Posted 5 years ago in Loop List
As the flowers begin to bloom, so do Chicagoans with a palpable sense of optimism as they shed their winter coats. From creative flower-filled exhibits and art shows to swanky rooftops with breath-taking views, the Chicago Loop is the place to be in the spring.
Have Fun with Roller Blades & Scooters
April 13-October 21, 2019
No ice skating, no problem. Let the good times roll as Maggie Daley Park brings roller blades and non-motorized scooters to the Loop between 11 am. and 8 p.m. Although admission is free, there is an equipment rental fee. You can rent a pair of rollers blades or a scooter for $12 per 30 minutes. Learn More
Celebrate Germany Week
April 26-May 5
If you enjoy Christkindlmarket, this is for you. Known as Deutschlandwoche, Germany Week is a 10-day celebration of German-American friendship. Experience the best of German culture, cuisine, and tradition at Daley Plaza. Learn More
Visit the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute is the second largest art museum in the country with a collection of approximately 300,000 works of art. This spring, the museum will exhibit extraordinary objects from across places, cultures, and time.
- Super/Natural: Textiles of the Andes, now through June 16
- Cevdet Erek: chiçiçiçichiciçi, now through April 21
- Into the Void: Prints of Lee Bontecou, now through May 5
- Naeem Mohaiemen: Two Meetings and a Funeral, now through March 31
Click here for more galleries and museums.
Macy's Flower Show
March 24 - April 7, 2019
For more than 70 years, Macy’s Flower Show has featured floral materials native to many different landscapes, all blooming in unison despite their unique climatic DNA.
Taking root in unexpected settings such as store countertops, windows, and specially-designed architecture, including grand bridges, columns, and topiaries, Macy’s Flower Show is staged in a unique fashion at three flagship locations nationwide—Herald Square in New York City, State Street in the Chicago Loop, and Union Square in San Francisco. The show offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enjoy these magnificent blossoms. Macy’s invites visitors to take part in flower demonstrations, marvel at breathtaking floral scenes and take advantage of free tours in select cities. This two-week exhibition is free and open to the public during store hours.
Elevate to the Loop’s Sky-High Oases
The Loop’s skyscraping patios boast perfectly crafted cocktails, award-winning dining, and some of the best views of the city. They offer essential consolation and stimulation for you to creak back to life after months of indoor hibernation. Take your weekend or after work plans to a whole new level (literally) at one of the Chicago Loop’s finest rooftop bars. Learn More
Watch Art on theMART
theMART announced the program alignment of Art on theMART, the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, a city-wide celebration of Chicago’s theater community spearheaded by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the League of Chicago Theatres. Learn More
Take a Tour
Embrace your inner tourist and experience Chicago by land or water – however you like. With these tours, you can pack in plenty of history and culture from the people who know the city best through these essential Chicago tours. Learn More
Let the Kid Run at Maggie Daley Park’s Play Garden
The Play Garden offers the thrill of surprises, such as the short-cut leading from the small, intimate spaces of the Enchanted Forest to the high prospects within the Slide Crater. It features the Climbing Wall, Mini Golf, Skating Ribbon, and a variety of family-friendly programming. Learn More
Experience Arts and Culture at Millennium Park
While you’re in the area, stop by Millennium Park, Chicago’s most visited cultural attraction. Here, you’ll find a new kind of town square, where state-of-the-art architecture meets a collection of world-famous, interactive arts including Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain. Discover plenty of free cultural programs. Learn More
Embrace the Outdoors at The Gateway
Dubbed as the “people plaza” by the City of Chicago, The Gateway is a popular gathering place for visitors, workers, residents, and students in the Loop. Decorated with public art and carefully-potted plants, it offers a beautiful environment to eat, read a book, work, or simply breathe in the warm temperatures. Learn More
Channel Your Love for Literature at the American Writers Museum
The American Writers Museum is the first museum in the nation devoted to American writers and their works. This spring, it has lined up a series of events that educate, enrich, provoke, and inspire visitors of all ages through innovative and dynamic state-of-the-art exhibitions.
- John Stauffer on the Legacy of Fredrick Douglass, March 21 at 6:30 p.m.
- Timothy Hampton: Bob Dylan’s Poetics, April 2 at 6:30 p.m.
- Sloane Crosley: Look Alive Out There, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
- Gene Scheer: Moby Dick, April 24 at 6:30 p.m.
- Frank Waln & Tanaya Winder, May 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- Julien Gorbach: The Notorious Ben Hecht, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Catch Chicago Flower & Garden Show
March 20-24, 2019
Festival Hall, Navy Pier
The tradition of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show can be traced back to 1847 when it was created as an exhibition of prized fruits and flowers. Today the Chicago Flower & Garden Show is all about inspiring, educating, and motivating the next generation of gardeners. Whether in a backyard, kitchen, or rooftop, this is where green lovers and families go to discover ideas while having fun. Learn More
Celebrate Chicago Dance Month by See Chicago Dance
April 1-30, 2019
Various Locations
Chicago Dance is in the spotlight this spring when See Chicago Dance, the dance industry’s nonprofit service organization, presents a robust Chicago Dance Month, showcasing the city’s numerous vibrant and diverse opportunities to enjoy professional dances. Numerous free special events are taking place throughout the city.
- Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration, April 1, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center
- Day of Dancer Health, April 22, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Menomonee Club Drucker Center
- 2019 Celebration and Dance Scavenger Hunt Along the Chicago Riverwalk, April 30, 4:30–6 p.m.
- Open Studio Tuesdays, March 26–May 7 (except April 30), 4:30–6 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center Dance Studio
Relax on the Riverwalk
Stroll down the Chicago Riverwalk and enjoy the best view of Chicago’s breathtaking architecture. You can also dine al fresco at City Winery, or get a taste of the islands at Island Party Hut while enjoying bocce ball, bag games, Jenga, Bimini Island Ring game, and live music on weekends. Learn More
Watch ‘Lottery Day’
March 29-April 28, 2019
Don’t miss the phenomenal production Lottery Day at the Goodman Theatre. “Great, young, thrilling Chicago writer” (Chicago Tribune) Ike Holter (Exit Strategy, Sender) assembles the vibrant characters from his acclaimed works for a raucous theatrical bash. Long the matriarch of a quickly gentrifying neighborhood, Mallory invites the lonely residents, hardcore activists, and starving artists of her block to what she hopes will go down as a legendary barbeque—thanks to a special surprise. Her mysterious plan to revitalize her community, however, may just be the very thing that tears it apart. Learn More
Click here to see more plays.
Have a Boozy Brunch
There is nothing quite like rolling out of bed to join your friends for a giant brunch. It is an unquestionably amazing weekend morning ritual, and there’s only one thing that can make it better — a boozy brunch. Learn More
Click here for more brunch options.
