What’s New and Happening in Chicago – Winter/Spring 2025

Choose Chicago Media Relations Contacts:
Michelle Gonzalez, mgonzalez@choosechicago.com
Stephanie D’Adamo, stephanie@letssipp.com

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 20, 2025) – Following a banner year for Chicago’s tourism, hospitality, and events community, with major events like the Democratic National Convention (DNC) amplifying the national spotlight on Chicago, the city was honored to be voted the “Best Big City in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 for a historic eighth consecutive year!

With the new year upon us, the “City of Big Shoulders” is running full steam ahead with the highly anticipated Chicago Restaurant Week (January 24 – February 9, 2025) and Chicago Theatre Week (February 6-16, 2025), the long-awaited return of the Lookingglass Theatre, our annual celebration of global contemporary art and culture at EXPO Chicago (April 24-27, 2025), and the Navy Pier Marina, a brand new boating destination on Lake Michigan.

Best of all, Chicago is proud to host the 2025 edition of IPW (June 14-18, 2025), the travel industry’s premier international marketplace, and welcome hundreds of national and international journalists to see for themselves the best of the Midwest!

Visit ChooseChicago.com for more information and travel inspiration and register for access to our Image and Video Library.

Recent Accolades:

  • Chicago was honored to be voted the “Best Big City in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 for a historic eighth consecutive year. (Over 575,000 discerning and well-traveled readers participated in this prestigious survey!)
  • At the most recent MICHELIN Guide Ceremony (held in New York City in December 2024), Cariño was awarded its first MICHELIN Star! Other special wins that evening included:
  • Daisies maintains its MICHELIN Green Star for 2024
  • Olivia Fadden of BEITY won a Michelin Exceptional Cocktail Award
  • Scott Stroemer of Galit Restaurant won a Michelin Sommelier Award
  • Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama won a Michelin Outstanding Service Award
  • Josh Mummert of Kumiko won a Michelin Young Chef Award
  • Visit the MICHELIN Guide website or download their free APP to see all the winners.
  • Chicago’s Logan Square was just designated one of the “Coolest Neighborhoods in the World” by TimeOut.
  • Three restaurants were added to the MICHELIN Guide Chicago in September 2024, showcasing diverse and exciting culinary experiences across the city.
    • Anelya – Eastern European cuisine, featuring dishes like green borsch, stuffed cabbage, and a zakusky cart of small bites.
    • Beity – Lebanese cuisine, offering mezze like parsley hummus and falafel, along with creative takes on traditional dishes.
    • Bayan Ko – Filipino/Cuban fusion, with highlights like calamansi-buttered lobster and grilled wagyu beef with black bean purée.
  • OAG ranked Chicago O’Hare International Airport at #13 in categories for Best Airport Dining, Best Airport Shopping, and Best Large Airport overall.
  • Chicago was named one of the 50 Best Vacations in the US by the 2024 Men’s Journal Travel Awards.

To read more about Chicago in the news, click here.

Accommodations:

In Summer 2024, the 28-floor, boutique-style Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago opened, overlooking Michigan Avenue and offering 390 contemporary rooms, plus the convenience of nearby Streeterville venues and attractions. Guests can enjoy hotel amenities that include a breakfast buffet, 24-hour gym, and the thrill of the glass-floor balcony at the seasonal Rooftop Bar. (Neighborhood: Streeterville)

Opened in Spring 2024, L7 Chicago by Lotte offers 169 rooms and 22 suites, dedicated event planners, and three private meeting spaces. The 2,700-square-foot Ballroom accommodates 300 guests, the 960-square-foot Athens Room has room for 80, and the 487-square-foot Seoul Boardroom is perfect for 20. The hotel’s modern PERILLA steakhouse beautifully showcases Korean flavors and architectural design. Arrange for a private dining experience with table-side grilling or opt for their catering service. (Neighborhood: The Loop)

Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, which opened in Spring 2024, is an all-suite hotel that features studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites including connecting rooms and fully-equipped kitchens. On-site dining options are also available, including a seasonal rooftop, 101 Sky Terrace. (Neighborhood: Streeterville)

The Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, within easy walking distance of Chicago’s top attractions and venues, was newly renovated in 2024. The spacious suites at this extended-stay hotel in downtown Chicago feature brand new, fully equipped kitchens, roomy work areas with new furnishings, plush new bedding, and free Wi-Fi. In the morning, enjoy a free hot breakfast with fresh coffee and a variety of offerings. (Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile)

Construction began in 2024 for The Duke of Wells, Hyatt Unbound Collection, which will offer Old Town neighborhood elegance in 203 guest rooms. Eight-foot windows, balconies, and terraces add classic charm to blend with the historic area. A rooftop lounge will provide spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the cityscape. A spa, fitness center, and restaurant are planned. (Neighborhood: Old Town)

Airlines and Airports:

At Midway International Airport:

  • Southwest is offering Boise, ID service 5x weekly starting June 5, 2025 (through September 29)
  • Southwest is offering Palm Springs, CA service, between 4x weekly and daily starting February 13, 2025 (through April 7)
  • Southwest is offering Spokane, WA service 5x weekly starting June 5, 2025 (through September 29)

At O’Hare International Airport (International Flights):

  • American is offering Halifax, CA service 1x weekly starting June 21, 2025 (through October 4)
  • American is offering Madrid, ES service daily starting March 30, 2025 (through October 24)
  • American is offering Naples, IT service daily starting May 6, 2025 (through October 24)
  • United is offering Edmonton, CA service 3x weekly starting May 24, 2025 (through October 25)
  • WestJet is offering Edmonton, CA service 3x weekly starting June 4, 2025 (through October 22)
  • Cathay Pacific increased its ORD – Hong Kong service from 5x weekly to daily on January 1, 2025
  • Finnair will increase its ORD – Helsinki service from 5x weekly (offered in Summer 2024) to 7x weekly beginning on March 30, 2025
  • Turkish Airlines will increase capacity on its Chicago – Istanbul route from 14x weekly to 17x weekly beginning on July 7, 2025. This is the first time that the carrier will operate more than twice-daily service on the route and the service will be a mix of B787-9 and B777-300ER aircraft

At O’Hare International Airport (Domestic Flights):

  • American is offering Bismarck, ND service 7x weekly starting June 5, 2025
  • American is offering Boise, ID service 7x weekly starting June 5. 2025
  • American is offering Colorado Springs, CO service 7x weekly starting June 5, 2025
  • American is offering Hyannis, MA service 1x weekly starting June 21, 2025 (through August 30)
  • American is offering Spokane, WA service 7x weekly starting June 5, 2025
  • Frontier is offering Austin, TX service 3x weekly starting March 6, 2025
  • Spirit is offering Pensacola, FL service 3x weekly starting March 20, 2025
  • United is offering Sault St. Marie, MI service 7x weekly starting May 15, 2025 (through September 28)
  • United is offering Gunnison, CO service 1x weekly starting February 15, 2025 (through March 29)
  • United is offering Pellston, MI service between 7x weekly and 14x weekly starting May 8, 2025 (through September 28)
  • United is offering Rhinelander WI service between 7x weekly and 14x weekly starting May 22, 2025 (through September 28)

