Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
5 MIN READ — Whether you’re visiting the Loop for NASCAR or you’re a local looking to plan the perfect weekend, we’ve got you covered. From can’t-miss events to traffic updates, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in the Loop during NASCAR weekend.
4 MIN READ – NASCAR Chicago Street Race announced that it will partner with Chicago Loop Alliance and JoRand (founded by local restauranteurs Victor Love and Mark Rand) to expand this year’s NASCAR Village, the free, public experience in Butler Field throughout race weekend.
4 MIN READ – Following the success of the inaugural event, Chicago will welcome the NASCAR Cup Series back to Grant Park on Sunday July 7, 2024 at 3:30 pm CT, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series set to return on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 1:30 pm CT, with both races broadcast on NBC for the first time.
4 MIN READ – Vroom, vroom! The Chicago Loop will now be home to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, where plans for a street-circuit race on the streets of downtown Chicago.
2 MIN READ – For four Sundays from July through September, Sundays on State will bring art, culture, active recreation, dining, shopping, and joy back to the city’s most iconic street: State Street.
4 MIN READ – Chicago Loop Alliance and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation hosted their Annual Meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 24. Nearly 300 key Loop stakeholders gathered during the in-person event held at Palmer House, a Hilton hotel. New board members were inducted, the organization’s 2021 Annual Report was unveiled in both print and digital format, and major plans were announced for 2022.
6 MIN READ – The popular event series, Sundays on State, has been nominated by PRWeek Awards for “Best in Crisis,” and Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) now joins major national and international powerhouse brands recognized by the communications industry’s highest accolade. Final winner(s) to be announced in March 2022.
2 MIN READ – On December 7, Time Out Chicago released their Best of the City Awards for 2021, and Chicago Loop Alliance’s Sundays on State was named the Best New Event of the Year! Sundays on State saw Chicago’s most iconic street, State Street, closed to traffic from Lake to Madison on select Sundays during the summer and transformed into an open street full of surprises.
March 14, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
March 20, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
April 16, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
April 16, 2026
Experience Chicago at night on a 90-minute river and lake cruise, featuring a glittering skyline, cool breezes, and lively, family-friendly commentary.
April 21, 2026
Directed by Andrew Scoville. Co-created by Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne* and writer Mala Gaonkar, Theater of the Mind is a new theatrical…
May 23, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cruise from the Chicago Riverwalk to Lake Michigan for skyline views and a 3D-enhanced fireworks show with music and narration.
May 31, 2026
Let your creative potential shine this summer with a class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with options available for kids, teens and…
June 5, 2026
From June 6th until July 5th, the phenomenal Champions of Magic bring their acclaimed illusion spectacular to Chicago. Featuring their biggest illusions ever, experience the Broadway-scale…
June 19, 2026
MUSIC BY MARK HOLLMANNLYRICS BY MARK HOLLMANN AND JAY REISSBOOK BY ERIN QUINN PURCELL AND JAY REISSDIRECTED BY MARC BRUNISTARRING…
