April 2025 events calendar for Chicago

The Chicago Latino Film Fest returns for its 41st year from Thursdaym April 3 through Monday, April 14, showing films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, the United States and more via screenings at Landmark Century Centre Cinema, Davis Theatre and Cervantes Institute. This year's programming lineup includes highlights like Patricia Castañeda's 1950s drama Estimados Señores (translation: Dear Gentlemen) out of Colombia, which will serve as the opening night selection, as well as Klaudia Reynicke's early-'90s coming-of-age film Reinas (a.k.a. Queens), which will close out the fest. For a complete schedule of screenings, check out the Chicago Latino Film Festival website.

Get ready to show off your most creative and exquisite cosplay outfit when the Chicago
Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), one of the largest pop culture conventions in the country, returns to its annual stomping grounds at McCormick Place. You'll be able to wander through a massive wonderland filled with comics, toys, games, movies and television. Mingle with fellow fans, search for one-of-a-kind merch or attend live panels featuring some of biggest names in the industry. This year’s guest lineup includes John Boyega, Denise Richards, Sam Heugan, Molly Ringwald and, in a real treat for Lord of the Rings fans, a cast reunion between franchise stars Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and John Rhys-Davies. 

Presented by the experts at the Rum Lab, the 9th annual Chicago Rum Festival (formerly the Midwest Run Festival) brings together producers from across the world for an afternoon of tastings and mingling on Saturday, April 26. Guests can choose from one of five different tickets — including a new-for-2025 DaiquiriMANIA session celeb rating the classic daiquiri cocktail — and work their way through a variety of rum expressions, accompanied by complimentary snacks and live music. All attendees will receive a three-ounce souvenir cup.

The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art (better known as EXPO Chicago) returns to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall from Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, hosting more than 170 of the world's prominent contemporary galleries from 36 countries, including an exciting new partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea. You’ll see towering installations, sprawling canvases, intriguing sculptures and more cutting-edge art at this annual gathering, which features work by artists from around the globe. EXPO Chicago also presents conversations with artists, on-site installations, public art initiatives and more ways to immerse yourself in the creative spirit of the event.

They call this three-day market One of a Kind for a reason. A whopping 350 artists from around the country will fill out one floor in the Merchandise Mart for the spring edition of this seasonal bazaar. Take a look at the show's website for a full list of vendors making everything from handpainted ceramic mugs and cool textured pillows to carved wooden bottlestoppers. Come for the shopping and stick around for daily fashion shows and a gourmet market stocked with lots of tasty treats.

At this feel-good shindig, you’ll enjoy unlimited suds and snacks from dozens of local breweries and restaurants, all for a great cause — Meals On Wheels uses the proceeds to help provide food to Chicago seniors and people with disabilities. We call that a win-win! In between sipping beers from Begyle Brewing, Half Acre, Haymarket Beer Company, Pilot Project Brewing and Old Irving, you can pad your belly with great grub like po-boy sliders and peppercorn-crused ahi tuna from participating food vendors such as Berger Bros Pub, Carnivale Chicago, Kimski, Tabu and Tempesta Market. Upon arrival, you'll receive two bottlecaps, with whim you can cast your vote for Best Brew and Best Bite.

Eataly Chicago’s first all-access part of 2025 is here: on Friday, April 11, the Italian food emporium is hosting All You Can Eataly, a one-night-only celebration featuring unlimited food, drink and entertainment. The spread will include more than 40 Italian bites — think spring pea ravioli, lemon risotto, polenta fritta, seafood salad, assorted pizza and much more — and 30 different kinds of Italian wines, spirits and beers. When you’re not snacking and sipping, you can enjoy in-person chef demonstrations and activations, live music, tarot card reading, a glass etching station, a karaoke room, a photobooth and more set throughout the marketplace from 7pm through 11pm.

Get ready to shake off your seasonal affective disorder with a spring bar crawl inspired by your favorite pop girl, Taylor Swift. There surely won’t be any bad blood as Chicago-area Swifties gather together to bop around the best bars in the Wrigleyville area on Saturday, April 12, enjoying themed drink specials, a brunch buffet, gift cards and giveaways, and, of course, all of the T-Swift tunes you can handle along the way. (Just be sure not to over-imbibe or else you’ll be sob-singing to that 10-minute version of “All Too Well” in no time.) The venues will be announced the night before, but get your sparkly fringe dresses and sweet friendship bracelets ready — this is about to be the bar crawl of your wildest dreams.

This annual event celebrating all things tea-related brings together enthusiasts and vendors from all over the world. On Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, brew lovers will get to taste, discuss and expand their knowledge of tea while discovering new flavors, and also have the opportunity to attend educational workshops, tea cupping sessions and more.