Food and Libations:

  • Bar La Rue, DineAmic Hospitality’s newest opening, opened in April 2024 in the heart of Fulton Market. This Parisian escape celebrates French-American cuisine with an inventive cocktail program with a stylish location that boasts a beautiful all-season, streetside pergola bar and dining area. Boasting an incredible selection of French champagnes and sparkling wines, an inventive cocktail program, and unique non-alcoholic cocktails, the menu incorporates French plays on approachable American comfort foods. (Neighborhood: Fulton Market)
  • Cantina Rosa, now open in Hyde Park, offers craft cocktails that appeal to sophisticated palates and newcomers alike, with an atmosphere that blends modern sensibilities with traditional influences. Honoring Mexican heritage, Cantina Rosa draws inspiration from diverse regions across Mexico, enriched by the expertise of Virtue’s most experienced Mexican team members. The name “Rosa” holds deep personal significance, paying tribute to two women—Rosa, the mother of Jesus Garcia, and Rosetta, the grandmother of Erick Williams—who profoundly shaped their lives. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)
  • Chapel Street Cafe, Chicago’s first Australian-style café, is set to debut in the Magnificent Mile in early January 2025. Led by Melbourne native and hospitality veteran Shawn Uldridge, the café will feature a roastery, dine-in service, and a take-out bar, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a distinctly Australian flair. The menu will include classic Australian dishes such as avocado toast, flat white coffee, meat pies, and Vegemite sandwiches. Uldridge plans to elevate these traditional offerings with a Chicago twist, with all items baked, smoked, and prepared in-house. Additionally, Chapel Street will roast gourmet coffee beans on-site and feature an exclusive beverage program offering only Australian wines.
  • Cafe Yaya, the latest venture from James Beard Foundation award-winning Chef Zach Engel and Partner Andrés Clavero, brings an all-day dining experience and community space to the heart of Lincoln Park. Guests can look forward to a rotating selection of morning pastries, followed by a brunch, lunch, and dinner menu that showcases a variety of flavors and influences. The menu is complemented by a robust wine program highlighting small producers and classic cocktails. The second floor serves as a community gathering hub, perfect for any occasion. Cafe Yaya will open in Winter 2025. (Neighborhood: Lincoln Park)
  • Dialtone is where your day begins, and your night unfolds—your go-to whether you need to ‘wake up or wind down.’ By day, it’s a welcoming coffee spot with drinks crafted in collaboration with Metric Coffee and a rotating selection of fresh pastries. As the sun sets, Dialtone transforms into a moody, intimate wine bar, offering a curated selection of Italian wines that entice you to stay awhile. With its blend of vintage charm and modern elegance—marble surfaces, deep hues, and curated decor—the space exudes a timeless yet bold atmosphere that balances both comfort and intrigue. Whether you’re starting your morning or ending your day, this community-driven space invites you to relax, recharge, and connect. Dialtone is slated to open in early 2025. (Neighborhood: Old Town)

This January, Eataly Chicago (along with other North American branches of Eataly) will launch a new pop-up: ALPINA. Named after the iconic landscape of the Italian Alps, this limited-time-only experience will run through March 2025. In addition to a new food and beverage menu, the pop-up will feature unique event programming, happy hour and group dining offers, and more. Reservations can be made on OpenTable (Neighborhood: Streeterville)

The newest bar from Lettuce Entertain You, Gus’ Sip and Dip will be a classic neighborhood tavern from award-winning Beverage Director and Partner Kevin Beary (Three Dots and a Dash and The Bamboo Room) and Chef Partner Bob Broskey (RPM Restaurants). Gus’ Sip and Dip will open at 51 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago’s River North in Winter 2025. The cocktail menu will spotlight more than 30 familiar mixed drinks all made with a list of carefully selected spirits from Beary and the bar team. The food menu will offer classic tavern favorites from Broskey including an assortment of traditional and modern dipped sandwiches and more. (Neighborhood: River North)

Three of Chicago’s most influential hospitality powerhouses come together to open The Alston, a highly anticipated dining destination at the corner of State & Superior in Chicago’s Gold Coast in Spring 2025. The culinary team will be led by Chef/Partner Jenner Tomaska featuring a celebration of wood-fired prime cuts along with French-influenced dining and elevated European charm. The wine program will be helmed by Master Sommelier Ken Fredrickson. The space will boast 350 seats across its expansive dining room, bar, and year-round terrace. Beyond its impressive dining space, The Alston will also house Chicago’s most upscale and unique private member’s club. (Neighborhood: Gold Coast)

Pequeño Mercat is a new café located within The Blackstone Hotel in Chicago’s South Loop, complementing the hotel’s existing Spanish restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa. The café, opening in January 2025, will offer a curated selection of La Colombe coffees, including Monaco Medium Roast and Nizza espresso, alongside Rishi teas like English Breakfast and Chamomile Medley. Guests can enjoy specialty drinks such as cortados and mochas, as well as draft lattes and cold brew on tap. The menu features freshly baked pastries, breakfast items like bagels and croissants, and savory lunch options, including tarts and sandwiches. Seasonal desserts, along with gluten-free and vegan choices, ensure a variety of options for all guests. (Neighborhood: South Loop)

il Carciofo, the newest restaurant from celebrity chef Joe Flamm and the Day Off Group, opened in December 2024, drawing inspiration from the restaurants and markets in one of their favorite cities: Rome. With a seasonal menu of elevated yet familiar Italian fare, guests can indulge in antipasti like prosciutto di parma, crispy carciofo, and suppli con ragu; Roman-style pizzas from a custom Wood Stone oven; authentic hand- rolled pastas produced daily in a dedicated pasta lab that doubles as a private event space; market-driven mains that highlight the season’s bounty; and a variety of sweets like house-spun gelatis and sorbettis, maritozzi, and zabaglione. The interior space is filled with rich layers of dark woods, plush fabrics, handmade tiles, warm natural stones, and deep saturated colors, speaking to the history and tradition of age-old trattorias and ristorantes in Rome. An open kitchen with chef’s counter seating gives the restaurant an authentic and inviting feel while also becoming a part of the dining experience. The dining room, with expansive retractable windows, spills out onto a massive patio surrounded by lush perennials, romantic string lighting, and large canopies overhead, resembling the popular piazzas found within the city’s storied walls. (Neighborhood: Fulton Market)

Exhibitions (Immersive Art & Museums):

