Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (April 17-19, 2026) including the best events and activities.
{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:
Barely Fair – Through April 19, 2026
Chicago Latino Film Festival – April 16-27, 2026
Chicago Artisan Market at Artifact Events (Ravenswood) – April 18-19, 2026, 11am-5pm
New Beers Eve (Ravenswood) – Friday, April 17, 2026, 6-10pm – A night of delicious beers, bites and fun at local breweries.
Chicago Humanities Spring Festival Bridgeport Day – Saturday, April 18, 2026
Earth Day Fest at the Garfield Park Conservatory – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11am-2pm | Free
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Free Admission Day for Illinois Residents – Sunday, April 19, 2026
Bucktown Green Clean Up – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9-10:30am | Free
Pickwick Vintage Show – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10am-4pm
Greek Independence Parade – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 2:30-5pm
Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 6:30pm
Chicago Palestine Film Festival at The Gene Siskel Film Center – April 11-25, 2026
Midway Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Week – April 12-18, 2026
CIVL Fest – April 16-25, 2026 – Citywide celebration of the city’s independent venues, artists, and neighborhoods bringing together more than twenty stages for ten days of concerts, special events and collaborations.
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Itlu X Kalapriya: A South Indian Supper Club – Friday, April 17, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm
Open Studios (3rd Fridays) at Bridgeport Art Center – Friday, April 17, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
All You Can Eataly: Spring in Rome – Friday, April 17, 2026, 7-11pm
Ravenswood Neighborhood Clean Up Day – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9am-12pm
Earth Day: Trashy Tapestries at Caldwell Woods Wellness Center – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10am-12pm | Free
Lakeview Earth Day Recycling Event – Sunday, April 18, 2026, 10am-2pm | Free
The Lazy Run 0.5k “4-20 Edition – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11am-2pm
Ravenswood Makers Market @ KOVAL – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1-6pm Free
West Loop Old Fashioned Fest – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 12-3pm
Godfrey Wine Fest – Wine Tasting at I|O Godfrey Rooftop – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1-5pm
Fresa Fests – Trinket WRLD Market Kawaii + Trinket Art Market – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1-5pm – Market full of cute trinkets, kawaii blind Boxes, Sanrio Items, jewelry, and more products from small businesses.
Starry Night Sunflower – Paint and Sip – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 5-7pm
Free Community Repair Event at Portage-Cragin – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1-3pm
A Day of Yes: Fundraiser for the Chicago Children’s Museum – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10am-2pm
Free Day at the American Writers Museum – Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10am-5pm
Fault at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – April 18-May 24, 2026 – Starring Enrico Colantoni and Teri Hatcher, this wickedly dark new comedy directed by Jason Alexander is full of blistering humor and searing revelations.
Hamilton at CIBC Theatre – Through April 26, 2026
Windfall at Steppenwolf Theatre – April 9–May 31, 2026
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:
Attend a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some of the concerts taking place this weekend include:
Tribute to The Beatles
Tribute to Queen
Tribute to TOOL
Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Strings
Tribute to Bad Bunny (Oak Park)
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
See the Spring Flower Show at the Garfield Park Conservatory
Enjoy the annual Spring Flower Show exhibit at the Garfield Park Conservatory.
Where: 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60624
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+), college students and kids (7-17). Admission is FREE for Chicago residents with proof of residency as well as all children under age 7.
See the Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory
The Lincoln Park Conservatory also has an annual Spring Flower Show.
Where: 2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: Free.
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition is a limited time unique exhibition that explores the profound relationship between art and emotions through the captivating medium of inflatable art. This exhibition, first presented in London in December 2023, is committed to the work of emotions, transforming artworks into mirrors to explore the profound relationship between art and emotions, action, and reaction. This is manifested tangibly through Inflatable Art, which offers itself as a medium to express the most intimate nuances of human feelings. Through a mix of interactive installations, emotional projections, and performance art, EmotionAir aims to transport visitors on an unprecedented sensory journey.
When: Extended through September 7, 2026
Where: The Fields Studios – Gate 1, 2828 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60641
Cost: Timed-entry tickets are required. Click here to purchase tickets.
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.
Wondra: Immerse yourself in the magic of nature
Looking for a fun activity for kids? Head to the suburbs for Wondra, where each space invites curious minds to discover hidden details, dazzling colors, and natural awe-scapes that spark imagination and evoke wonder. Experience nature’s wonders in a whole new light with this immersive journey.
Where: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to see prices and purchase tickets in advance.
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 this week here and the best things to do in Chicago in April here.
