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!

Every night in our dreams, we've wished for this moment: Titanique the Musical is cruising into Chicago! The smash-hit comedy, in which "the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the film Titanic," is gearing up for a Chicago run as a co-production from Porchlight Music Theatre and Broadway in Chicago, with performances set for the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place this spring.  Led by actress Clare Kennedy McLaughlin, who will play the French-Canadian pop diva herself, Chicago's Titanique will retell the fictionalized story of Titanic's sinking from James Cameron’s 1997 Blockbuster, albeit using Dion's famous power ballads to push the plot forward. Featured tunes include “Because You Loved Me,” “All By Myself,” “To Love You More,” “Tell Him,” “Beauty and the Beast" and two of Dion's most-loved covers, “River Deep, Mountain High” and “I Drove All Night," culminating, of course, in that radio juggernaut “My Heart Will Go On.” 

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.

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.

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.

In its 14th year, One Earth Film Festival offers a slate of environmental films aimed at understanding climate change, sustainability and the power of human involvement from April 22 to April 28, for the celebration of Earth Week. Screenings cover topics including water justice, public housing, deforestation, more. The fest unfolds with a diverse lineup of films, interactive panels, and community-driven events at 20-plus locations across the greater Chicago area.

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. 

Doc10, Chicago's only all-documentary film festival, returns to the Davis Theater and Gene Siskel Film Center for its big 10th anniversary. From Friday, April 25 through Sunday, May 4, the festival will screen 10 current documentaries culled from other top festivals around the globe (Sundance, Tribeca), including Elegance Bratton's fiery music feature Move Ya Body: The Birth of House — which will open the 2025 series— and the Closing Night selection Prime Minister from filmmakers Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, centered on New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern.

The popular concert series beneath the spectacular Preston Bradley Hall Tiffany dome at the Chicago Cultural Center is back on Thursday, April 24, with Chicago-born hip-hop artist Qari and genre-bending crooner Elton Aura taking the stage for free performances. RSVPs (available via the Cultural Center's website) are requested but not required, but plan to show up early for your best chance of nabbing a seat, as space may be limited. Attendees can also take part in a clothing swap from 5pm to 8pm (don't worry, it's on pause during the artist sets) with Chicago Fair Trade's Conscious Closet Club. Bring clean, stain-free items you want to add to the swap, and feel free to take up to five wardrobe-refreshing items in return!

You don't just have to celebrate Irish culture and tradition on St. Patrick's Day. From Tuesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 27, Irish dance sensation Riverdance is stepping its way to Chicago for its special 30th anniversary tour. The world-famous show has been invigorated with new choreography, costuming, state-of-the-art visual effects and a brand-new cast of performers (all of whom were not born when show began three decades ago—yes, we feel old too.) Being held at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, the new two-hour production is composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan.

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.