  • AR-chitecture: Unlocking the Magnificent Mile‘s Hidden Gems offers a captivating new way to explore the history and architecture of one of Chicago’s most iconic avenues. Launched by The Magnificent Mile Association, this virtual reality experience brings the Avenue’s architectural heritage to life with narrated journeys led by legendary journalist and news anchor Bill Kurtis. The experience begins with two locations:
  • Tribune Tower and DuSable Bridge. Three additional locations are set to launch in the coming months, including The Wrigley Building, Water Tower Place, and 875 North Michigan Avenue. Each site will feature interactive games, trivia, and opportunities to uncover hidden historic gems. AR-chitecture is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts and history buffs, adding an engaging, tech-forward dimension to The Magnificent Mile’s visitor experience. (Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile)

The Art Institute of Chicago has announced Winter/Spring 2025 programming. (Neighborhood: The Loop)

  • Beatriz Santiago Muñoz: The Crow, the Trench, and the Mare (Until March 8, 2025) – As part of the Art Institute’s presentation of art and artists who engage with the ideas of Pan-Africanism, the museum is screening Beatriz Santiago Muñoz’s 2021 film The Crow, the Trench, and the Mare. Muñoz created this film in Haiti and Puerto Rico as a meditative reflection on a fundamental metaphysical subject: human awareness of time and space. Muñoz took inspiration from a technique in Sanskrit poetry called ślesa, in which two distinct stories are narrated at once. The film tracks Haitian playwright Guy Regis Junior (born 1974) as he discusses translating the classic 20th-century novel by Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past, from French into Haitian Kreyol. This account is intertwined with a monologue by Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli (born 1956) about the meaning of time and the possibility of many “nows” unfolding at once. The film hints throughout at connections between disparate places and events, as well as the ways that a linear understanding of time limits our understanding of the world’s dynamic complexities.
  • Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica (Until March 30, 2025) – As the first major exhibition to survey Pan-Africanism’s cultural manifestations, Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica gathers together some 350 objects, spanning the 1920s to the present, made by artists on four continents: Africa, North and South America, and Europe. Panafrica, the promised land named in the exhibition title, is presented as a conceptual place where arguments about decolonization, solidarity, and freedom are advanced and negotiated with the aim of an emancipatory future. Rather than a stable and defined territory, the exhibition maps Panafrica as a shifting and boundless constellation that transforms and reassembles standard representations of the planet.
  • Myth & Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection (March 13-June 29, 2025) – From large-scale figures of gods and goddesses to portraits of emperors and magnificent funerary monuments, this exhibition brings to North America, for the first time, a selection of 58 rarely seen ancient Roman sculptures from Italy’s storied Torlonia Collection. Nearly half of these sculptures, which range in date from the 5th century BCE to the early 4th century CE, have not been publicly displayed in more than 70 years and have been newly cleaned, conserved, and studied specifically for this exhibition, making for a spectacular opportunity to experience their first public presentation in decades.
  • Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds (March 29 – July 13, 2025) – Unveiling Frida Kahlo’s work for the first time in the Art Institute galleries, this exhibition focuses on the celebrated Mexican artist’s first and only trip to Europe and her brief yet pivotal encounter with Mary Reynolds, an American avant-garde bookbinder who stood at the center of a rich Parisian artistic community. Drawing upon the extensive Mary Reynolds Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago and extraordinary Kahlo loans from public and private collections in the US, Mexico, and Europe, the presentation sheds light on this little-known chapter of 20th-century art history, recounting the legacies of Kahlo and Reynolds—both artists themselves and partners of artists—as they navigated Surrealism, identity, and cross-cultural exchange on the eve of World War II.
  • Drawing and Printmaking: Lines of Connection (March 15 – June 1, 2025) – The first exhibition ever to focus on the multiple connections between drawing and printmaking, this presentation brings together around 90 works on paper by some of the greatest artists in the Western tradition to uncover the inner workings of their creative process and offer new ways to think about the links between the two mediums. Featuring fascinating drawings and exceptional prints from the late 15th century through the mid-19th century by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Parmigianino, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Maria Sibylla Merian, Francisco Goya, and William Blake, the exhibition explores the creative exchange between the two practices by showcasing preparatory drawings for prints, printed imitations of drawings, and drawn copies of prints. A selection of hybrid works also questions traditional definitions, strict boundaries, and outdated hierarchical distinctions between media.
  • Iman Issa: Heritage Studies (May 3 – September 21, 2025) – Iman Issa’s Heritage Studies are displays based on historical artifacts, which attempt to communicate their significance to the present moment. In her process, the objects are altered: Issa changes their materials, scale, and color to a degree that the resemblance between the historic artifact and Issa’s work can be difficult to discern. Despite these dissimilarities, the artist insists on the equivalence of these objects, almost like the equivalence between a photograph and its subject. This exhibition of Issa’s Heritage Studies is the first substantial presentation of these works in the US in a decade.
  • C. Westermann: Anchor Clanker (May 17, 2025 – May 17, 2026) – H. C. Westermann’s work combines a graceful mastery of materials, rough and tumble physicality, commonsense philosophizing, acrobatic wit and wordplay, and a sensitive worldview shaped in equal measure by the horrors of wartime and the devotions of love. He used a wide range of materials but was most dedicated to woodworking, once stating that wood was “his whole life.” In the Pacific theater of World War II, Westermann served on the USS Enterprise and witnessed violence that shaped his existential worldview and inflected his artworks. Given his time at sea, he often used the symbol of an anchor—alone or in conjunction with his name or initials—as his signature.

Chicago’s not-for-profit Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture will present Antigone (March 7-April 6, 2025) the classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles, followed by the world premiere of Jacob Daniel Groth’s Ionéu (May 23 – June 22, 2025), a retelling of the prophet Jonah’s remarkable story that is reimagined in a style that marries Greek Tragedy with folktale. (Neighborhood: Lakeview)

Driehaus Museum presents A Tale of Today: Materialities (February 15-April 25, 2025). This exhibition invites living artists to select a material from the Museum, research its history, and produce site-specific installations designed to uncover hidden cultural, historical, and ecological networks, connecting the fabric of the Mansion to distant shores, traditions, and ideologies. Organized by guest curator Giovanni Aloi, this immersive, three-floor exhibition includes new works from artists working in a variety of disciplines including Olivia Block, Rebecca Beachy, Jonas Becker, Beth Lipman, Jefferson Pinder, Laleh Motlagh, Luftwerk, Edra Soto, Bobbi Meyer, Richard Hunt, Ioto, Barbara Cooper, and Ebony G. Patterson. (Neighborhood: River North)

Elmhurst Art Museum will present Sustenance & Land: Five Artists Consider Our Relationship with the Earth (January 25-April 27, 2025). This group exhibition explores human connection to the land and the many ways the earth sustains us. Participating artists Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman, Chunbo Zhang, Lydia Cheshewalla, Claire Pentecost, and Tomiko Jones work in a variety of methodologies addressing human relationships to the land, exploring a broad spectrum of themes including nutrition, cultural relationship to food, scientific investigation, spirit, history, and the future. Humor and creativity are woven throughout, guiding viewers through a rich tapestry of ideas about how we interact with the earth. (Elmhurst, Illinois)

