Spring is blooming in Chicago (officially on March 20!!), and with it comes an exciting lineup of events! Whether you’re looking for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, flower shows, free museum days, or sensory-friendly activities, we’ve got you covered!
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of events happening in Chicago, organized by month and location.
March 2025
☘️ St. Patrick’s Celebrations
Chicago River Dyeing
Date: March 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Chicago River between State and Columbus
Cost: Free
Details: Watch the Chicago River turn bright green in this long-standing Windy City tradition!
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: March 15, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Parade route starts at Balbo and Columbus, heading north to Monroe
Cost: Free
Details: Enjoy Irish dancers, bagpipers, and colorful floats in this family-friendly parade.
Other Parades: Archer Ave. Street, Northwest Side Irish Parade, South Side Irish Parade
Saint Patrick’s Fest – Irish American Heritage Center
Date(s): March from 1-11pm & March 17 from 4-11pm
Location: Fifth Province 4626 N Knox Ave. Chicago, IL
Cost: 3/15: $15 for adults in advance and $20 day of, children 12 and under are free
3/17: $10 for adults, kids 12 and under are free
Details: The festival is packed with traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and drink for purchase, children’s activities, and more.
St. Patrick’s Day at Gallagher Way
Date: March 16
Time: 11am-3pm
Location: Gallagher Way, outside Wrigley Field
Cost: Free
Details: Exciting live music, Irish dancing performance, face painting and balloon artists, Irish giveaways, lawn games, festive drinks including green draft beer, Irish coffee and, of course, Guinness!
🌸 Spring Flower Shows
Spectrum of Spring Flower Show
Dates: March 1 – May 10, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Dr.
Cost: Free, reserve tickets online on upon arrival
Details: A stunning floral showcase featuring vibrant spring blooms
Rooted in Mystery Flower Show
Dates: March 1 – May 10, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Location: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.
Cost: Free, reserve tickets online
Details: A botanical display infused with themes of mystery and wonder.
The Orchid Show: INDIA BLOOMS
Dates: through March 23
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden
Cost: Adult: $12 member / $22 nonmember | Children ages 3 – 12: $8 member / $15 nonmember | Children 2 & under: Free
Details: A celebration of color in full bloom.
👩🎨 Women’s History Month Events
Women’s History Month Celebration at Sanctuary Chicago
Date: March 13, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Sanctuary Chicago (formerly Vermilion), 10 W. Hubbard St.
Cost: Varies
Details: A special event highlighting women’s achievements, featuring food from women-owned restaurants and engaging discussions.
Chicago Public Library Women’s History Month Events
Simone Biles Presented by Mudlark Theater and You: This interactive theater workshop celebrates gymnast Simone Biles.
Dates & Locations:
• Thursday, March 6 from 4-5pm at Rogers Park Branch
• Tuesday, March 11 from 6:30–7:30pm at Edgewater Branch
• Thursday, March 13 from 4:30–5:30pm at Northtown Branch
Audience: Children aged 6 to 13
Musical Story and Instrument Petting Zoo with Musette Strings: A string quartet accompanies a reading of “Because” by Mo Willems, followed by an instrument exploration session.
Date & Location: Saturday, March 8 from 3-4pm at Bezazian Branch
Audience: Children aged 3 and up
Movement Revolution Dance Crew Workshop: This workshop explores the contributions of women in dance history, including a Waacking showcase and workshop.
Audience: Tweens and teens aged 10 to 19.
For a complete list of CPL events, visit their official website.
International Women’s Day Market at Artifact Events
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, March 8–9
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Details: The market features pop-up shops curated by local women-owned businesses, offering products like jewelry, beauty items, home goods, food, and drinks.
More information is available on the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce website.
“Giving Her Her Flowers” Exhibit at Navy Pier
Dates: February 23 – April 22, 2025
Time: 11am-8pm daily
Location: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Details: Curated by Dana Todd Pope, the exhibit highlights fourteen notable women from Chicago’s arts community who have significantly contributed to creating opportunities for artists.
For more details, visit Navy Pier’s event page.
🎟️ Free Days at Chicago Museums & Attractions
FREE ADMISSION FOR IL RESIDENTS | RESERVE TICKETS ONLINE
MUSEUMS:
Field Museum: Free admission every Wednesday in March
Adler Planetarium: Free admission every Wednesday from 4-10pm
Art Institute of Chicago: Free admission on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays through March 14
Shedd Aquarium: Free admission on March 4, 11, 18, 25 from 5-9pm
DuSable Black History Museum: Free admission every Wednesday
Chicago History Museum: Free admission on 4, 12, 27
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago: Free Admission every Tuesday
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: Free Admission every Thursday (donation suggested)
360 Chicago – Free admission March 1-7
Details: A valid ID must be presented onsite at the ticketing desk that shows a 606xx zip code to receive a free general admission ticket. Chicago Public School IDs will also be accepted as a form of identification. Children can enter for free with an adult.
