Things to Do in May in Chicago

May is a fun time to experience the city of Chicago. As the weather starts getting nicer, you can find all sorts of new recreational and cultural opportunities throughout the Windy City. May features holiday celebrations for Memorial Day and Cinco de Mayo, as well as sporting events, volunteering opportunities and neighborhood farmers markets.

Here's a rundown of a few things to do in Chicago in May.

Cinco de Mayo Festival
The three-day Cinco de Mayo Festival takes place annually on the weekend before the Cinco de Mayo holiday on May 5. The family-friendly fest celebrates Mexican heritage with live music, dancing, cultural displays, rides and games, and plenty of delicious Mexican food. More than 200,000 people attend the weekend celebration in Douglas Park. Chicago's Cinco de Mayo celebration culminates with a colorful parade through the Little Village neighborhood.

Chicago River Day
Every year since 1993, volunteers have gathered along the Chicago River to take part in an environmental effort to help clean and restore the river. For three hours on a Saturday morning, guided by the organization Friends of the Chicago River, more than 4000 volunteers collect trash, restore trails, plant new vegetation and remove invasive plant species. Children as young as eight years old can participate with their parents. It's a cool thing to do for those interested in helping preserve the environment.

Memorial Day Parade
During the last week of May, usually not on Memorial Day itself, Chicago holds its Memorial Day Parade to honor military veterans and those who died while serving their country. You can lineup along the parade route for free and watch marching bands and veterans groups do their part to remember our veterans. The parade takes place in Chicago's downtown "Loop" area on State Street.

Baseball games
Institutions in the city of Chicago, the Cubs and White Sox have been competing in Major League Baseball for more than 100 years. May is a good time to try to score baseball tickets because the highly-anticipated first few games of the season are over, and school is still in session so kids and families aren't in attendance in large numbers yet. You can buy tickets for both teams through their websites. The Cubs, of course, play at venerable Wrigley Field, while the Sox play at US Cellular Field.

Things to do in Chicago in May: Summary
These events are all specific to the month of May. If you're looking for more general tourist attractions, the city has much to offer, of course, from the Willis (Sears) Tower to the lakefront to downtown shopping.

Things to do in Chicago in May: Sources

http://www.www.el5demayo.org/english.html

http://chicagoriver.org/events/chicago_river_day/

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago_festivals.htm