Spring is officially here. (Though sometimes the weather doesn’t seem to agree!) Either way, all of Chicagoland has started to wake from winter hibernation and come outside. Of course, don’t forget your umbrella, as sometimes the wind off the Lake brings the famous April showers.
Go To A Concert
After two years indoors and distanced, live music is back. As per City of Chicago regulations, be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to get into venues. In many venues, masks are now optional. These new regulations came into effect in early March.
The spring and summer concert schedule is packed, with many venues and outdoor parties coming back after the hiatus. Here’s a list of a few big-name events taking place in the next thirty days.
- Daryl Hall | Apr 1st
- The Avett Brothers | Apr 1st, 2nd
- The Flaming Lips | Apr 6th
- They Might Be Giants | Apr 7th
- Gladys Knight | Apr 8th
- Patti Labelle | Apr 8th
- Del Amitri | Apr 11th
- Jack White | Apr 12th
- Senses Fail | Apr 12th
- Mogwai | Apr 12th
- The Story So Far | Apr 16th
- Key Glock | Apr 22nd
- Wilco (20th anniversary of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot!)| Apr 22nd, 23rd
- Lorde | Apr 22nd, 23rd
- LP | Apr 24th
- Opeth | Apr 28th
- Mastodon | Apr 28th
- John Mayer | Apr 28th, 29th
- Kem | Apr 29th
Live Sports
Unfortunately, Major League Baseball owners have decided they’d rather postpone the season instead of giving the players more money and flexibility. So we can’t recommend any Cubs or Sox games at the moment. But the players’ union is in talks with the owners as we speak, so maybe we will have baseball in April or May?
Until then, we’ve got the good ol’ Bulls and ‘Hawks. The United Center is a great place to have a hot dog and a beer and watch a game. Out in the ‘burbs, the Wolves play a great game of hockey at a low price. If you’re a fan of football (the kind you play with your feet!) the Fire are a great option. MLS honestly gets better every year, and Fire fans show a lot of passion.
Hockey
Basketball
Soccer
Easter Events
You gotta love the Easter Bunny! Whether you have little ones or not, Chicago has some great Easter happenings planned all over the city. The Parks Department has a bevy of Easter Egg hunts that have always been a hit with families. The Lincoln Park Zoo usually has a big event, and Cantigny Park has another Easter Egg Hunt slated for April 10th.
If you miss that one, there’s another called Hoppy Easter happening on April 14th. If you’re in the ‘burbs, there’s a big event out in Warrenville called the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt that happens almost every year. B.Y.O.F.! (Bring Your Own Flashlight.) Check here for more details.
Lego Fun!
Not your traditional listicle fare, this event is for LEGO heads and those seeking something different. Did you ever want to see famous artworks like Michaelangelo’s ‘David’, Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, or Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa,’ executed in Lego bricks? If not…why not? The Museum of Science and Industry tracked down Nathan Sawaya, a former lawyer turned Lego artist and had him install 20 of his pieces in the institution’s hallowed halls. Not to be outdone by the permanent collection, Sawaya also executed a T-Rex that’s over 20 feet long. ‘The Art of the Brick’ is an additional attraction at the MSI, and has an additional fee required for access.
More Art
If the Lego installations aren’t serious enough for you (or you’re just an art fan) you’ll be happy to know that EXPO Chicago is back after the COVID hiatus. Similar to fairs like Art Basel in Switzerland and Miami, EXPO brings together over 140 galleries under one roof, allowing art fans the experience of a ‘vertical tasting’ of art curators, artists, and galleries from around the world. Truly an efficient and exhilarating experience.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Yes, we posted a quite-comprehensive list of music above…but this is for the Mahler, Bach, and Beethoven homies. The CSO is one of the best orchestras in the world, and if you haven’t ever been…give it a shot! In late April, you’d have the opportunity to hear a classical piano and the metal band Mastodon in the same week. YOLO.
Here’s where you can get tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or learn more.
Heroes + Villains FanFest
Are you into fantasy, SciFi, superheroes, Lord of the Rings, and related culture? Do you know what a ‘Con’ is? If so, you won’t need this explanation, and you probably already have tickets. This is for the uninitiated! Heroes + Villains FanFest is a ‘Con’ (as in convention) for all sorts of fantasy world adventure. This year’s convention and party feature Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Pilou Askbiek from Game of Thrones! Talks, exhibition booths, events, and meetings are what FanFest is about, and many attendees even dress up as some of their favorite characters. This leads to some great afterparty scenes, trust. Chicago’s answer to ComicCon in San Diego and DragonCon in Atlanta.
Hope this article gave you some ideas on what to do in the city this spring! Have a great April, stay safe and have fun.
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