How to celebrate 4/20 in Chicago

Spark up and then immerse yourself in the world of comic books and expensive cinematic adaptation. Celebrating 80 years of spectacular stories, the “Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes” exhibit brings your favorite caped crusaders and villains into the real world with more than  300 artifacts to explore, including interactive displays and props from the Marvel films. Make sure to check out the exhibit’s Doctor Strange Mirror Room, which may make you feel as if you’re traveling through a completely different dimension.

Stock up on refreshments for the day at La Estrella Mini-Mart, which carries an assortment of snacks that are difficult to track down elsewhere. From hip-hop themed Rap Snacks to Japanese sodas, you’re sure to find something that will stop hunger pangs and dry mouth in their tracks. There’s also a smoke section with wraps, glass and trays, in case you’re short on equipment—plus a collection of Pokémon cards and Funko POP! figures if you need to take care of some nerdy shopping.

If you’re hoping to spend 4/20 in a zen state of mind, a visit to the Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park could help set the mood. The serene Japanese Garden is a great  spot to relax and temporarily tune out the sounds of the city, surrounded by nature and tranquil water. Further elevate your mental state by engaging in some meditation near Yoko Ono’s Skaylanding sculpture before or after you indulge.

The munchies are sure to kick in at least a couple times throughout the day, so why not treat your taste buds at one of Chicago’s most underrated purveyors of wings? Located just off the Howard Red Line in Rogers Park, Buffalo Joes is a fast food heaven with burgers, rib tips and fish plates galore. But the signature chicken wings are the snack we most heartily recommend, coated in buttery mild, spicy, suicide or BBQ sauce that will send your tastebuds soaring.

There’s more than one way to consume cannabis, and a trip to Wake-N-Bakery will allow you to explore a menu packed with delectable edibles (of the non-THC variety). The bakery and coffee allows you to infuse nearly anything they offer with CBD or Delta-8 THC—for an additional fee. Snag a breakfast burrito and pair it with Wake-N-Bakey’s Purple Haze lemonade or a Snoops Dream latte, because you shouldn’t skip the most important meal of the day on 4/20.

There will be plenty of people celebrating the amazing marijuana plant, but that shouldn’t limit your appreciation of leafy vegetation. Surround yourself with the greenery at the minority-owned Qideas Nurseries & Gardening Store on Argyle Street in Uptown, where you can buy all kinds of houseplants and accessories to make your surrounding a bit more lush. If you’re looking for a relaxing but mentally stimulating activity to keep your hands busy while you’re baked, why not buy a bonsai tree to trim.

Music and marijuana are a great pairing, and if you’re looking for some last-minute additions to your 4/20 soundtrack, Avondale record store Bucket O’Blood is stocked with heady vinyl. The psychedelic mural on the front of the store (courtesy of local artist Mac Blackout) is enough to melt your mind, but we encourage you to step inside and snag some records from the likes of Funkadelic and Tame Impala that will help set the mood. 

For some folks, comic books are an even more amazing read while stones, allowing you to bask in the detailed panels and allow your imagination play them out like a movie in your mind. You’ll find a wide variety of comics, graphic novels, and manga at G-Mart Comics in Logan Square, where there’s always someone eager to recommend titles. We recommend the gloriously graphic superhero tale Invincible (the basis of a recent Amazon Prime adaptation) or the violent man versus giant action of the Attack On Titan manga series, which inspired the popular anime of the same name.

Stave off the temptation to veg out while stoned and get a bit of physical activity while baked. North Ceter’s California Park provides a safe and welcoming environment and plenty of courts for friends and strangers alike to play some basketball together. Whether you prefer running a game of 21 with friends or shooting around solo, enjoying the fresh air while hooping with some extra endorphins running through your brain can be an amazing feeling.

Take a few puffs at home and then set out for a brisk jog or casual stroll on Chicago’s lakefront, where you can enjoy epic views of the skyline and the serene waves of Lake Michigan. If you prefer to find a place to sit and relax, you can’t beat watching the twinkling lights of the city from the outer edge of Montrose Harbor or from the tip of Promontory Point. Just remember: public consumption isn’t allowed under Chicago law, so if you’re going to get high, do it before your lakefront excursion.

With a seemingless endless amount of outdoor murals, Pilsen is an excellent neighborhood to track down some trippy visuals on 4/20. Get lost exploring the famous string of murals created by local and international street artists along 16th Street, or simply walk down 18th Street and admire incredible artworks that take up small doors and entire building walls, such as the giant mural of a cosmic coyote that marks Coyotes Restaurant on 18th Street and Laflin Street.

Hosted by Lincoln Park smoke shop Canna Bella Lux, this 4/20 event at the Davis Theater that’s geared toward the special herb’s femme aficioandos. Tickets include a complimentary drink from the Carbon Arc bar, a swag bag (complete with popcorn and cannabis accessories) and a chance to see if Mean Girls is even funnier while you’re a little baked. Consumption isn’t allowed on-site, so make sure you toke up before you show up.