We have plenty of events and exhibits that are some of the top things to do in Chicago this month. Celebrate American writing with us!
We hope you’re enjoying these last few weeks as we finally transition into warmer spring weather. At the AWM this month, there’s something for everyone, including a free day just in time for Easter, a happy hour celebration for National Poetry Month, and more. Plan your visit today!
Check out what we have lined up in April and subscribe to our e-newsletter below to stay up-to-date on all that’s happening. Also, AWM members get free admission to the AWM and most programs, so if you’re not already a member, become a member today!
1. Get Lit: Verses & Visions (April 8, 5:30 pm CT)
Step into a world of mysticism and poetry at Get Lit: Verses & Visions. Immerse yourself in the art of the unknown as we blend the intuitive power of tarot with the evocative beauty of spoken word. Get your tickets here!
Get Lit events take place the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Each month has a different theme, so check out upcoming Get Lit events here and be sure to check back regularly as we announce more Get Lit events throughout the year.
2. April Free Museum Day (April 20, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm CT)
Enjoy free admission to the American Writers Museum! Free days include access to all of our exhibits, including our current special exhibit Level Up: Writers and Gamers. At 11:30 am, grab the little ones and join us for a special Little Squirrels Storytime in the Children’s Literature Gallery. No prior registration is required. Just visit the AWM on Sunday, April 20 and you can explore all that we have to offer at no cost to you! Free admission to the American Writers Museum is available on the third Sunday of each month. Learn more and plan your visit here.
Interested in sponsoring a free day? Click here to explore how you or your company can help everyone enjoy the American Writers Museum. Free Day sponsors enjoy many benefits, including name recognition throughout the museum and on marketing materials, a private meeting area for your use, discounts on future museum rentals, and more!
3. American Prophets: Making New Gods (April 22, 5:15 pm CT, Harold Washington Library Center)
Join Chicago Public Library and American Writers Museum for the kickoff event for the AWM’s new exhibit and program initiative, American Prophets: Writers, Religion & Culture, which examines the relationship between American writers and religion. American Prophets opens November 2025.
How does a writer create a religion? Where does the story of a new theology come from? When writing about gods and adversaries, do writers draw from their own traditions or create wholly original spiritual practices?
Four contemporary fiction writers — N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo, and Matthew Kirby — talk about religion in their writing, the importance of considering socio-spiritual systems when world-building, and how these influence the ways their characters move through the worlds they create. The authors will sign books following the program.
4. The Apprentice: Reading & Short Film Screening – (April 29, 6:00 pm CT)
“My stories often begin in memory and end in dreams.” — Stuart Dybek
Join us for a premiere screening of the short film The Apprentice, a haunting and unusual coming-of-age story set in Chicago directed by Mary Livoni, based on the original story by Stuart Dybek. Both Livoni and Dybek will be in attendance, with Dybek reading from his original story and Livoni presenting the film.
This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here.
BONUS: Bird Scavenger Hunt – (Now – April 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm CT)
In celebration of Earth Month, the Bird Scavenger Hunt has returned to the AWM! Presented by the Dickinson Audubon Society, there are five birds reading bird-themed books throughout the museum. Ask the front desk staff for supplies and set out to find all five birds. You’ll need to match the bird’s coloring to the form to put them in the correct spots. And when you find all five birds, head back to the front desk to collect a special prize! The Bird Scavenger Hunt is available through April 28.