Hyde Park Art Center will present two new exhibitions this winter and spring. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)

  • Farah Salem: Uninhibited People of the Earth (March 15-July 13, 2025) – People throughout the Arabian Peninsula are taught to live in relationship with spirits that live beneath the earth called “ahl al ‘arth,” (people of the earth). Kuwaiti-Iraqi artist and art therapist Farah Salem grew up aware of regular interactions with these spirits. The knowledge that we don’t “exist alone, but rather in relationship with plants, rocks, animals, and unseen forces” drives her artistic practice. This exhibition presents new and existing sculpture, photography, and installation work that continue the artist’s study and reinterpretation of healing and ceremonial migratory practices of people of the Arabian Peninsula that seek to repair one’s relationship with oneself, the earth, and other beings.
  • Yasmin Spiro: Cornerstone at Hyde Park Art Center (April 19-November 2, 2025) – Cornerstone extends Jamaican-born, Chicago-based artist Yasmin Spiro’s research on indigenous building methods, land use, and material to consider architectural structures related to the history of land and its people. Inspiring the exhibition title, Spiro creates a new immersive multimedia installation titled Cornerstone constructed of six large-scale, nearly 18-foot-tall sculptures that emphasize our physical, spiritual, and emotional foundation in the built and natural environment.

Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Resilience—A Sansei Sense of Legacy (until June 1, 2025), told from the point of view of Sansei (third-generation) Japanese Americans, is an exhibition of eight artists whose work reflects on the effect of EO9066 as it resonated from generation to generation. While several of the artists employ traditional Japanese methods in the construction of their work, others use iconography relating to Japanese culture as a jumping-off point for personal explorations on the subject of the incarceration camps. Each in their own way, the artists in this exhibition express moments of deeply felt pain and reluctant acceptance, emotions which were often withheld by their elders. Exhibition artists include Kristine Aono, Reiko Fujii, Wendy Maruyama, Lydia Nakashima Degarrod, Tom Nakashima, Roger Shimomura, Judy Shintani, and Jerry Takigawa. (Skokie, Illinois)

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago welcomes the return of its On Stage 2025 series January 31 – April 19, 2025. Four bold performances will confront colonial histories and cultural lineages to reveal the roots of society and performance today. Reflecting our contemporary moment, the series features works by Anne Collod, Elisa Harkins, Miguel Gutierrez, and Kaneza Schaal. Upcoming exhibitions this year also include:

  • Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me (February 1 – October 19, 2025) is the first major survey of internationally renowned artist Wafaa Bilal (b. 1966, Najaf, Iraq; lives in New York, NY). Working in performance, sculpture, and with online and interactive technologies, Bilal’s interdisciplinary practice investigates the dynamic between international and interpersonal politics while highlighting the tension between his home in the United States, which he has deemed the “comfort zone,” and the “conflict zone” of Iraq. The exhibition covers the breadth of Bilal’s versatile career by exploring his performance practice, the use of power in Saddam Hussein’s regime, and Iraqi history and antiquity. It will feature archival displays of his iconic month-long performance Domestic Tension (2007) and year-long performance 3rdi (2010–11), as well as two new works including a sculptural commission for the MCA.
  • Pipilotti Rist: Supersubjektiv (February 22 – September 15, 2025, focuses on a single artwork by Pipilotti Rist (b. 1962, Grabs, Switzerland; lives and works in Zürich), the 2001 video installation Supersubjektiv. Rist filmed the video footage featured in Supersubjektiv using a handheld digital camera during a month-long trip to Japan in December 2000. The hallucinatory video, presented in the Turner Gallery as a multichannel installation accompanied by sheepskin seating and an artist-made pillow, offers viewers a dream-like space for contemplation and curiosity. Paired with an ambient electronic soundtrack with lyrics sung in English and Japanese, the artwork examines nature, the built environment, and technology with wide-eyed wonder. Visitors are encouraged to relax and lose track of time as they take in Rist’s audiovisual meditation on longing for connection in our vast, globalized society.

The Swedish American Museum is welcoming a new exhibit Let the hand be seen by Karin Larsson from January 17-April 20, 2025. Larsson’s work in the textile arts, furniture construction, and interior design reflects her artistic training, curiosity, innovation, and openness to the emerging trends facing life in the late 1800s. This exhibit showcases Karin’s work through her experience as an artist, wife, and mother. The exhibition will feature reproductions of Karin’s most significant pieces including furniture, dresses, curtains, pillows, and other hand-made designs that accented the Larsson family home. Though Karin’s body of work was known only to her family and a few friends during her lifetime, today her impact on the fiber arts and interior design remains an important part of Sweden’s contributions to women’s history and the wider world of art.

Festivals & Events:

Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW), the beloved annual event showcasing Chicago’s local culinary excellence returns this year from January 24 – February 9, 2025. Featuring more than 470 participating restaurants (a record high!) representing 35 distinct Chicago neighborhoods along with 50 suburban restaurants, this promotion offers specially curated prix fixe menus with prices set at $30 for brunch or lunch, and $45 and/or $60 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax, and gratuity). See the growing menu of participants and make reservations at eatitupchicago.com.

Experience everything Chicago theatre has to offer for just $15 or $30 (or less!). Chicago Theatre Week returns February 6-16, 2025, featuring value-priced tickets to more than 100 performances at theatres across the city, from musicals to improv to dramas and beyond. Now in its 13th year, this highly anticipated event allows visitors and locals to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout the Chicago area. For the third consecutive year, HotTix.org will host Chicago Theatre Week Continued from February 17-23, 2025, which will extend Theatre Week discounts to participating productions for an additional week.

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, will return for its next edition April 24-27, 2025. Leading international galleries are hosted in Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture. The exposition, which was acquired by Frieze in 2023, draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while engaging the region’s contemporary art community and collector base.

First Bites Bash, the celebratory kick-off event for the 18th annual Chicago Restaurant Week, will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Chicago’s Field Museum from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Award-winning chef Soo Ahn of Adalina – located in Chicago’s iconic Gold Coast neighborhood – steps into the spotlight, serving as the Host Chef for the star-studded party. Guests will have the opportunity to experience exclusive tasting portions from more than 60 restaurants spanning two floors showcasing their respective Chicago Restaurant Week menus, as well as wine, beer, spirits, entertainment, and more.

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Navy Pier’s Global Connections: Lunar New Year event on February 1, 2025. Experience vibrant performances, including traditional dances, K-Pop, and live music. Savor delicious food from local vendors and explore unique art and crafts from talented artists. It’s a family-friendly event you won’t want to miss.

The 70th anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, proudly sponsored by Chicago’s Very Own ​Plumbers Local 130 UA, will return to downtown on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The following day, Sunday, March 16, the family-friendly South Side Irish Parade will step off.

