Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (April 10-12, 2026) including the best events and activities.
You can find more things to do in Chicago this week here.
(If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here.)
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
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:
Neighbors Art Fair – April 8-12, 2026
EXPO CHICAGO Contemporary Art Fair – April 9–12, 2026
The Other Art Fair – April 9-12, 2026
Lizard’s Liquid Lounge Final Weekend Farewell Shows – April 9-12, 2026 | Free
Spring Clothing Swap at Chicago Fair Trade – April 10-12, 2026
World Oddities Expo – April 11-12, 2026
YarnCon! – April 11-12, 2026 | Free
Chicago Tea Festival at the Copernicus Center – April 11-12, 2026
Spring Vintage & Artisan Fest in Logan Square by Windy City Market – April 11 & 12, 2026
Chicago Palestine Film Festival at The Gene Siskel Film Center – April 11-25, 2026
Midway Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Week – April 12-18, 2026
Hot Girl Walk® – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 9:30-11:30am | Free
Wicker Park Green Fest – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12-3pm | Free – Afternoon filled with sustainability-focused vendors, music, food and hands-on activities, for all ages.
Chicago Electronic Music Festival at Ramova Theatre – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12pm – One day music fest with panels, workshops and music performances.
Schubas 5th Annual Garage Sale – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 12pm | Free
Asian Pop-Up Cinema – Through April 12, 2026
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Florence and the Machine Everybody Scream Tour at the Allstate Arena – April 10-11, 2026
Mary Poppins in Concert Live to Film at Lyric Opera of Chicago – April 10-11, 2026
Crafternoon at Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion – Friday, April 10, 2026, 11am-1pm | Free – Try your hand at different crafts suitable for people of all abilities.
Our Streets & Our Stories at National Public Housing Museum – Friday, April 10, 2026, 5-7pm | Free
Friday Night Pickleball Social – Friday, April 10, 2026, 7-9:30pm
Art Battle at SPIN – Friday, April 10, 2026, 7-10pm
PAWS Chicago Animal Magnetism – Friday, April 10, 2026, 7-11pm
Chelsea Handler at the Chicago Theatre – Friday, April 10, 2026, 8pm
Japanese Funk Night: City Pop vs Future Funk at Hairpin Arts Center – Friday, April 10, 2026, 8-11pm
Birding: Waterfowl Watching at Northerly Island – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 8:30-10am | Free
Bronzeville Cleanup with Cleanup Club – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am-12pm | Free
Family Day: Imagined Worlds at the Smart Museum of Art – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am-1pm | Free
Midway Chamber of Commerce Spring Pop-Up & Block Party – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am-2pm
Creator Closet Sale – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am-2pm
Woodworking with Invasives at Caldwell Woods Wellness Center – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10am-12pm | Free (Registration required)
SOS: Save Our Seas by Ana Teresa Fernández at Ohio Street Beach – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11am-12pm | Free
MCA Family Day | Mini Mundo – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11am-3pm | Free – Designed for children under 12.
Earth Day Resource Fair at Dvorak (Anton) Park – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12-3pm | Free
Handmade Market (at the Empty Bottle) – Saturday, April 10, 2026, 12-4pm
Puppy Yoga at 360 Chicago – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 7:45-8:45am – A special yoga class that directly benefits One Tail at a Time, a local rescue dedicated to ending pet homelessness.
Spring Matcha Experience – A Japanese Tea Ceremony & Seasonal Tasting – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 12-1:10pm
Saborcito Soul Day Social & Market – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2-6pm
The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 4pm & 6pm
RoofTop Party Pretty In Pink at VU Rooftop Bar – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 4-11pm
Madama Butterfly at Lyric Opera – Through April 12, 2026
Windfall at Steppenwolf Theatre – April 9–May 31, 2026
More Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
See the Cherry Blossoms in Jackson Park
The cherry blossoms in Jackson Park (next to the
Museum of Science and Industry) have started to bloom. You can track their progress on this page.
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 next weekend include:
A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Rings and Dragons
Best of Bridgerton on Strings
Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Strings
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 though 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.
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago this weekend. If you are looking for things to do during the week, you can find more things to do in Chicago in April.
