BEST Things to Do This Week in Chicago (November 9-15, 2026)

Searching for what to do this week in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this week (November 9-15, 2026) including the best events and activities.

I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.

Best Events This Week in Chicago

Below are the best events this week in Chicago:

Drunk Christmas Carol – Opens November 11, 2026

Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB) – November 13-14, 2026

The Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival – November 13-14, 2026

Andrew Bird & the CSO (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) – November 13-14, 2026, 7:30pm

Maggie Daley Ice-Skating Ribbon Opening Day – Opens November 13, 2026

Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden – Opens November 13, 2026

Illumination | Holiday Lights at The Morton Arboretum – Opens November 14, 2026

Randolph Street Holiday Market – November 14+15, 2026

Lycée French Market – November 14-15, 2026 – French market, where many local and French artisans sell fine and decorative arts, home décor, jewelry, apparel, accessories, gourmet food and more.

Autumn Vintage & Artisan Fest in Ravenswood – November 14-15, 2026, 12-5pm | Free w/advanced RSVP

Holiday Delight & Kodomo Matsuri – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10am-4pm | Free – Celebrate Japanese culture at this annual festival with live performances, food, shopping, and fun for the whole family.

Holiday Cocktail Tasting Festival – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2:30-6pm

Lit & Luz Festival – Through November 14, 2026

312 Comedy Festival – Through November 15, 2026

Black Harvest Film Festival – Through November 15, 2026

Andersonville Autumn Restaurant Week – Through November 15, 2026

More Events in Chicago This Week

Below are more events taking place this week in Chicago:

Wellness in the Sky – Sound Bath Meditation at Skydeck – Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 6:30-9pm

Get Lit: Weird Science at American Writers Museum – Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm

Illinois Free Wednesdays at the Field Museum – Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Chicago History Museum Free Day for Illinois Residents – Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Free

Free Hours for Illinois Residents at The Art Institute of Chicago – Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 11am-5pm | Free

Candlelight: Tribute to Juan Luis Guerra – Thursday, November 12, 2026, 6:30pm

After5Chicago – Behind the Illusion: The Psychology of Magic and Perception – Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm

Candlelight: Tribute to Lauryn Hill – Thursday, November 12, 2026, 8:45pm

Artini at Gallery Guichard (Bronzeville) – Thursday, November 12, 2026, 6-9pm | Free

Cocktail Making in the Clouds at 360 Chicago – Thursday, November 12, 2026, 7-9pm

Taylor Swift Bar Crawls: Eras, Ex’s and Everything Taylor – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 12-5pm

Repair Fair at Chicago Tool Library – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1-3:30pm | Free – Skilled repair volunteers will attempt to fix your broken bikes, clothes, small appliances and electronics and more.

Ravenswood Makers Market at KOVAL Tasting Room – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1-6pm | Free

Godfrey Wine Fest – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1-5pm – Wine tasting at I|O Godfrey Rooftop.

Reindeer Run at Brookfield Zoo – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 5:30-9pm

A Night in Sudan: An Immersive Cultural Experience – Saturday, November 14, 2026, 6-11pm – Sudanese food, music, film, literature, henna, and interactive exhibits while supporting mutual aid.

Chicago Artisan Market (Fulton Market) – Sunday, November 15, 2026, 11am-5pm

Another Vegan Harvest Market at Emporium Logan Square – Sunday, November 15, 2026, 12-5pm | Free Entry – Family-friendly, community driven market, showcasing several plant-based vendors.

Iranian Music & Comedy Showcase at the Comedy Bar – Sunday, November 15, 2026, 5pm

You can find more Chicago weekend events here.

Adler Planetarium Free Day (Illinois Resident Discount Days) – November 9 & 10, 2026

Nikki Glaser at the Chicago Theatre – November 13–14, 2026

Dante 360 at the Athenaeum Center – November 13–15, 2026

Home, I’m Darling at TimeLine Theater – November 11 – December 13, 2026

A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre – November 13 – December 31, 2026

More Things to Do in Chicago This Week

Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience

Launching in Chicago, and created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a fully interactive, 3D virtual reality experience that takes visitors on a breathtaking journey through the cosmos, from dazzling galaxies to the edge of a black hole.

When: Through December 27, 2026

Where: 108 West Germania Place, Chicago, IL 60610

Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.

Serial Killer: The Exhibition World Tour

Serial Killer: The Exhibition World Tour is a gripping, immersive true-crime experience featuring the world’s first and only collection of authentic artifacts connected to history’s most notorious serial killers. Following its massive success in London, Paris, and Berlin, and fresh off its U.S. premiere in Atlanta, Chicago is officially the second stop of this blockbuster American tour. Built on ten years of research and collaboration with over sixty global collectors, this expanded landmark exhibition features over 2,100 authentic artifacts while introducing exclusive Chicago content exploring the city’s dark criminal history, including dedicated sections on H.H. Holmes and John Wayne Gacy. Recommended for ages 14+ (not suitable for sensitive audiences).

Where: Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, 2428 W 15th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.