Attractions:

This year, Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours will introduce their Chicago Lakefront & Museum Campus E-Bike Tour, a 2-hour guided tour offering a unique way to experience Chicago’s stunning lakefront and iconic Museum Campus while covering 7-9 miles. Knowledgeable guides share fascinating stories about Chicago’s architecture, history, and vibrant culture, ensuring an engaging and memorable experience. Guests will enjoy breathtaking stops at landmarks such as Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, and the serene Milton Lee Olive Park. The tour also explores the Museum Campus, featuring the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, and the Adler Planetarium. A special highlight is Northerly Island, once an airport and now a beautiful park offering tranquil views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. (Neighborhood Millennium Park / Museum Campus)

Chicago Market – A Community Co-op is set to officially open its doors in the Uptown neighborhood in late 2025. Chicago Market was incorporated in late 2013 after a year of organizing by community members who wanted to build a community owned grocery focused on high-quality, sustainable, and local goods. Later in the decade, the rights to a historic landmark property, which served as a major train station for a century, were secured. The total square footage of Chicago Market will be about 19,000, with half of that being the sales floor. The store aims to be the most locally oriented grocer in the area, and already has an extensive network of growers, ranchers, and food artisans from their foodshed ready to fill out inventory. Chicago Market’s commitment to sustainable, ethical goods will be matched by a focus on driving quality. The Market’s local produce, whole animal butcher shop, exceptionally prepared foods, and expansive bulk selection will give the store a distinctive value proposition, while elements like the learning center will engage the community and bring people together in a unique way. (Neighborhood: Uptown)

Revel in an elegant evening of romance on Lake Michigan with City Cruises Chicago’s Premier Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise (February 14-15, 2025). This unparalleled dining experience is complete with delicious cocktails, a plated, three-course meal, and top-notch service. A DJ sets the mood while you and your loved one soak in the Chicago skyline and awe-inspiring sights, like Adler Planetarium and The Willis Tower from an intimate, climate-controlled interior and open-air rooftop decks. Set sail for a Valentine’s Day dinner cruise to remember!

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry looks forward to the following events this winter/spring (Neighborhood Museum Campus):

  • Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition (January 20 – April 27, 2025) is the longest-running exhibition of African American art and has been displayed annually at Griffin MSI since 1970. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Black Creativity program invites students, teachers, families, and the public to explore the legacy of rich contributions and achievements made by African Americans while encouraging deeper interest in science and technology among youth. Through the Museum’s Black Creativity programming, guests are welcomed to the Black Creativity Family Day (January 20, 2025), Black Creativity Gala (February 15, 2025), Black Creativity Career Showcase (February 22, 2025), and Black Creativity Jr. Science and Art Cafes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in February.
  • When school is out, Griffin MSI camps are in session! Students grades Pre-K through 12 are welcomed to the Museum’s Spring Break Camps (March 24-28, 2025), unique camp programs ranging from single-day workshops to full-week camps. Students are split up into three groups, depending on grade, and can enjoy a wide range of activities from fabrication to game design.

A new Harry Potter Shop will open in Spring 2025 in a 12,3000 square foot space at 676 Michigan Avenue. The new Chicago store comes following the success of official Harry Potter Shops at Kings Cross in London and in Manhattan, and the launch of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Musical currently playing in Chicago. The shop will offer interactive displays, photo opportunities, original film props, and more. (Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile)

Inside Chicago Walking Tours is offering Chicago’s first and ONLY engineering-themed architecture tour, called “Marvels & Masterpieces: An Engineer’s Guide to Chicago.” It will be a 2-hour tour covering around 1.75 miles on foot, offered Fridays & Saturdays at 2:30 pm, and led by a professionally trained architect who has worked on some major buildings in downtown Chicago. This fun and insightful adventure will lead participants through the evolution of various building methods in Chicago, from the 1880s through today, and venture inside a handful of buildings along the way to see the beautiful, often overlooked interiors.

Navy Pier Marina has begun construction in anticipation of its grand opening during the 2025 boating season. The Navy Pier Marina will provide a home in the heart of Chicago for boaters across the city and suburbs and around the Great Lakes. It will be a rendezvous for boating groups seeking unique and modern mooring facilities. Navy Pier Marina will offer lunch and dinner hourly tie-ups as well as overnight stays. Boaters can moor up with friends and family to eat, ride the Centennial Wheel, experience Flyover Chicago and the Chicago Children’s Museum, or enjoy scores of other attractions at Navy Pier and its surrounding neighborhoods. The Chicago International Boat Show will be the first major event at Navy Pier Marina this summer featuring an exclusive lineup of luxury boats, yachts, and watercraft, alongside curated showcases from luxury automotive brands, private aviation, and world-class culinary experiences. (Neighborhood Navy Pier)

Shedd Aquarium has two exciting attractions planned for the winter/spring months: (Neighborhood: South Loop)

  • House Party (February 15, 2025) – Get ready to vibe in the city that built house music! Local DJs will keep the energy high, spinning beats that move the crowd. Come face-to-face with incredible aquatic animals and captivating aquatic exhibits for a one-of-a-kind night. Bring your crew and your best moves—this is an evening you won’t want to miss! Ages 21+.
  • Calm Waters (February 23 and April 6, 2025) – Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.

Meetings, Conventions, & Venues:

Chicago has been selected as the host city for the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, the world’s leading inbound travel trade show, in 2025. The last time Chicago hosted the leading inbound travel trade show was in 2014. The conference will be held June 14 – June 18, 2025, at McCormick Place. (Neighborhood: South Side) 

Exquisite renovations were completed in 2024 at the Loop’s 610-room JW Marriott Chicago, which first opened in 2010. The luxe hotel offers 41,973 square feet of flexible event space in 37 rooms — the capacity of the largest space is 972 people. Meeting planners can reserve blocks of guest rooms for attendees. Catering services range from afternoon breaks to full breakfasts and sit-down galas. Private dining is also available.  (Neighborhood: The Loop)

The Obama Presidential Center – Covering 19 acres, the campus will include a fruit and vegetable garden, an athletic facility for programs and events, a premier museum, an auditorium, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, and additional amenities. The programming will encourage visitors, whether local or international, to carry the impact of their experience with them. The full campus is currently set to open early 2026. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)

Theatre & Performing Arts:

The Auditorium will present these productions in the coming months:

  • Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in Concert (January 18, 2025) – In 2018, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther quickly became a global sensation and cultural phenomenon, showing a new dimension of what SuperHero films could be. Relive the excitement of T’Challa becoming king and battling Killmonger all while the Chicago Philharmonic performs Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar® and Grammy®-winning score live to picture. Joining the orchestra for the concert is Massamba Diop, the revered Senegalese tama drummer who recorded and co-created parts of the movie score with composer Göransson.
  • Complexions Contemporary Ballet (February 7, 2025) – Celebrate Complexions’ 30th anniversary season with their newest work, “For Crying Out Loud,” set to the music of the internationally renowned band U2. Complexions was founded in 1994 by Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary Desmond Richardson with a singular approach to reinventing dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles, and cultures. The company’s foremost innovation is that dance should be about removing boundaries, not reinforcing them.
  • The Terminator in Concert (February 22, 2025) – Experience the ground-breaking, cult classic, The Terminator, on a vast HD screen while Brad Fiedel’s signature synthesizer-led, percussive score is performed live with the Chicago Philharmonic for the first time in sync with the 1984 motion picture. A US box-office smash-hit, The Terminator sees Arnold Schwarzenegger star as the most uncompromising killing machine ever to threaten the survival of mankind. An indestructible cyborg, a Terminator, is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose unborn son will become humanity’s only hope in a future war against the machines. This epic sci-fi thriller from director James Cameron delivers an arsenal of action and heart-stopping suspense right to the end.
  • Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández (March 1-2, 2025) – Celebrate the stunning and visually opulent history, culture, music, and dance of Mexico with one of the most famous dance companies in the world featuring the renowned choreography of Amalia Hernández and be moved by the live music creating a “whirling, kaleidoscopic splendor” (Boston Globe). Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico brings together the music, dance, and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations through the modern era. With its permanent home at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most historic venues, the company has developed choreography for 40 ballets, composed of 60 folk dancers and musicians who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad.
  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 7-9, 2025) – Returning to its Chicago home, the illustrious 65-year-strong company brings incredible show-stopping performances. Experience the latest premieres, contemporary favorites, and beloved masterpieces. On March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey led a group of young African-American modern dancers in a now-fabled performance at the 92nd Street Y in New York City that forever changed the perception of American dance. Through the remarkable artistry of extraordinary dancers, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to celebrate the African-American cultural experience and to preserve and enrich the American modern dance tradition. With a repertory of over 235 works by more than 90 choreographers the Ailey legacy flourishes, using the universal language of dance as a medium for honoring the past, celebrating the present, and fearlessly reaching into the future.
  • Parsons Dance (April 12, 2025) – Witness boundary-pushing artistry and life-affirming joy from this New York City-based contemporary American dance company which is internationally renowned for its energized, athletic ensemble work. The company performs works selected from the vast and varied repertory of more than 75 works created by David Parsons. The company commissions new dances from established choreographers like Trey McIntyre and Monica Bill Barnes and restages works from the American canon, including works by Robert Battle and Paul Taylor.
  • 40th Anniversary of The Goonies in Concert (April 26, 2025) – Hey, you guys! Join a group of misfits on a search for long-lost treasure, complete with an ancient map, deadly booby traps, a ruthless crime family, and Baby Ruth candy bars. Experience one of the most-loved films of the 80s with the Chicago Phil playing the entire Dave Grusin score live to film. No matter the dangers—Goonies never say die!
  • South Chicago Dance Theatre (May 3, 2025) – Be moved by an electric fusion of classical and contemporary dance showcasing the talents of the local dance company making waves through stunning collaborations by master choreographers and works that fearlessly embrace innovation and provide fresh perspective with “note-by-note precision” (Dance Magazine). SCDT is firmly rooted on Chicago’s South Side. Several of the company’s collaborators have been a part of the fabric of the South Side’s vibrant arts community since the early 1960s. Thus, the SCDT is committed to maintaining its rich heritage through the embodiment of south Chicago-influenced movement, music, and history.

Broadway In Chicago is proud to produce the following shows as part of its Winter lineup.

(Neighborhood: The Loop):

  • Come From Away (playing January 21-26, 2025, at CIBC Theatre) – Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY is a Best Musical winner all across North America! This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Don’t miss this breathtaking musical written by Tony® nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by Tony-winning Best Director Christopher Ashley, and musical staging by Tony-nominee Kelly Devine. The tour is directed by Daniel Goldstein with musical staging by Richard J. Hinds, based on the original Broadway direction and choreography.
  • Insidious: The Further You Fear (playing February 14-15, 2025, at CIBC Theatre) – Brace yourself for the scare of a lifetime, as the world of Insidious jumps off the screen and into your theater seat with INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR – an immersive live horror experience that brings your darkest nightmares to life right before your eyes. INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR is an all-new, thrilling story set in the Insidious universe. Hosted as a live show by the “real” Specs and Tucker, the actual paranormal investigators who inspired the original movie, the event soon takes a turn for the terrifying. When a paranormal demonstration goes horribly wrong, dark forces are unleashed, and the horror becomes all too real. Trapped in a genuinely haunted theatre, with something truly sinister lurking backstage, the audience will find themselves under attack from such iconic characters as the Bride in Black, the Wheezing Man and, of course, the infamous Red Face Demon. But what is real? What’s just part of the show? And who—or what—might be sitting next to you? The house is full. The stage is set. The Red Door is about to open. Will you make it through?
  • Clue (playing February 18 – March 2, 2025, at CIBC Theatre) – A mansion. A murder. A mystery.Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
  • Beetlejuice (playing March 11-16, 2025, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre) – It’s showtime! He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming back to Chicago by popular demand for one week only! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!
  • Titanique (playing March 25 – May 18, 2025, at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place) – All aboard NYC’s must-sea musical comedy! Broadway In Chicago presents the Porchlight Music Theatre production of When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film “Titanic,” you get Titanique, off-Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself,” and “To Love You More” – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart, and campy chaos.
  • Moulin Rouge! The Musical (playing April 2-20, 2025, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre) – Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award® winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award® winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
  • Riverdance 30 – The New Generation (playing April 22-27, 2025, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre) – Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy® award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances have left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this incredible 30th-year milestone, Riverdance will embark on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences around the world. This spectacular production rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and costumes and state of the art lighting, projection, and motion graphics. And for the first time Riverdance welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when the show began 30 years ago. Audiences will enjoy a unique and memorable performance that blends the traditional and the contemporary, showcasing the skill and passion of the world-class dancers, musicians, and singers in the Riverdance ensemble.
  • Hadestown (playing May 6-18, 2025, at the CIBC Theatre) – Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today… and always. Intertwining two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago’s foremost producer of new and reimagined opera, proudly announces Remedios Varios (para las Aflicciones del Cuerpo y el Espíritu) (April 5, 2025). Remedios Varios is COT’s 2024-25 Vanguard Opera, an opera written by COT’s Vanguard composer over the course of their two-year residence with the company culminating in a concert-premiere of the work. Composed by Carlos R. Carrillo to a libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, set in a world devoid of color, and inspired by the imagery of surrealist painter Remedios Varo, a lone tree holds within its rings the memory and possibility of music, poetry, and art. An herbalist struggles to heal a community afflicted by a siege of maladies, and a homesick boardingschool student dreams of escape. An ancient medicinal, written in Spanish (one of countless forbidden languages), just may hold the key — to transcendence, or complete obliteration. This searing new opera looks at a culture rapidly strip-mining itself of its riches and embraces the realm of the imagination as fertile ground for regeneration.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater will present the following performances this winter and spring (Neighborhood: Streeterville):

