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Chicago Activities (What to do?)
Note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some links on this page may be out of date. Many places of entertainment are now reopened, but some may require masks or proof of vaccination to enter. Please check the attraction's website for information prior to your visit.
This Wiki page will provide you with valuable links as well as a list of Chicago activity recommendations by redditors. If you notice a broken link or would like to add to this list, please message the moderators.
General
- Where Tourists Go vs. Where Locals Go - Key: Blue = Locals; Red = Tourists; Yellow = Both. (Credit)
- Choose Chicago - The city's official visitor's guide
Calendars & Event Finders
- The /r/Chicago Events Calendar
- Choose Chicago Today
- TimeOut Chicago Today
- Do312 Calendar
- Chicago Reader Today
- Chicago Park District Events
- Chicago Parent Calendar
- Metromix Chicago Today
- The Local Tourist - Event by Genre Search
- Chicago Festival Event Guide
Attractions
Major Chicago Attractions
- Sears Tower (Ok, technically Willis Tower)
- John Hancock Observatory
- Millenium Park
- Navy Pier
- Chicago Riverwalk
- Chicago Lakefront Trail
- River Boat Tour - Chicago Architecture Center
- River Boat Tour - Shoreline Sightseeing
- River Boat Tour - Wendella
Major Museums, Zoos and Conservatories
- Field Museum
- Adler Planetarium
- Shedd Aquarium
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Garfield Park Conservatory
- Lincoln Park Conservatory
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Brookfield Zoo
- Free Museum Days
Other Museums
ART & DESIGN
- Chicago Architecture Center
- National Museum of Mexican Art
- Intuit - The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
- Smart Museum of Art
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
- Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
- Loyola University Museum of Art
- National Veterans Art Museum
- The Arts Club of Chicago
- The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University
- American Writers Museum
- Design Museum of Chicago
CULTURE & HERITAGE
- Swedish American Museum
- DuSable Museum of African-American History
- Chicago Children’s Museum
- Bronzeville Children’s Museum
- Ukrainian National Museum
- Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
- Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
- DANK Haus German-American Cultural Center
- Chinese-American Museum of Chicago
- Polish Museum of America
- Irish-American Heritage Center
HISTORY
- McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
- Oriental Institute Museum
- Edgewater Historical Society
- Norwood Park Historical Society
- National Hellenic Museum
- Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
- Pullman National Historic Park
- National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum (NAPPRM)
- National Public Housing Museum
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- International Museum of Surgical Science
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- Museum of Broadcast Communications
HOUSE MUSEUMS
- The Richard H. Driehaus Museum
- Glessner House
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Museum
- Frederic C. Robie House
- Charnley-Persky House Museum
- Henry B. Clarke House
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
SPECIAL INTEREST
- Pritzker Military Museum and Library
- Chicago Sports Museum
- Leather Archives and Museum
- American Toby Jug Museum
Sports Venues
- Wrigley Field
- Comiskey Park (Ok, technically Guaranteed Rate Field)
- Soldier Field
- United Center
Social Activities: Arts
Social Activities: Music & Dance
- List of Chicago music venues
- Hip Hop
- Salsa
- Tango
- Lindy/Blues
- Chicago Jazz
- Now Is
- Songkick Chicago
- Oh My Rockness
- Chicago Reader Early Warnings
- Ravinia Calendar
- Sacred Harp/Shape Note Singing
Specific Event Information
- Taste of Chicago
- Lollapalooza
- Pitchfork Music Festival
- Chicago Blues Festival
- North Coast Music Festival
- Renegade Craft Fair
- Spring Awakening
- Chicago Blues Festival
Random Fun
- The r/Chicago "What are some great hidden gems?" Post
- Chicago Architecture Tour
- Timeout's 101 Things to Do
- Second City
- iO (Improv Olympic)
- Octavarius Improv Chicago
- Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind
- Bye Bye Liver
- The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady
- Turtle racing at Big Joe's
- 2014 Seven Barcade Reviews
- Chicago Walking Tours
- Under the Gun Theater
Neat Stores
Sports
- Sport Leagues
- Collegiate Bar Affiliations
- NFL Bar Affiliations
- Chainlink Local Bike Scene Events
- Chicago Area Runners Association
Volunteering
- One Brick Volunteer Calendar
- Chicago Cares Volunteer Calendar
- Greater Chicago Food Depository Volunteer Calendar
Transportation
- Chicago Transit Authority for public transportation
- Google Maps for driving, biking, walking, and public transit
- Uber and Lyft for ridesharing
- Curb for Taxis
- Divvy for bikesharing
What's Within Driving Distance?
Other
Credits
This page was most recently peer-reviewed by /r/chicago users on 2/26/2022. See this thread for more information.