Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (April 24-26, 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:
One of a Kind Spring Show – April 24-26, 2026
Garden Party with Vintage House – April 25-26, 2026, 12-5pm | Free admission with no RSVP needed – 90+ vintage and handmade vendors at Artifact Events.
CineYouth Film Festival – April 24-26, 2026 | 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.
Swan Boat Rentals at Humboldt Park – Opens April 25, 2026
Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl Independent Bookstore Day – Saturday, April 25, 2026
Plant-A-Thon Spring Festival at North Park Village Nature Center Park – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 10am-2pm | Free
Hanami – Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival at Jackson Park – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1-3pm | Free
Rum Fest – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2-7pm
Chicago Girls Who Walk x Garbage Gals Collab – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11am-12:30pm | Free – Walk and pick up trash in Jackson Park.
Spring Vintage & Artisan Fest in Roscoe Village by Windy City Market – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12-5pm
Salt Shed Open House (Arboretum Edition) – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12-5pm | Free
Toast of Uptown Wine Walk – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2-5pm
Mexico in a Bottle – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 4-7pm – Mezcal, Mexican craft spirits, food, art, music and more.
One Earth Film Festival – April 22-28, 2026
Doc10 Film Festival – April 24 – May 3, 2026
CIVL Fest – Through April 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.
Chicago Palestine Film Festival at The Gene Siskel Film Center – Through April 25, 2026
Chicago Latino Film Festival – Through April 27, 2026
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
West Town Wellness Week – April 20-26, 2026 – Exclusive deals from West Town’s top wellness businesses, plus a lineup of community events hosted by the West Town Chamber of Commerce.
Earth Week at the Zoo – April 20–26, 2026, 10am–1pm | Free – A week-long celebration at Lincoln Park Zoo full of free activities, chats, and more.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – April 24-26, 2026
Chicago Spring Makers & Food Festival – April 24-26, 2026, 10am-5pm | Free
Clean and Green Day (Roscoe Village) – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8am-12pm
Earth Day Trash Bash at Dan Ryan Woods – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9am-12pm | Free
Garfield Park Cleanup with Cleanup Club – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:30-11:30am | Free
Earth Day Celebration at Buttercup Park (Uptown) – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11am-2pm | Free
Earth Day at Gallagher Way – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11am-4pm | Free
Taylor Swift Bar Crawls: Eras, Ex’s and Everything Taylor – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 12-5pm
Taste of Northalsted: Food & Drink Sampling Crawl – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1-5pm – Food & Drink Sampling Crawl.
Repair to Rewear: Mending Workshop at Chicago Fair Trade Museum & Store – Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2-4pm | Free
Umemi: Plum Blossom Viewing at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool – Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11am-3pm | Free (RSVP requested)
Hamilton at CIBC Theatre – Through April 26, 2026
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at Goodman Theatre – Through April 26, 2026
Mrs. Krishnan’s Party at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier – Through April 26, 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:
A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Tribute to The Beatles
Tribute to Bad Bunny (Oak Park)
Tribute to Coldplay on Strings (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.