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (January 14 – February 2, 2025) – Welcome to Jaja’s, a bustling Harlem hotspot where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on the locals’ locks. Amidst the lively buzz of a scorching summer day, pull up a chair with Marie, Bea, Miriam, Aminata, and Ndidi as love blossoms, dreams flourish, and secrets are revealed. But uncertainty simmers below the surface, and this tight-knit community must confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home. Written by Tony-nominated Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play) and directed by Chicago’s own award-winning director Whitney White, this laugh-out-loud comedic gem “is equally affecting as it is hilarious,” hails Entertainment Weekly.
  • Avaaz (January 21 – February 9, 2025) – Written and performed by Emmy Award nominee Michael Shayan and directed by Tony Award nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Shayan plays the role of his own larger-than-life mother, Roya—who welcomes audiences into her home to celebrate the Iranian New Year, and shares her quintessential American journey from Tehran to “Tehrangeles,” California, formerly known as Westwood. Rich in extravagant humor and heart, Avaaz is at once deeply personal and universal. Its sold-out, acclaimed East Coast debut was hailed as “ingenious” and “masterful” by BroadwayWorld and DC Theater Arts.
  • Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream (February 8 – March 8, 2025) – A perfect introduction to Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy, Chicago Shakespeare will welcome 20,000 middle and high school students from across the region to Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Adapted and directed by Edward Hall, it captures the exhilaration, foolishness, and delight of young love, as the chaos of magic and enchantment turns the world upside down. In addition to the five-week run of school matinees, this 75-minute production will offer public performances on Saturdays.
  • Hamlet (March 13-23, 2025) – Blending Shakespeare’s text with personal anecdotes from their lives, a group of young performers with Down syndrome take the stage in a lively and profound theatrical experience. Presented in partnership with the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), CST welcomes Teatro La Plaza from Lima, Peru with its bold and energetic reimagining of Hamlet. Offering a provocative look at questions of inclusion and discrimination, the performers explore the central question “To be or not to be?” through their own experiences, and a mix of pop music, dance, and wry humor.
  • Sunny Afternoon (March 21 – April 27, 2025) – In the North American premiere of the winner of four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, Sunny Afternoon tells the story of the rise to stardom of The Kinks through their own prolific catalog of chart-topping songs including “You Really Got Me,” “Lola,” and “All Day and All of the Night.” With an original story, music, and lyrics by The Kinks’ legendary Ray Davies and a script by Joe Penhall, this musical is an unforgettable rock-and-roll journey through the soaring triumphs and devastating lows of an iconic band that influenced generations. Edward Hall returns to this show after directing the world premiere at London’s Hampstead Theatre and in the West End.
  • Hymn (April 29 – May 25, 2025) – A deeply resonant tribute to male friendship, this soul-affirming story charts the lives of two middle-aged Black men as they form a deep bond in an intimate exploration of the loyalties and betrayals of brothers, fathers, and sons. This production marks Olivier Award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti returning to Chicago. Originally set in London in its premiere at the Almeida Theatre, Chakrabarti will reframe the play for CST to be set in Chicago.

Drury Lane Theatre will present the following productions as part of its 2024/2025 season:

  • Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (January 29 – March 23, 2025) – Witness the captivating story of Carole King’s meteoric rise to stardom, from humble beginnings to her undeniable status as one of the most celebrated voices in popular music. With melodies such as “I Feel the Earth Move” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” this production weaves an emotional tapestry rich with nostalgia. Beautiful isn’t just a musical; it’s an immersive celebration of resilience, creativity, and the authentic spirit of a music legend.
  • The Da Vinci Code (April 9 – June 1, 2025) – Witness the action-packed novel live on stage as Professor Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu race against the clock to unlock the secrets of Da Vinci in this Chicago regional premiere.
  • Guarneri Hall will present these winter productions:
  • Proust’s Salon: Tracing the Spiral of Time (February 10, 2025) – Marcel Proust wrote volumes on the fluid quality of time as it exists in memory. Proust’s friend, composer Gabriel Fauré, advocated for the intimacy of chamber music as a way to nurture and express “inner life.” Fauré’s student, Charles Koechlin, proposed a “tower” from which the artist could objectively observe and process the world. All regarded the salon as an intimate means to transport composers and listeners to a timeless place of reflection and detachment, where past and present intermingle. Proust’s Salon: Tracing the Spiral of Time revives this deeply personal notion of time with the music of Fauré, Schmitt, and Koechlin that might easily have been heard at one of the salon events that Proust and his circle of artists favored. Pianist Adam Neiman will provide commentary.
  • A Night at the Movies: Buster Keaton’s “The General” (April 3, 2025) – Building on last year’s exuberant screening of Sherlock Jr. accompanied by original live music, the brilliant pianist and composer of silent film scores Stephen Prutsman will return to Guarneri Hall to present another hilarious Buster Keaton evening. On this season’s marquee is a screening of Keaton’s classic silent film The General with Prutsman’s original score, played live by Prutsman himself and members of NEXUS Chamber Music. Keaton’s 1926 Civil War comedy is generally regarded as his best work and was selected by the Library of Congress in 1989 to be included in the first class of films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Lookingglass Theatre, following an 18 month hiatus, proudly returns to its newly renovated event space and beloved Joan & Paul Theatre at the historic Water Tower Water Works. With new theatre leadership, a new business model –  which focuses on producing two shows a year as well as building co-production relationships with other theatres, offering more educational programs, and expanding the company’s scene shop – and a renovated lobby with a new bar and cafe, the theatre will reopen on January 30, 2025. This season’s productions include two world premieres:

  • Circus Quixote (January 30 – March 30, 2025) – Based on Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote of La Mancha about a dreamy adventurer who embarks on a folly-filled quest.
  • Iraq, But Funny (May 29 – July 20, 2025) – A raucous satire about five generations of Assyrian women reclaiming their stories from The Ottoman Empire to modern day U.S.A., exploring history, family, and dysfunction.

The Joffrey Ballet presents these Winter events:

  • Golden Hour (February 20 – March 2, 2025) – Bask in the glow of Golden Hour, a radiant mixed repertoire program of warmth and splendor. The production features the world premiere of Princess and the Pea by Dani Rowe, a new work for three dancers by critically acclaimed choreographer Yuri Possokhov; the return of Heimat by Cathy Marston; and an audience favorite, Under the Trees’ Voices, examining the persistence of community and connection in the age of distance and isolation set to Bosso’s Symphony No. 2, by Nicolas Blanc.
  • 15th Annual Winning Works (March 14–23, 2025) – The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, presents five world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey’s national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists. Winning Works will be presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Edlis Neeson Theater.
  • The Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Symphony Orchestra (April 10–13, 2025) – New works and noteworthy collaborations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra include world premieres of two newly commissioned ballets. Former Winning Works choreographer Amy Hall Garner sets her new ballet to Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1, and Joffrey choreographer Nicolas Blanc sets his new ballet to 20th-century French composer Darius Milhaud’s Le Bœuf sur le toit.

