Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
The Christkindlmarket, which literally means Christ Child Market in Deutch, was inspired by the 16th-century Christkindelmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. It was a pre-Christmas celebration to usher in Advent. Typically held in Main Market Square, it is accompanied by traditional singing and dancing to bring light and joy to the cold, dark season.
Sounds bumping through the alleys at ACTIVATE have been brought to you by a company with a social mission. Learn more about Free Write Sound & Vision from founder and executive director Ryan Keesling.
Teens in the Chicago Architecture Center’s Teen Fellows program reimagined The Gateway.
Art on theMART, a curated series of digital art, will be projected across 2.5 acres of theMART’s exterior river-façade.
Wabash in the Loop isn’t what it used to be—and its transformation is no accident.
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) has been invited to share its expertise in downtown management at the Beijing Innovative Development Conference from September 13-15. The conference engages 200 business districts from China in a three-day dialogue with international business district management organizations.
Thirty three years after the Great Chicago Fire and a decade before World War I, State Street’s rapid development and expansion are apparent. Today, the thriving Great Street remains an industry leader, cultural and institutional mecca, and of course, a retail hot spot.
While Mars and Tootsie Roll still have confectioneries in Chicago, it is the city’s passion for sweet treats that has kept our title strong. To celebrate National Candy Month we are exploring the past and present of candy making in Chicago.
marzo 15, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
marzo 21, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
abril 17, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
abril 17, 2026
Experience Chicago at night on a 90-minute river and lake cruise, featuring a glittering skyline, cool breezes, and lively, family-friendly commentary.
abril 22, 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…
mayo 23, 2026 | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Cruise from the Chicago Riverwalk to Lake Michigan for skyline views and a 3D-enhanced fireworks show with music and narration.
junio 1, 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…
julio 11, 2026
Cruise Chicago’s waterways with your dog. Pet friendly, scenic, and fun. Available July to October every Saturday and Sunday for pups of all sizes.
agosto 26, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Taste of Greektown comes early to Renaissance! Featuring a special evening celebrating local Mediterranean heritage with an artisanal mezze spread…
