Open House Chicago

Annually, and specifically Oct. 16-17 in 2021, Chicago locals and visitors have the opportunity to witness hidden architectural treasures tucked among the city's diverse neighborhoods during the Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago. The free public festival is a cornucopia of behind-the-scenes access to hundreds of sites in myriad neighborhoods including skyscrapers, mansions, hidden rooms, magnificent theaters, hotels, private clubs, industrial sites, offices and sacred spaces - places that are rarely, if ever, open to the public. New sites for 2021 include Sable Hotel at Navy Pier; The Penthouse Hyde Park; Bank of America Tower; Quinn Chapel; and the Illinois Holocaust Museum. There's an OHC app, open October 1-31, as well as virtual programs throughout the month. One of the largest architecture festivals in the world, the event is free and one not to be missed.