Lifeline Theatre has announced its 2024-25 season of Big Stories, Up Close. The MainStage season features a new hip-hop adaptation of the novel The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain and first-time collaboration with Salvadoran-American artists Brian and Marvin Quijada in Kid Prince and Pablo (until February 16, 2025), and Lifeline ensemble members John Hildreth (adaptor) and Heather Currie (director)’s contemporary Chicago version of the sci-fi thriller The War of the Worlds (May 23 – July 13, 2025) based on the novel by H.G. Wells. The KidSeries season will feature the world premiere of ensemble member Amanda Link’s adaptation of Sandra Dieckmann’s Leaf (March 16 – April 20, 2025), a story that navigates our relationships with each other and our planet. (Neighborhood: Rogers Park)

Lyric Opera of Chicago is proud to present these winter productions:

  • Singin’ in the Rain (February 7, 2025) – Join us for our inaugural film and live orchestra event as the celebrated Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra performs the lush score for Singin’ in the Rain live alongside the film in a big screen presentation. Named the “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” by the American Film Institute, this comedy-romance tells the story of film stars Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) during the era when silent films were evolving into talkies in the 1920s.
  • Sondra Radvanovsky in Concert: The Puccini Heroines (February 8,13, and 16, 2025) – After Sondra Radvanovsky’s Lyric triumphs in Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi, Chicago audiences will at last have the chance to applaud the American diva’s brilliance as a Puccinian. Radvanovsky has earned rapturous international praise as Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Suor Angelica, and most recently Turandot. Enrique Mazzola will collaborate with her in an original program including excerpts from each of Puccini’s twelve operas, not only the popular masterpieces but also his less familiar, early operas —all performed with the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Her magnificent voice, stylistic command, and incandescent dramatic powers, all mean Radvanovsky was made for this tour-de-force performance.
  • Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème (March 15-April 12, 2025) – An ideal opera for first-timers, La Bohème has also never lost its appeal for the most passionate of opera lovers. Puccini brings unique beauty and sensitivity to this tale of young lovers in 19th-century Paris. With the famous arias of the ardent poet Rodolfo, the fragile seamstress Mimì, and the good-hearted party-girl Musetta, matched perfectly to the romance and heartbreak of this universal story, La Bohème is operatic perfection. At Lyric, two dazzling sopranos, Ailyn Pérez and Gabriella Reyes, are paired with the shining-voiced tenor Pene Pati (in his Lyric debut) and the vibrant baritone Will Liverman, in a new-to-Chicago production that will be a truly memorable moment in the company’s longstanding tradition of great La Bohème
  • The Listeners (March 30-April 11, 2025) – The Listeners promises to be one of the most significant operatic events of the 2024/25 season. Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, the renowned composer/librettist team, have adapted a riveting story by novelist Jordan Tannahill. Its heroine, Claire, is driven nearly mad by an unending, low-frequency hum that she hears. In desperation, she joins a community organization, “The Listeners,” formed to discover the origin of the noise and destroy it. The group becomes frighteningly cult-like, ultimately leading to catastrophic consequences. Lyric’s vocally and dramatically brilliant cast will be conducted by Enrique Mazzola and directed by one of the most gifted theater artists of her generation, Lileana Blain-Cruz.
  • Nova Linea Musica, the newest addition to Chicago’s vibrant music scene, presents:
  • Letters from Home (March 12, 2025) – Three world premieres take center stage during this concert featuring the unique sonic combination of ~Nois Saxophone Quartet (János Csontos, Julian Velasco, and Jordan Lulloff) and the string trio Black Oak Ensemble with Desirée Ruhstrat (Violin), David Cunliffe (Cello), and Aurelien Pederzoli (Viola). ~Nois will perform a program of works composed in the last 25 years by a diverse range of living composers including Augusta Read Thomas, Shelley Washington, Christian Quiñones, Arturo Márquez, and Viet Cuong. Black Oak Ensemble will perform three world premieres—a work by Belize-born and U.K.-based composer Errollyn Wallen commissioned by NLM and the long-awaited world premiere of Conrad Tao’s A Series of Interdependencies originally commissioned by Black Oak Ensemble and Bettes in 2016. Then ~Nois and Black Oak will join forces to close out the concert performing the world premiere arrangement of Jarba, Mare Jarba by Chicago’s own Stacy Garrop commissioned by NLM specifically for the unique arrangement of instruments. The concert will be preceded by a conversation with the Society for Disobedient Listeners and will conclude with a reception with food, beverages, and artist interactions.
  • Xavier Mortimer: Master of Magic will play at CIBC Theatre for a limited engagement, March 21-23, 2025. Xavier Mortimer, the illusionist who starred in Cirque du Soleil’s production – MICHAEL JACKSON ONE, has enchanted Las Vegas with his solo shows and captivated millions of fans on social media, will be coming to Chicago for the very first time. After dazzling thousands of spectators around the world, Xavier Mortimer will present MASTER OF MAGIC, a unique and grandiose show that promises to amaze audiences of all ages.

Sports:

2025 USA Volleyballs Windy City Qualifier – April 18-20, 2025, volleyball teams from across the country will travel to Chicago and play against each other for the title. Spectators are welcome!

NBA Draft Lottery and Combine – May 12-19, 2025– In May, professional basketball hopefuls will fill the Marriott Marquis Hotel and Wintrust Arena for the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and Combine. These events are only available to the public through NBA Experience Packages.

HYROX World Championship: June 12-14, 2025, the best athletes from around the globe will gather at Navy Pier to compete in running and workout challenges. The HYROX competition features a 1km run followed by a workout station including the sled push, wall ball, farmers carry, and rowing- repeated eight times. Enjoy Navy Pier and everything else Chicago offers in the summertime alongside intense competition from the world’s best athletes.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race – The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will return in 2025 with the third edition of this exhilarating event scheduled to take place July 5-6 in Grant Park. In 2024, the street race saw an economic impact of $128M, an increase of 17% over 2023, and $43.6M in media value for Chicago, which was beautifully showcased throughout the weekend. Mark your calendars now, and keep your eyes peeled for updates on ticket sales, musical lineup details, and more!

AVP Heritage Open – Don’t miss this Labor Day weekend classic – the AVP Heritage Open! The best of the best in beach volleyball, including medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympics, will hit the sands of Oak Street Beach, August 29-31, 2025. General admission is free!  Bring the family and spend the weekend in Chicago, the Best Big City in the US for the 8th year in a row!

About Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.