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!
Spring has sprung in Chicago, and we have lots of new things happening! This month at the AWM, there’s something for everyone, including writer events, a free day, a happy hour targeted at all of our book-loving friends, and more. Plan your visit today!
Check out what we have lined up in May 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. Level Up: Writers & Gamers Extended Through November 2!
Due to popular demand, we are thrilled to announce that our hit exhibit Level Up: Writers & Gamers has been extended through Sunday, November 2, 2025. Originally scheduled to close May 5, the exhibit now remains open for six more months, allowing even more visitors to explore the vibrant world of game writing and its powerful influence on storytelling and American culture.
To celebrate this exciting extension, we’re inviting visitors to experience Level Up during May the 4th Be With You Day on Sunday, May 4. In honor of this fan-favorite day inspired by Star Wars, all visitors will receive $4 off general admission — no costume required, though cosplay is always welcome! Stop by our special photo op area featuring costume pieces, where you can create your own outfit and snap a picture in the enchanted forest.
2. Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair (May 13, 5:30 pm CT)
Indulge your literary impulses at Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair! Mix and mingle with fellow bookworms, share your favorite titles, and discover new ones to add to your summer reading list. From cozy mysteries to epic adventures, there’s something for every reader to discover and enjoy. Get your tickets here!
Get Lit events take place on 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.
3. Dave Barry: Class Clown (May 15, 6:00 pm CT, Chicago Hope Academy)
How does the son of a Presbyterian minister end up winning a Pulitzer for a hilariously inaccurate newspaper column read by millions? Find out as Dave Barry shares his life story with all the humor youʼd expect from a man who made a career out of making fun of pretty much everything. Barry will be interviewed by Mark Bazer of The Interview Show on WTTW. Barry will sign books following the program.
This event takes place at Chicago Hope Academy.
4. 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, May 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!
5. Paul Elie on Postsecularism – (May 30, 7:00 pm CT)
National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Paul Elie joins us to discuss his new book, The Last Supper, which explores the origins of our postsecular present and the moment when popular culture became the site of religious conflict, namely the 1980s.
From Andy Warhol’s adaptation of The Last Supper to the boycott sparked by Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” music video, “crypto-religious” artists pushed back against the spirit of the age, venturing into vexed areas where politicians and clergy were loath to go. Elie traces the beginning of our age of postsecularism, in which religion is both surging and in decline. And he presents an outlook — open to belief but wary of it — that those artists and Americans today have in common.