Cities take all the credit for being cosmopolitan and cultural hubs, while suburbs are thought of as the quieter, less interesting counterparts. The suburbs of Chicago may have quieter streets and bigger yards than the city’s neighborhoods, but they don’t lack arts and culture attractions. From music and theater to art galleries and museums, these five suburbs have their own thriving cultural scenes.

Aurora

The Paramount Theater in Aurora, Illinois.

Although a suburb located west of Chicago, Aurora has much that makes it a city in its own right. Downtown Aurora is located along the Fox River, and while you enjoy the waterfront view, you’ll never be far from restaurants, shops, and entertainment. 

Paramount Theatre

You don’t have to travel to the Loop and struggle with parking to catch a Broadway show. Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, every bit as grand as the venues in the city’s Theater District, hosts a yearly Broadway series with big names like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Newsies.” When Broadway isn’t in town, the theater puts on concerts and other shows. 

RiverEdge Park

During the summer months, RiverEdge Park is a hotspot for concertgoers. The park, situated right on the Fox River, features a 10-acre music venue. Families, couples, and friends can bring a blanket and a picnic to accompany the live music hosted at this suburban gem.

SciTech Hands On Museum

The city has the Museum of Science and Industry, but that’s not the only place to get a hands-on experience in Chicagoland. The SciTech Hands on Museum in Aurora is all about engaging visitors in science, technology, math, engineering, and art.

Evanston

A Northwestern University

Evanston, so close to Chicago, often feels like an extension of the city. Its proximity to Chicago and the fact that it’s the home of Northwestern University make the proliferation of arts and culture in the suburb hardly a surprise.

The Block Museum of Art

Northwestern University’s The Block Museum of Art displays art from around the world through rotating exhibits and a permanent collection of thousands of different pieces. Visitors can also come to the museum to see artists and researchers talk about their work, or they can come for a screening at Block Cinema.

Noyes Cultural Arts Center

The Noyes Cultural Art Center makes visual art accessible to residents and visitors with free admission to its art gallery. The center also hosts events and programs for people who want to get involved.

Music Institute of Chicago

The Music Institute of Chicago has two locations in Evanston. Here, people can learn how to make music or simply enjoy a live performance.

Naperville

Naperville, west of Chicago, easily escapes the classification as a sleepy suburb. Downtown, residents enjoy the suburb’s illustrious riverwalk and impressive restaurant scene. Plus, Naperville is home to more than one museum.

DuPage Children’s Museum

Museums may have a “look but don’t touch” reputation, but DuPage Children’s Museum is all about letting kids interact with its exhibits. Kids can explore physics, engineering, and more at this Naperville museum.

Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon

The Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon, a historic bell tower located right on the DuPage River, is easily accessible via Naperville’s Riverwalk. You can climb the more than 200 steps to the top of the tower to see the bells (possibly even the Chicago skyline), or you can simply enjoy the music they make during the summer’s evening recitals. 

Naper Settlement

Naperville dates back to the mid-1800s, and pieces of its history remain alive today. Naper Settlement is an outdoor museum dedicated to life in the 19th century. Across the acres, you’ll find a Victorian mansion and other original buildings carefully preserved. 

Oak Park

A Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oak Park, Illinois.

Oak Park is located just outside of the city, and it’s home to some of Chicago’s most venerable cultural touchstones. Names like Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright are a source of pride for residents and a major attraction for visitors. 

Lake Theatre

Lake Theatre is a part of Classic Cinemas, which preserves classic neighborhood movie theaters throughout the state. See the latest blockbusters in the splendor of an art deco theater that first opened its doors in 1936. 

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright has left an indelible mark on Chicagoland architecture with striking buildings still standing in multiple urban neighborhoods and suburban outposts. Oak Park is particularly notable as the home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

Oak Park Conservatory

The Oak Park Conservatory is a breath of fresh air for anyone who likes a little—or a lot—of greenery with their cultural experience. The conservatory’s glass shell dates back to the 1920s and still stands today as a shelter to thousands of different plants.

Skokie

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.

Skokie, just north of Chicago, is a blend of elements that give it a unique character. Like any suburb, it has plenty of residential enclaves, but it also has a technology district, an abundance of outdoor space, and cultural institutions, like the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

Devonshire Playhouse

The Skokie Park District’s Devonshire Playhouse is dedicated to community theater for all age groups. Residents can come see local productions or catch the theater bug themselves.

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

Skokie’s North Center for the Performing Arts has been a cultural beacon in the suburb since it opened in 1996. The theater has hosted performances by famous names like Queen Latifah, Bill Maher, Kathy Griffin, and the Joffrey Ballet. The center also hosts the suburb’s very own symphony.

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park

The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park is a monument to the beauty and importance of public art. Always free, the park features more than 60 sculptures from both local and international artists.