10 Can't-Miss Events This Spring In Chicagoland

CHICAGO — It's officially spring in Chicagoland, and the events calendar is in full bloom. Street festivals, outdoor music concerts, tulip festivals and much more are all happening throughout the season.

Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. It's celebrated annually with community cleanups, teach-ins, tree plantings and other activities in communities across the country. In the Greater Chicago area, Earth Day events include:

• April 11 — Earth Day Resource Fair at Dvorak (Anton) Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St., Chicago. From noon to 3 p.m., learn how we can help to protect the Earth. Visit tables from various environmental organizations, gardening, recycling, forest preserves, water/ energy conservation, native plants/animals, plus sign-ups for park clean-up.

• April 18 — 41st annual Chicago Park District Earth Day park cleanups. On the weekend before the holiday, residents will have a chance to help clean and green the city's beloved parks. Volunteer sign-ups, a list of parks participating, and more information can be found here.
• April 18 — Find Earth Day events going on in your neighborhood and community through earthday.org.
• April 19 — Earth Day Celebration at Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St., Skokie. The free event runs from noon to 5 p.m. and includes walking a themed trail inspired by Jane Goodall, learning about conservation and wildlife, explore hands-on environmental stations. There is also an optional native plant sale.

• April 22-28 — One Earth Film Festival, the Midwest's premier environmental film festival, returns for its 15th year. Find a list of participating venues across Chicago and suburbs here.

Are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here are more picks for spring:

• April 9-12 — Expo Chicago International Art Fair, Chicago's Navy Pier. Huge global contemporary art fair bringing galleries from around the world.
• Late April-Early May — Richardson Tulip Festival, 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove. One of northern Illinois' favorite spring flower destinations also features music, games and food trucks.

• May 2-17 — Lilac Time Festival at Lilacia Park in Lombard. The annual affair features over 700 lilac bushes and 25,000+ tulips, as well as botanical tours, concerts, a parade and more.
• May 22-24 — The 41st annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest, Chicago, kicks off the summer street festival season in Lakeview. It features music, food, beer and local artisan vendors.
• May 23-24 — Suenos Music Festival, Chicago's Grant Park. Featuring Latin music, the growing festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find out this year's lineup and more here.