This month is all about the celebration of women and their historical contributions to society and culture. The recognition and celebration of women in the U.S and across the globe date back to the 1900s which was the first International Women’s Day. Women’s History Month started a little later and did not become fully recognized until the 1980s by the U.S government.
Women’s History Month not only celebrates the historic achievements of women, but it also reminds us that there are still many barriers for us to overcome and even many significant feats to be made. If you are looking to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, look no further. Laugh, network, build, pamper, encourage, create and more as you celebrate Women’s History Month in Chicago with these local events.
Opening: Womanish Exhibit Experience
Thursday | March 26th | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WOMANISH Exhibit | 114 S. State St.| $35
Womanish is not just an exhibition during Women’s History Month, its a movement. The WOMANISH Exhibit is a Chicago founded experiential pop-up experience consisting of 10-20 exploratory spaces and levels in a vacant retail space in downtown Chicago. Everyone is invited to explore these installations of contemporary womanhood among global and local artists. The exhibit will be open for 30 days and span a 5-story venue takeover, beginning on March 24th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website here.
First Fridays: Badass Bites & Booze
Friday | March 6th | 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Time Out Market Chicago | 916 W Fulton Market | Free
Celebrate the women behind Time Out Market Chicago with bites and booze during Women’s History Month. Time Out Market Chicago gathers the fearless female culinary leaders for a bites bash like no other. Enjoy $5 tasting portions from Pretty Cool Ice Cream, from Dos Urban Cantina, Danielle Dang of Haisous and many more. Raise a glass to these amazing women with a badass bar program to match, featuring cocktails from Lost Lake, the ladies of Cambria Winery, and Spiteful Brewing. Plus, lady-owned local businesses Smitten Boutique and Tribeca Boutique will be showcasing some of their favorite products, and comedian Alex Kumin and friends will be performing at Tony’s Rooftop Bar at 8 p.m. For more details on this woman’s focused food and drink event, visit the event page .
International Women’s Day Edgewater Crawl
Saturday | March 8th | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Edgewater Chamber of Commerce | 1210 W Rosedale Ave.| $30 – $35
Celebrate International Women’s Day in Edgewater. The Edgewater Crawl includes food tastings, drink samples and live pop up activations throughout the several businesses that stop along Broadway’s southern end between Bryn Mawr and Berwyn. A portion of ticket sales for this event will be donated to Loom Chicago, a local nonprofit that supports women with refugee status to create beautiful hand-made fiber crafts such as knitwear, crochet, accessories, jewelry, apparel, and home decor. Visit the website for participating in women-owned businesses and to purchase tickets.
Women’s Month Sip & Paint
Saturday | March 8th | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Beverly Hills Art Gallery | 2133 West 95th Street| $36
Connect with other powerful women as you sip and paint during Women’s History Month. The creative event gathers women( 21+) together to paint out positive affirmations during the month design to celebrate womanhood. The course will teach simple techniques that will help guests express the internal landscapes of our minds, bodies and souls in an external way. Afterwards, participants will have the chance to share what they created and take their artwork home. Light snacks will be served. For tickets, visit the event page.
International Women’s Day Interview McDonald’s Chief Global Diversity Officer Wendy Lewis
Thursday | March 5th | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
McDonald’s Corporate Center | 110 N. Carpenter Street (use Carpenter Street entrance).| $50
Celebrate International Women’s Day with KEWN and Wendy Lewis, Chief Global Diversity Officer at McDonald’s. Hear the insights of Wendy Lewis, Chief Global Diversity Office at McDonald’s Corporation as she shares her experiences in creating a culture of diversity and inclusion at McDonald’s and Major League Baseball (MLB). The event includes wine, beer, light bites, and networking. For tickets, visit the event page here.
She the People: All-Female Comedy Revue
Sundays & Thursdays | March 5th – 29th | 7:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Up Comedy Club | 230 W. North Ave. | $13 – $26
The women of Second City bet you 72 cents on the dollar you’ll fall head over heels for She the People. A lineup of Chicago comedians come together at UP Comedy Club each Sunday to deliver this hilarious Girlfriends’ Guide to Sisters Doing it for
Women Funding Women – Kristi Zuhlke, CEO and Founder KnowledgeHound
Thursday | March 19th | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Mid-America Club | 200 East Randolph St. | $50
Connect with Angel Investors in Chicago during Women’s History Month. DyMynd Angels is hosting 60 – 90- minute lunches on April 17th, May 20th, June 19th, July 17th, August 20th, September 18th, October 21st and November 20th. They will have different badass speaker or speakers at each luncheon. You will be introduced to and learn from the Women within the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, the Entrepreneurs and the women who make the funding decisions. Connect and get funding for the next revolutionary idea by visiting the Event Page.
We Compose! for Women’s History Month
Saturday | March 28th | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Women & Children First Bookstore | 5233 N Clark St. | $10 – $12
Join oboist and composer Laura Adkins shares the stage with different guest musicians, performing everything from arrangements of famous opera arias to 13th-century chant to contemporary solo works. Learn about new female composers and performers, and dive into your own memories and beliefs about women in classical music. For more details, visit the event page here.
Guadalupe Get Down
Thursday – Friday | March 6th | 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
The Walk In| 2727 North Milwaukee Ave. | Free
Kick-off Women’s History Month with a Guadalupe Get Down in Logan Square. This is a dance party with a Latin flair and features raffle prizes, dancing, food, entertainment, and more. For more details on this event, visit the event page.
Making Herstory: Women in the Arts
Thursday | March 19th | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Blackstone Hotel | 636 S Michigan Ave. | Free
Check out a pop-up of local female Chicago artists at The Blackstone Hotel. This Woman’s History Month, the Gold Coast hotel will showcase a pop-up art show in the lobby in honor of Women’s History Month, curated by Kimberly Atwood with Elephant Room Gallery and featuring seven female Chicago artists. During the event, enjoy a live performance by vocalist Loren Cleveland and accompanist Justin Blanner. For more details about this art focused women’s event, visit the event page.
Cheers to Int’l Women’s Month: Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing at Bottle’s Up
Wednesday| March 11th | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Bottle’s Up | 3164 N Broadway Ave. | $15
To celebrate March being International Women’s History Month, Bottle’s Up in Lakeview along with Chicago Girl’s Pint Out will host a Girl Scout Cookie and beer pairing event. Come out to support women being bad asses, Girl Scouts and their delicious cookies, and tasty beer at this fun event! There will be five cookie and beer pairings and the cost is $15 per person. For tickets and more information visit the website here.
Women’s History Night at Lo Rez Brewing and Taproom
Thursday | March 26th | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Lo Rez Brewing and Taproom | 2101 South Carpenter St. | Free
Head over to Lo Rez Brewery in Pilsen for a celebration of Women’s History in Chicago this month. The local brewery will celebrate Women’s History Month with an all-female comedy lineup, local vendors, art, and craft beer. Proceeds for this event will support the local nonprofit Mujeres Latinas en Accion. For more information, visit the event page.
As I mentioned in my guide to celebrating Black History Month in Chicago, celebrating Women’s History Month is also something that every one of us can do beyond the month of March. Do what I do, and challenge yourself to support women in your community all month long. You can do this by seeking out women-owned businesses, connecting with women in leadership, or by empowering the circle of women in your life.
Be sure to share your ideas and the ways that you celebrate Women’s History Month in the comments below.
