bulbs are planted in Michigan Avenue medians from Oak Street to Roosevelt Road. Although not as many as tulips as Michigan Avenue, you can also find some tulips on State Street in the Loop between W Wacker Drive and Monroe – including right across the Chicago Theatre.
Cantigny Park in Wheaton has picturesque tulip gardens and is hosting its Tulip Sip and Stroll on Saturday, April 26 from 10 am – 4 pm.
You can also walk in and take photos in large tulips fields at Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois and Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park, Illinois.
Read Best Places to See Tulips in and near Chicago for more places to see tulips in and near Chicago.
See Digital Art Projections at Art on the Mart
Art on theMART, projecting contemporary artwork across the 2.5-acre river-façade of theMART, will resume after a nearly four month winter hiatus.
When: 8:30-9:30pm on Thursdays through Sundays starting April 25, 2025.
Where: The Merchandise Mart, 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654. Spectators can watch the show from the jetty section of the Chicago Riverwalk on Wacker Drive between Wells Street and Franklin Street.
Cost: FREE
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: Through 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.
