Secret Chicago wants to help you make the most of your free time and keep you informed! We’ll be putting out “Don’t miss” and “ICYMI” plans and news for you each week, so you’ll always catch an incredible event or story.
1. Where to see the blooming cherry blossoms in Chicago
Cherry blossoms in Chicago are a beautiful sign of spring and a signal of warmer days ahead. Now, the Sakura blooms are finally expected to bloom and have started showing signs of flourishing soon. The soft, delicate blossoms only bloom for a week or two, making it a rare sight.
If you want to take in the florals and see cherry blossoms in Chicago this year, here’s where you can go for a spectacular view.
Because they are so rare, options can be limited in the city, but worry not. Below, we’ve compiled a map with all the hot cherry blossom viewing spots, from Chicago’s most prominent gardens to the best parks.
Read about where to view the cherry blossoms in Chicago.
2. Merchandise Mart’s stunning art projections return to the Riverwalk tonight
Chicago has emerged from winter, albeit an incredibly mercurial one, and all manner of spring activities are returning offering an array of things to do this April.
Cherry blossoms and tulips are beginning to bloom, imbuing Chicago with color and offering up spellbinding spectacles all over the city.
Another thing that comes back to life this time of the year is Chicago’s cherished Art on TheMART projections that light up the 2.5-acre river façade of the Merchandise Mart.
On Friday, April 12, at 8:30 pm, ART on The MART will fire up all 34 digital projectors for its Spring 2024 Program and once again breathe life into the 25-story-tall face of the Merchandise Mart every night through June 5.
Read more about the spring Art on TheMART projections in Chicago.
3. Chicago’s biggest arts fair EXPO CHICAGO has kicked off in Navy Pier’s Festival Hall
EXPO CHICAGO is taking over Navy Pier’s historic Festival Hall for the event’s 11th edition.
Having been acquired by the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, Frieze, last summer it will be the event’s first year under new ownership and is set to welcome 170 leading international galleries representing 29 countries and 75 cities from around the world.
Taking place from Thursday, April 11th through Monday, April 15th, 2024’s EXPO CHICAGO will feature a grand total of 170 different artists on display and offer a diverse program of talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives drawing upon the city’s rich history.
4. Chicago’s Ramova Theatre to host Red Bull improv street dance event next Saturday
Street dancers from across the country will be coming to Chicago next weekend to face off at the Ramova Theater in Bridgeport.
The recently-remodeled landmark theatre which reopened at the turn of the year following a huge celebrity back revamp, is hosting the Red Bull Dance Your Style North USA Qualifier whereby dancers compete by improvising street dance moves in their own personal style to surprise music selections.
Taking place on Saturday, April 20, the bracket-style tournament will put 16 dancers against each other attempting to win over the crowd and secure a spot at the National Final.
Read more about Red Bull Dance Your Style.
5. The Umbrella Sky Project returns to Chicagoland later this month
A canopy of color is heading back to Elmhurst this April adding to the incredible array of public art pieces and spring vibrancy found around Chicago.
The Umbrella Sky Project, a free public art display that debuted in Chicago last year, will return on Saturday, April 20th.
The ultra-colorful installation first began in 2012, creating a vibrant joy and wonder that filled the sky with bright floating umbrellas. After leaving Chicagoland last August, the Umbrella Sky Project is coming back and will be open for viewing at three locations throughout Elmhurst.
Read more about the Umbrella Sky Project.
6. The Thompson Center’s iconic “Standing Beast” sculpture to be removed at the end of the month
On the topic of Chicago’s stunning public art and sculptures, many of the city’s captivating creations, such as The Picasso and Miró’s Chicago, were first met with controversy, scrutiny, or skepticism of varying degrees.
Roll on years later and the majority of Chicago’s public art, for the most part, have become landmarks that we now love and cherish, even the city’s most peculiar eyesores however strange they may be.
One such sculpture, that many will not remember a time without, is Jean Dubuffet’s “Monument with Standing Beast” (aka Snoopy in a Blender) which has stood outside the Thompson Center at 100 W. Randolph St. for nearly 40 years.
With the Thompson Center now undergoing a $280 million redevelopment after Google bought the Helmut Jahn-designed building, many of its recognizable features will begin giving way for a new look. Unfortunately, that includes the iconic black and white sculpture which will be removed at the end of this month.
The sculpture, owned by the Illinois State Museum, will find a new home outside the Art Institute of Chicago at some point in the near future and will be kept in a state facility until then.
Read more about the Thompson Center’s “Standing Beast” sculpture.
7. Chicago Children’s Museum to host an adults-only night of hide-and-seek next month
Regardless of where you’re from, your culture, or your background, there is a very good chance that, at some point in your younger years, you experienced the exhilarating thrill of playing hide-and-seek with childhood friends.
The rush of adrenaline eagerly investigating the best hiding spots you can find, the anticipation as you wait hidden out of sight, the heart racing as you hear the sound of footsteps—the whole process brings back a wave of nostalgia when life was far more simple and yet still so very exciting.
It’s easy as an adult to long for those carefree childhood experiences and now thanks to the Chicago Children’s Museum, anybody 21 and over can bring back that sense of childlike wonder and let their inner child run wild at a one-off adults-only hide-and-seek event next month.
Read more about the Chicago Children’s Museum adults-only hide-and-seek night.
8. City officials have announced a 4-day celebration in honor of House Music’s 40th anniversary
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recently announced a lineup of free House Music programming kicking off in late May and paying homage to House Music.
Four days of free events will culminate in the Chicago House Music Festival taking place in Millennium Park all in celebration of the popular genre that was born in Chicago in 1984.
“House Music is a global phenomenon born and raised in Chicago 40 years ago, with roots that go back even further. Like Blues, Jazz, and Gospel that came before, House is our true cultural heritage as a city—it galvanizes Chicagoans, celebrates our diversity, innovation, and joy, and invites the world to join in,” shared Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Returning to for its 20th anniversary summer season, the 2024 Chicago House Music Festival will take to Millennium Park on Sunday, June 2nd from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with an eclectic lineup of local and international-renowned DJs.
Read more about the Chicago House Music Festival lineup and the City of Chicago announcement.
9. Millennium Park announces free 20th-anniversary celebration
Another summer concert taking place Thursday, July 18th through Sunday, July 21st, will mark 20 years since Millennium Park first officially opened to the public on July 16th, 2004.
The four-day free celebration will feature concerts, dance performances, new public art, activities for families and youth, and much more.
“Kicking off the 20th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, July 18 is the ¡Súbelo! festival to be headlined by Fruko y Sus Tesos, the popular Latin music group from Colombia, presenting, “Fruko: 60 Years Of Making The World Dance” reads the official release at chicago.gov.
Read more about the Millennium Park’s 20th-anniversary celebrations.
10. 10 important dates and unique annual events that can’t be missed in Chicago
Our great metropolis has a remarkable range of landmarks and public art, an eclectic and esteemed collection of museums, and an array of internationally-renowned bars and restaurants amongst many other things.
Something else that makes Chicago so incredible is its unique events and activities that take place throughout the year. With a beautifully diverse and dynamic population, the city celebrates its identity with all manner of parades, parties, and celebrations that range from raising money for charity and honoring heritage to enjoying triumphant traditions that trace back decades.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the most important annual dates and unique Chicago events that should not be missed over the year.