National Bubble Tea Day

National Mr. Potato Head Day

National Bugs Bunny Day

National Honesty Day

International Jazz Day

Spring Market: The Chicago Artisan Market is back this Sunday, May 3 for a one-day spring market featuring 115+ local artisans from Chicago and the Midwest, all under one roof.

The market will take place at Morgan MFG (401 N Morgan St) in Fulton Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., exactly one week before Mother’s Day, making it a great spot to find locally made, thoughtful gifts for mom.

Shop food, fashion, home goods and art inside a buzzing indoor market, where you can eat and drink as you browse and even bring your dog. There’s also a full bar if you want to make it a Sunday Funday.

Tickets are $8 each, or four for $20 when purchased online in advance. Turn it into a double date or group outing, and that’s just $5 per person.

Water Tower Place: Chicago’s iconic Water Tower Place is set for a $170 million redevelopment as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. Plans include opening up the lower three levels with a new atrium, higher ceilings and the removal of the longtime escalators, while floors 4 to 8 will be converted into office and medical space. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and wrap in 2028, with existing retailers remaining open during the transformation.

Red Line Extension: The CTA officially broke ground on the long-awaited Red Line Extension, nearly 60 years after it was first promised. The $5.75 billion project will extend the line 5.6 miles south from 95th Street to 130th Street, adding four new stations along the way, with completion expected in 2030. The extension is expected to cut travel times by up to 30 minutes for riders traveling between downtown and 130th Street.

Centennial Fountain: Chicago’s Centennial Fountain and its iconic water cannon are turning back on this Friday, a sign that summer is getting closer. The cannon sprays an 80-foot arc of water across the Chicago River at the top of each hour for five minutes from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., running May 1 through Sept. 30. You can find it along the Chicago Riverwalk at 400 N McClurg Ct.

Lincoln Park Zoo: The Lincoln Park Zoo has a new baby rhino that made its public debut yesterday, hiding behind its mother. Take a look! The eastern black rhinoceros is named Hazina, which means “treasure” in Swahili. She was born on March 19 and is now about six weeks old.

Holiday Club: The longtime Holiday Club in Uptown is set to close after 25 years, with its final day scheduled for May 17 as the building at Irving Park and Sheridan makes way for a new apartment development. Known for its ’80s and ’90s dance parties and late night karaoke, the bar has been a staple since 2001, and ownership is exploring a potential relocation.

50 Best Bars: Chicago’s bar scene earned international attention this past week as four spots landed on the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, with Kumiko leading the way at No. 11, followed by Best Intentions (No. 16), Gus’ Sip & Dip (No. 27) and Bisous (No. 30). The annual ranking is based on votes from industry experts.

Frozen Beverages: Mario’s Italian Lemonade opened early for the season yesterday, a few days ahead of its usual May 1 return to Chicago’s Little Italy. Soft serve margaritas are the current viral trend on social media, and you can find them at a variety of spots across Chicago (Panchos Rooftop, La Mejikana, Casa Tulum and JoJo’s ShakeBAR) and the suburbs (Antigua Mexican Grill).

Bad Butter: Dan Koester, known as Dan the Baker, opened Bad Butter last weekend at 1655 W Cortland in Bucktown, his first official brick and mortar shop. You may recognize it from its previous pop-up at the Emily Hotel in West Loop. Demand has been insane so far, with the shop selling out within two hours and lines forming early for pastries. A pre-order pickup window is coming soon, which may be the move.

$30 Show Tickets: Live Nation just launched a limited-time promo that kicked off yesterday and runs through May 5, offering $30 tickets to thousands of concerts across the U.S. and Canada, including 85+ Chicago-area shows this summer. All upfront fees are included in the ticket price, with artists like Kid Cudi, Tyler Childers, The Pussycat Dolls, Demi Lovato and Zayn included.

Free Museum Days: With all the rain that we’ve been getting and it still not being that warm out yet, May could be a great month to take advantage of one of Chicago’s free museum days. Take a look at the May free museum days happening over the next month.

Kentucky Derby: The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs this Saturday, May 2 at 5:57 p.m. There are plenty of ticketed Kentucky Derby parties happening across Chicago this weekend, including: ROOF on theWit, Joy District, The J. Parker, Paradise Park, Utopian Tailgate and Parlay Lincoln Park.

Mexico Fest: Mexico Fest returns to Navy Pier this weekend, May 1 to 3, for a free three-day celebration featuring a full schedule of live performances, a market, art, interactive experiences, DJs, dancing and more. You can also explore a vibrant Mercadito with artisans from the State of Mexico, Baja California, Oaxaca and Taxco, Guerrero.

Wicker Park Farmer’s Market: The Wicker Park Farmers Market kicks off its opening day this Sunday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1425 N Damen, featuring fresh produce, food vendors and a full lineup of free activities. Highlights include yoga at 9 a.m., Pilates at 10 a.m., kids activities and a “how to grow tomatoes” workshop at noon.

Lizzano Free Paninis: Gourmet Italian sandwich shop Lizzano is opening a new location in Bucktown this Sunday, May 3 at 1932 N Milwaukee Ave, with a 10 a.m. grand opening, and the first 100 guests get a free half panini. Flavors include the Lizzano, Pastrami and Napoli, with one sandwich per person.

Chicago Beaver Festival: The 2026 Chicago Beaver Festival takes place this Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Nichols Park in Hyde Park, with entry on Kenwood Ave. just north of 55th St. This free, family-friendly event brings the community together through environmental learning, where kids can learn about the beaver ecosystem.

Sunrise: 5:47 a.m. (10 minutes earlier)

Sunset: 7:48 p.m. (8 minutes later)