The best things to do in Chicago today

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!

The Chicago Cubs welcome fans to Wrigley Field for the first home series of the 2025 season. They’ll take on the San Diego Padres with three games from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6, followed by two games against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9. If the weather’s too dreadful for you to attend a game in person, grab a seat at the best sports bars in Chicago so you don't miss any of the bat-swinging action. 

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.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has dedicated an exhibit to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans of the renowned secret agent can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

Join Artifact Events for a party with some of Chicago’s most popular local breweries. You'll get to sample beers from Off Color, Old Irving, Forbidden Root, Haymarket Beer Co. and many more, plus enjoy tasty bites, too, from Rojo Gusano and Irene's. (Along with those tastings, your ticket includes a commemorative tasting glass to take home.) There will be live tunes and dogs are also welcome to attend. Plus, don’t miss The Brewer, an immersive performance by Dead Reckoning Theatre Co. that brings brewing herstory to life. 

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.

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.

Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak explores the deep and ongoing connections between Indigenous art and the region now known as Chicagoland. This groundbreaking exhibition, shaped by four artists with ties to Zhegagoynak, showcases more than 80 works by 33 artists. Each piece celebrates the diversity of Indigenous materials, practices and perspectives, creating a tapestry of shared aesthetics, values and histories. Indigenous contributions to the city’s artistic narrative are often overlooked, but Woven Being challenges this omission, centering on Indigenous voices and stories. Themes of land, water, kinship with nature and Indigenous concepts of time weave through the exhibition, reflecting a rich heritage that endures. 

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.

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.

On the first Friday of every month in 2025, join Eataly for a culinary adventure. Guests can enjoy five tastings at counters throughout the marketplace, including fresh pasta, Roman-style pizza, housemade pasticcini, artisanal salumi and formaggi, and more.

Check out galleries and artistic spaces around Wicker Park and Bucktown during this free monthly event that takes place the first Friday of each month. Venues will keep their doors open until 8pm so guests can meet gallery owners and artists, and explore a range of local art. Participating spots include Jackson Junge Gallery, Tom Robinson Gallery, SoNa Contemporary Art, Torque Ltd., Prism Spaces and more.