Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
3 MIN READ – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announce a joyful lineup of 2023 holiday festivities at Millennium Park along with details on Chicago’s 2023 Christmas Tree. The 110th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree, a 45-foot Colorado Blue Spruce was
donated by the De La Cruz family of Darien, IL.
Chicago Loop Alliance annually compiles a detailed guide of recommended experiences, restaurants, hotels, Loop deals, Santa in the Loop, and more. Chicagoans and visitors alike are encouraged to enjoy and explore all the Loop has to offer during the most joyous time of the year.
1 MIN READ — Who said the Loop isn’t a hot dining spot? Surely not Top Chef Fabio Viviani, who is set to open a Loop rooftop, Seville, at the Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop hotel this fall.
The report tracks pedestrian activity, shared mobility and transit, hotel occupancy, office workers on-site, arts and culture, investment, and more. Sold-out and world-class events; an incremental increase in office workers; and record-breaking summer tourism contributed to a stable third quarter.
1 MIN READ — The Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC) celebrated the 65th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, the most prestigious awards program in the Midwest honoring distinguished individual achievement in communications, marketing and public relations, with a ceremony on Wednesday, October 4.
4 MIN READ – Fall is arguably the best season in Chicago (or at least top two!). Cooler temps, light layers, and plenty of things to do encourage Chicagoans to step outside. If you want to paint with the colors of the wind, here are some ways to enjoy some of the vestiges of a perfect autumn day downtown in the Loop.
The Center for Native Futures (CfNF) is located in the Loop’s Marquette Building and serves as Chicago’s only all-Native
artist-operated fine arts organization.
2 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance unveiled Enteractive State, five activations along State Street, showcasing the energy, spirit, and culture of the Loop through October 31. In partnership with LeMonde Studios of Montreal, Quebec, these distinctive areas feature human powered interactive sculptures along the corridor. The experiences are free and open to the public.
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…
