Things to Do in Chicago in March

One event runs March in Chicago, and it's St. Patrick's Day. Young and old, Irish and not, the whole city turns out for it. The rest of the month is a waiting game for spring, but you won't run out of things to do while you wait. The river cruises come back, the flower shows open indoors, and the museums are quiet on weekdays. For weather, packing and hotel prices, see our planning page on Chicago in March.

Dates move from year to year, so we've described when things usually happen and linked each official site. The city's festival and event dates page and our holidays and events page cover the rest of the year.

St. Patrick's Day: the green river and the parades

Chicago doesn't wait for March 17. The river is dyed and the downtown parade marches on the Saturday on or before the 17th, so check the calendar before you assume it's on the day itself.

The morning starts on the river. Members of Plumbers Local 130 pour an orange powder into the water that turns it a bright green, and they've been doing it since the early 1960s. The formula is still a secret. The parade committee says the best view is from Upper Wacker Drive between Columbus Drive and Fairbanks Court, and people stake out those spots early.

Then the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade marches down Columbus Drive in Grant Park. It's big, it's loud, and it's cold more often than not, so wear more layers than you think you need.

The neighborhoods hold their own parades on the Sunday. The South Side Irish Parade in Beverly is the best known, with a real neighborhood feel, and the Northwest Side Irish Parade runs the same day. After all that, the bars take over. We've rounded up the best bars for St. Patrick's Day, and our St. Patrick's Day in Chicago page has more.

The Shamrock Shuffle

If you run, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is how a lot of Chicagoans start their season. It's run on a weekend in March, with an 8K, a 2-mile walk and a one-mile race, all starting and finishing in Grant Park, and packet pickup is at Buckingham Fountain. If you're not racing, the spectator page lists the cheer zones.

Flowers, indoors

Spring comes early under glass. The Garfield Park Conservatory puts on its Spring Flower Show from mid-February into May, with a new theme every year. The conservatory is one of the largest in the country, and it's on the West Side at 300 N. Central Park Ave., next to the Green Line. Entry is by timed reservation, and it's closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so book on its website before you go.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr.) is smaller, older-feeling and free, and it has its own spring show in the Show House. It's a short walk from the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is free too.

North of the city in Glencoe, the Chicago Botanic Garden's Orchid Show fills its greenhouses from early February until late March. It's ticketed, and the evening events can sell out, so buy ahead.

Back on the river

The Chicago Architecture Center river cruise starts sailing again in March. It's a 90-minute tour with a docent, and it leaves from the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. The boats have enclosed cabins, but the upper deck is where you want to be, so dress warmer than you would for the street. A March cruise is also far easier to book than a July one. Our sightseeing tours page compares the other boat companies.

Museums, and saving on them

The museums are quiet on March weekdays until spring break arrives. If you live in Illinois, you can get in free at a lot of them. The Field Museum is free for Illinois residents every Wednesday, and the Museum of Contemporary Art is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays from 5 to 9pm. The other dates change constantly, so we keep them on our free museum days page. Out-of-state visitors should look at a discount city pass instead. Our museums in Chicago guide covers the big ones.

When the weather turns

March can throw snow at you with no warning, so have a plan for an indoor day. The free Millennium Park ice rink has usually closed for the season by now, but the theater scene is at full strength (see theatre in Chicago), and the Bulls and Blackhawks are still playing at the United Center. We've got more ideas in things to do on rainy days and winter activities in Chicago. If you're bringing kids, read spring break in Chicago.

Photo by Asten