Seasons · March – May
Spring in the West Loop
Patios re-open, marathon training picks up, and Chicago Restaurant Week kicks off the dining year.
Spring in the West Loop is when the corridor wakes up — outdoor patios on Randolph and Fulton Market re-open, the Chicago Marathon training season starts in earnest along the lakefront and through Madison Row, and Chicago Restaurant Week (late January through early February most years) bridges the cold months. The neighborhood is at its most walkable in May.
Recurring anchors
- Chicago Restaurant Week
Citywide prix-fixe promotion run by Choose Chicago, typically late January through early February. Most West Loop marquee restaurants participate.
- Patios open
Most Randolph and Fulton Market outdoor patios open by early-to-mid May; some sooner depending on the year. The /best/patios list catalogs them.
- Marathon training
The Chicago Marathon runs in early October, but training mileage builds through the spring and summer. The flat residential blocks south of Lake Street are common training routes.
- Earth Day events
Mary Bartelme Park, Skinner Park, and Union Park typically host Park District-organized community programming in April.
Frequently asked questions
- When does outdoor dining usually start?
- Most West Loop patios open by mid-May, when nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Some open earlier in unseasonably warm springs.