See 30 films from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Nepal during the latest edition of the Asian Pop-Up Cinema screening series, which will include in-person and virtual screenings from Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, April 13. For the first time, the fest will feature a juried competition, with 16 titles competing for the Grand Jury Feature Film Award, the Best Short Film Award, and the Francis Kwong Memorial Award recognizing an emerging director. The lineup includes the centerpiece film, The Last Dance: Extended Version out of Hong Kong, and the closing night selection, Japan's Brush of the God. For a complete schedule, visit the Asian Pop-Up Cinema website.

Mexico in a Bottle returns to Chicago for an afternoon of mezcal, Mexican food, music and more at Bridgeport Art Center. On Sunday, April 27th, enjoy a full-scale tasting event where you can sip on a bevy of mezcal, tequila, rum, whiskey, gin, wine and beer selections from the finest Mexican brands, with Amatiteña Tequila, Dakabend Rum, Cerveza Monopolio, Mezcal Vago, Neta Spirits, Flor del Desierto Sotol and more on the lineup of participating producers. In between drinks, refuel with bites from notable local restaurants like Carnitas Uruapan and Mi Tocaya.

Charli XCX is the kind of artist that could only exist in today's increasingly fragmented world of streaming platforms, fluid genre classifications and poptimism. Listen to the bouyant club beats and catchy refrains of her latest album Brat and it's clear that this larger-than-life performer is a true pop star with the ability to fill arenas. And she'll do just that on Monday, April 28, when the Brat Tour blows into the Windy City with a vibey and energetic show at Rosemont's Allstate Arena. The Illinois stop will feature British songwriter-producer Finn Keane as the opener.

This annual festival assembles luminaries from the fields of politics, journalism and the arts for a multi-week series of programming across the city, with events ranging from lectures and discussions to screenings and musical performances. Not sure which events to hit? Attendees can explore the five Festival Days, full days of programming in a given neighborhood, including in Lakeview on April 27, in Bridgeport on May 10, in Lincoln Park on May 18, and at the Art Institute of Chicago on June 7, as well as thought-provoking discussions and exciting live performances sprinkled throughout the schedule. 

Some of the fest’s biggest speakers this season include Broadway star Leslie Odom, Jr., beloved comedian Ed Helms, artist Tonika Lewis Johnson, musicians like Jon Batiste and Jim Jaramusch, podcaster Ezra Kein, TV icon Paul Reiser, bestselling author Ron Chernow and more. You can see a full schedule of programming on the Chicago Humanities Festival website.

Take a delicious stroll through Chicago's Ravenswood neighboorhood with the return of the Munch March. You’ll be able to try a scrumptious selection of of appetizers, desserts, and beverages as you stroll between shops, taverns and restaurants along Montrose Avenue between Seeley and Ravenswood. Participating businesses include AJ's Bakery & Diner, Bad Luck Club, Chicago's Pizza, Gnome Brew, Katherine Anne Confections, KOVAL Distillery, Margie's Candies, Paradise Port Cafe and Schmaltz & Vinegar, among others. Your ticket also gets you an event tote bag filled with goodies from this year's participants.

Experience 5,000 years of Chinese history through dance, enchanting live orchestra music, authentic costumes and interactive backdrops. Shen Yun brings audiences back to a time when divine beings walked the earth—performances feature around 20 segments that rapidly move between regions, legends and dynasties. The classical Chinese dance company tours the globe with an all-new program each year, working to preserve the traditions of Chinese culture, and it's coming to the Chicago area this spring with runs in University Park, Rosemont and the Windy City's Civic Opera House. 

Whether you're a polyglot or just passionate about language, this symposium is for you: taking place at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park Campus on Saturday, April 12, the Chicago Language Symposium will bring together linguistics enthusiasts, educators, and professionals to explore the diverse world of languages, with a full day of workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. The theme for this year’s conference is "​​​Artificial Intelligence and World Language Teaching​​​​,” delving into the transformative impact of AI and adaptive learning tools on world language education.

Winter is almost over and the Garfield Park Conservatory is here to usher in warmer days with its annnual Spring Flower Show. Make a reservation to explore this year's theme, "Rooted in Mystery," which explores the critical part of plants we don't see hidden underground. You'll find spring bulbs like azaleas, pansies, snapdragons, astilbe, baptisia, hydrangeas and more. The show only sticks around through Mother's Day weekend, so book your visit soon!

Bingo Loco, an interactive rave show that takes place in cities around the world, comes to West Loop’s Morgan MFG this spring, with five dates in Chicago (March 28, April 11, April 25, May 10 and May 23.) The traditional game of bingo gets reimagined as a three-hour long immersive experience, complete with epic dance offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, confetti showers, CO2 cannons, conga lines and prizes ranging from international trips to lawnmowers. One thing’s for sure—this ain’t bingo night at the senior center.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. Running Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 8:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

For more than 30 years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

You’ve probably seen a Shakespeare play before, but never like this. Five professional actors come together for each performance of Drunk Shakespeare. The twist? One of them has had five shots before the show and is trying to stay on track while the other four actors do their best to hold the performance together.