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. The Bean will reopen at the end of the month according to City Officials
One of Chicago’s most famous landmarks is coming back having been closed for almost a year.
The Bean, officially known as Cloud Gate, went under construction back in August of 2023 for “necessary maintenance” which included replacing pavers and revamping the surrounding Grainger Plaza in order to “enhance the nearly 20-year-old Park’s appearance, visitor experience, and position as the #1 attraction in the Midwest.”
There have been chain link fences and tarps surrounding the Bean ever since, impeding any photographs or views of the Bean while construction work was underway.
That work was originally intended to be finished in time for an April reopening but that was then pushed back to a spring opening. Now, with work nearly complete, it was this week announced that the $23 million sculpture by Anish Kapoor will open to the public once again after over 10 months of closure.
Read more about the Bean’s imminent reopening.
2. Chicago’s exciting new high-tech ‘Illuminarium’ experience opens in under a month
Already home to an array of incredible exhibits and immersive attractions, Chicago earlier this year unveiled the new cutting-edge FlyOver simulator experience sending riders flying through different Chicago locations.
Now another new multi-million-dollar project is about to open in Chicago, this time sending guests face-to-face with the world’s most exotic animals or walking across the surface of the Moon.
After announcing that it will be replacing Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens back in 2021, Illuminarium will finally open its doors next week on Friday, June 28th.
Read more about the incoming ‘Illuminarium’ experience.
3. A Chicago suburb was just ranked the safest and most affordable city in the United States
Just a few months on from Naperville being named top of a list of ‘Best Cities to Live in America’ another Chicago suburb has received similar recognition by being awarded the accolade of “the safest and most affordable” city in the country.
In a study carried out by GOBankingRates, cities across the country were analyzed with crime metrics, median income, cost of living, and other factors taken out to determine a list of the 50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In.
Coming out on top was the Northwest Chicago suburb of Elgin.
Read more about the 50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In.
4. MCA’s free summer event series ‘Tuesdays on the Terrace’ returns next week
From Garfield Park Conservatory to Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago has a wonderful variety of free things to do year-round but once summer these gratuitous experiences only multiply.
While free days at Chicago’s many world-class museums come and go throughout the year and tend to dry up in the busy summer months, fairs, markets, concerts, and an array of special annual events announce themselves once the sun starts shining offering a wealth of free fun.
One of these comes in the form of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s free Tuesdays on the Terrace — a free musical event series for Illinois residents that is about to return for its 25th year.
Read more about Tuesdays on the Terrace.
5. There is a beer spa in Chicago where you can relax in baths full of hops and herbs
Many of us in Chicago are more than familiar with both the city’s wonderful array of breweries and its many serene spas. In a thriving urban jungle like Chicago, there are plenty of places to either kick back with a beer or recline in a warm pool. Some might find their relaxation in a crisp craft beer while others might find it in a soothing bathing experience but what what if we told you that Chicago is home to a ‘beer spa’ that combines the best of both?
Having opened back in 2018, West Town’s PIVA Beer Spa provides a variety of services ranging from rejuvenating salt room experiences to luxury massages. It’s the revitalizing beer soaks, however, that caught our eye.
Swearing that they have numerous benefits for the mind, body, and soul, PIVA offers guests the chance to sink back in huge larch wooden tubs filled with nearly 100-degree beer, herbs, and hops.
Read more about the PIVA Beer Spa.6. Riot Fest is changing its name and moving to Bridgeview
There are a plethora of festivals little and large taking place in Chicago in the coming months but for one, attendees will have to travel a little further out from Chicago this year coming.
The annual three-day rock music festival, Riot Fest, is changing its name and leaving Chicago for the first time in its almost 20-year history.
The festival will now be known as “RiotLand” and will instead take place at the SeatGeek Stadium in the southwest suburb of Bridgeview reportedly with a more carnival-like atmosphere.
Read more about the Riot Fest relocation and rebranding.
7. A mini-golf course dubbed “the most unusual on the planet” is just 40 minutes from Downtown Chicago
The Chicago area is somewhat a mecca for miniature-golf fans with an array of mesmerizing mini-golf courses ranging from 2 tech-infused Puttshack locations and the elegant Puttery mini-golf cocktail bar in Fulton Market to the new arbor-inspired mini-golf course at the Morton Arboretum a little further out.
There is, however, another spot, as far from downtown Chicago as the beloved Morton Arboretum that has been dubbed “the most unusual mini-golf course on the planet.”
North of Chicago in Lincolnshire, Par-King boasts two 18-hole courses made up of an array of wacky and wonderful features including 19 moving obstacles and 7 water holes.
A fun and challenging experience for pros and first-time golfers alike, the course boasts holes ranging from a rollercoaster to mini versions of famous landmarks and has been referred to as “the Disneyland of golf.
8. A century-old Chicago spot made People Magazine’s national summer bucket list
With Chicago transitioning into its peak months there is no shortage of unforgettable events and activities ahead. From street festivals to aquatic adventures, there are a plethora of summer bucket list activities to enjoy in Chicago in the coming months.
If you’re looking for one more, however, and you have a sweet tooth that needs feeding, you’ll find one more on People Magazine’s bucket list of 25 Things to Eat, See, and Do This Summer in the United States.
From hiking through a picturesque wildflower field or exploring an Alaskan glacier to indulging in a wine spa or embarking on an Astronaut Training Experience at a Space Center, People Magazine’s list certainly had no shortage of incredible experiences.
Among them, was none other than a trip to Chicago’s historic candy and ice cream parlor Margie’s Candies.
Read more about Margie’s Candies and People’s summer bucket list.
9. The most amazing waterfalls near Chicago and how to find them
Whether you’re looking for an exciting place to cool off in the hotter months or just looking to escape the urban monotony to revel in nature’s beauty, visiting a waterfall is never a bad idea.
There is something so refreshing for the mind, body, and soul about witnessing the calm chaos of water cascade down into a misty pool below. But whilst states like Oregon and Washington have over 200 waterfalls, the supply of verdant natural spectacles in Illinois is somewhat limited.
Finding a waterfall close to the urban jungle that is Chicago can be a little difficult and so we’ve rounded up some of the best waterfalls near the Windy City where you can escape and admire nature’s magic!
View our guide to waterfalls near Chicago.
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.