The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

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. 

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.

Made some room in your closets and cupboards during spring cleaning? Then it's time for some spring shopping! Join Time Out Market Chicago for a pop-up marketplace filled with shopping, food and fun on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. A variety of unique vendors and artisans will be selling their wares, including home decor, candles, jewelry, clothing, skincare, accessories, and much more, perfect if you're looking for gifts or simply want to treat yourself with something new and cool. In between shopping, you can indulge in delicious bites from the market's eateries and soak up the venue's vibrant atmosphere.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels—you just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

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.

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.