Global Connections: International Carnivale
Date & Time: Saturday, March 1 from 1-5pm
Location: Aon Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier
Details: Experience a vibrant celebration of global traditions with live music, dance performances, and interactive art-making activities. This event brings the essence of Carnivale from around the world to Chicago.
Women’s Makers Market
Dates & Time: Every Saturday in March (March 8, 15, 22, 29) from 12-6pm
Location: Navy Pier
Details: Celebrate and shop from over 40 local women artisans and entrepreneurs showcasing their unique crafts and products. It’s a perfect opportunity to support local talent and find one-of-a-kind items.
Global Connections: Holi
Date & Time: Saturday, March 22 from 1-5pm
Location: Aon Grand Ballroom and Navy Pier’s Beer Garden
Details: Join the free celebration of Holi, the ancient Hindu festival marking the arrival of spring. Enjoy live music, dance, interactive programming, and the iconic powder-throwing festivities outdoors.
Spring Break at Navy Pier
Dates & Time: Monday, March 24 – Friday, March 28 from 12-6pm
Location: Various locations throughout Navy Pier
Details: Engage in interactive workshops, creative activities, and family-friendly experiences. The week features dance, music, art sessions, hands-on experiences with The Salvation Army and The Butterfly House, and more.
Nature’s Collage Workshop
Date & Time: Saturday, March 29 from 1-5pm
Location: Navy Pier
Details: Celebrate Women’s History Month by participating in a workshop that inspires you to see art in every corner of your environment, focusing on the beauty of spring. For a comprehensive list of events and the latest updates, please visit Navy Pier’s official events calendar.
Indoor Farmers Market Season
Click here for more about the the indoor winter farmers markets in the city
April 2025
More to be added in coming weeks*
🎭 Art & Culture
EXPO Chicago Contemporary Art Fair
Dates: April 10 – 13, 2025
Location: Navy Pier
Cost: Varies
Details: Chicago’s biggest contemporary art fair featuring 170+ galleries from around the world.
⚾ Chicago Cubs Home Opener
Date: April 4, 2025
Time: 1:20 PM
Location: Wrigley Field
Cost: Varies
Details: Celebrate opening day at the Friendly Confines as Chicago’s beloved team head into the new season! Check out my family guide for Wrigley Field here!
🌷 Tulips Bloom on the Magnificent Mile
Date: Early/Mid-April through May
Location: The Mag Mile | Michigan Ave from the Michigan Ave. Bridge at the Chicago River to Oak Street
Cost: Free
Details: A spring tradition in Chicago where over 100,000 tulips bulbs from the Netherlands are planted each fall and bloom in the spring along Chicago’s iconic Mag Mile
🌸 Cherry Blossoms at Jackson Park
Date: Late April/ Early May
Location: Jackson Park near the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Cost: Free
Details: The peak bloom period typically happens in late April/early May, and lasts anywhere from 6 to 14 days, depending on the weather. The first batch of trees were completely installed in time to commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in 2013.
May 2025
More to be added in coming weeks*
Family Festivals
Maifest in Lincoln Square
Dates: May 29 – June 1, 2025
Location: Lincoln Square
Cost: Free
Details: A German heritage festival featuring traditional foods, live music, and plenty of family-friendly fun.
Neuro-Inclusive Events | March-May
Low-Sensory Mornings at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Date: May 18, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Location: 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Cost: $11 adults, $6.50 children 3-11; free for members and children under 2
Details: A sensory-friendly morning for families to explore MSI before it opens to the general public.
Everyone at Play at Kohl Children’s Museum
Dates: March 2, April 6, May 18, June 29
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)
Details: A sensory-friendly museum event designed for children with special needs.
Adaptive Play Time at DuPage Children’s Museum
Date: April 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: 301 N. Washington St., Naperville
Cost: $19; Free for children under 1 and members
Details: A play session modified for neurodivergent children and children with disabilities and sensory processing challenges.
Sensory Friendly Time at Oak Lawn Children’s Museum
Date: Every Sunday
Time: 9-10am
Location: Oak Lawn Children’s Museum, 5100 Museum Drive, Oak Lawn
Cost: Adults: $14.50, Children: $14.50, Children under 12 months: Free
Details: A time for kiddos with sensory sensitivities to enjoy quieter time at the museum.
With so many free, family-friendly, and neuroinclusive events happening in the city, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re attending a St. Patrick’s Day parade, exploring spring flower shows, or taking advantage of free museum days, make the most of this vibrant season!
What events are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!
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