National Picnic Day

National Take a Chance Day

National English Muffin Day

National Talk Like Shakespeare Day

World Table Tennis Day

Ravinia Festival: Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season are now officially on sale! They went live this morning at 8 a.m., so act quickly if you already know what shows you want to see this summer.

Ravinia Festival is a historic outdoor music venue, the longest-running outdoor music festival in North America, located just north of Chicago in the suburb of Highland Park, Ill. This summer, Ravinia is hosting 90+ concerts, including 50+ artist debuts.

Some of the names you can look forward to seeing this season include Snoop Dogg, Ricky Martin, Erykah Badu, Billy Idol, Lizzo with CSO, Rod Stewart, Labrinth, Chance the Rapper and many more. See this year’s full lineup.

It’s an especially exciting year to visit Ravinia due to the highly anticipated opening of the new Hunter Pavilion, Ravinia’s main stage, which received a full redesign that includes improved acoustics, expanded and upgraded seating, a larger stage and more.

Wettest Spring: Chicago is off to its wettest start to spring on record, with 10.63 inches of rain recorded from March 1 through April 20. That’s more than double the usual 4.66 inches for this time of year. The increase has been driven in part by more frequent severe storms across the Great Lakes region. So far, the National Weather Service has reported 11 severe weather events in Chicagoland this year, compared to a typical four by this point.

Whole Foods: Chicago is getting two new Whole Foods, with locations planned in both Wicker Park and Lake View. In Wicker Park, the store is proposed for 1200 N. Ashland Ave., replacing the former CVS at Division, Ashland and Milwaukee. Another location is also in the works at 827 W. Belmont Ave. in Lake View. The expansion is part of a broader plan to open more than 100 new stores nationwide.

The Mag Mile: A denim showdown is shaping up on Michigan Avenue, with American Eagle and Levi’s setting up right near each other on the Mag Mile. American Eagle is planning a multibrand flagship in the former Grand Lux Cafe space at 600 N. Michigan Ave., while Levi’s is moving into a two-level space at 663 N. Michigan Ave., putting two of the biggest names in denim within a short walk of each other.

Billy Donovan: Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has decided to leave the team after six seasons. The organization wanted him back, but he had an option in his contract and chose to step away following meetings with ownership over the past week. The move gives the Bulls a clean slate as they continue reshaping the front office and search for their next head coach.

Arla: A new high-end restaurant is coming to the Gold Coast this summer, as the team behind Adalina and Adalina Prime prepares to open ARLA. The concept will take over the former Barneys New York Fred’s space at 15 E. Oak St. and center around Mediterranean flavors with subtle Japanese influence. The multi-level space is designed as an open-air dining destination, with outdoor terraces overlooking Oak Street and Lake Michigan.

NFL Draft: The Chicago Bears hold the 25th pick in the first round of tonight’s 2026 NFL Draft (7 p.m. start time). This year’s draft is being held in Pittsburgh, PA, from April 23 to 25, but the Bears are also hosting a Draft Party this evening at Soldier Field. The Bears have seven picks in the draft, including four in the top 89, and will be seeking intense competitors. They received an extra second-round pick (60th overall) in the DJ Moore trade. Re-watch Caleb Williams getting drafted by the Bears.

Bridge Lifts: The 2026 bridge lift season officially kicked off yesterday. Bridge lifts typically begin at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Wednesdays. During the process, 27 bridges along the Chicago River raise in succession from Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive as boats pass through. The lifts allow sailboats to move from winter storage back out to Lake Michigan. See the Chicago Bridge Lift Schedule.

Oberweis x Giordano’s: Oberweis is launching its first-ever Scoop Shop inside Giordano’s in Naperville, IL, bringing together two iconic Chicago staples, deep-dish pizza and amazing ice cream, under one roof. It’s the first time Giordano’s has partnered with another brand in-store, marking a major milestone for both brands. The grand opening and ribbon cutting is on Tuesday, April 28 at 11 a.m., with 99-cent scoops for the first 99 guests in line.

Children’s Garden: Reservations for the Garfield Park Conservatory’s newly renovated Children’s Garden go live tomorrow, Friday, April 24 at noon. The 6,000-square-foot space will officially reopen May 1 at 10 a.m. after a major renovation, featuring a 20-foot net climber, slide, toddler area and more interactive play zones. It’s free to visit with general admission, no add-on required.

Macy’s Flower Show: Macy’s on State Street (111 N. State St.) is hosting a flower show pop-up through May 10. The experience features a series of small greenhouse moments across the main floor, extending up to the Walnut Room on the 7th floor. Highlights include a floral bridgeway, a garden trellis with oversized blooms, special events and more.

Tulip Farms: Two of Chicagoland’s best tulip festivals are now open. Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove just opened with more than one million blooms, while Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park is also showcasing over a million tulips at its Midwest Tulip Fest. Two great options to check out right now, but go soon, they don’t last long.

Bookstore Crawl: Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, April 25, and the annual Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl is back with 80+ participating shops across the area. Pick up a passport at your first stop and get it stamped as you visit each store, no purchase required. Hit 10 bookstores in one day to earn 10% off at participating shops for a year, or 15 stores for 15% off. See the list of participating bookstores.

Collect-A-Con: The nation’s largest trading card, anime and pop culture convention is coming to Rosemont this weekend. Collect-A-Con Chicago takes place April 25 and 26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and will feature 900+ vendor tables with collectibles like Pokémon cards, Funko Pop!, anime merch and more, plus celebrity meet-and-greets and a live performance by Soulja Boy.

Chicago Rum Festival: The 10th Chicago Rum Festival, also known as Midwest Rum Fest, takes place this Saturday, April 25 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Logan Square Auditorium. The boutique-style event will feature a curated lineup of brands with a focus on education and premium rum tastings. Tickets.

Free Breakfast Sandwiches: Stop by Pioneer Court (401 N Michigan Ave.) this Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for free breakfast sandwiches from a Route 66-themed Vital Farms pop-up diner. To get one, you’ll just need to write a quick postcard to a farmer. There are three options to choose from, including bacon, sausage or a simple egg and cheese.

Sunrise: 5:57 a.m. (11 minutes earlier)

Sunset: 7:40 p.m. (8 minutes later)