April 2025 events calendar for Chicago

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.

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. 

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.