What Should We Do This Weekend? Chicago, IL January 10th – 12th, 2020

The holiday lights, trees, and festivities have mostly ended,

but there is still plenty of fun to be had! Don’t let cabin fever creep in and

use our weekend event guide to keep it at bay! Enjoy!

Major Ongoing Events this Week:

 

The Andy Warhol Exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago

• “From A to B and Back Again”
• “More than 400 works offer a new view of the beloved and iconic American Pop artist, not only illuminating the breadth, depth, and interconnectedness of Warhol’s production across the entirety of his career but also highlighting the ways that he anticipated the issues, effects, and pace of our current digital age.”
• This exhibit ends January 26th.

WNDR Museum

• “Home to Chicago’s first ever Infinity Mirror Room by iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, wndr places works from Richard Prince, Barbara Kruger, and Alex Israel in conversation with thought-provoking, innovative technologies and stunning interactive installations. Around every corner comes an opportunity to be creative, discover something unexpected, ask questions, and, most importantly, play.”
• 1130 W. Monroe, Chicago
• “Wake up with wndr! On the second and last Sunday of each month, wndr hosts Sunday Morning Cartoons from 10AM-12PM. Included with your ticket are classic cartoons projected in our Atrium, all-you-can-eat cereal from our cereal bar, and a tour of the museum to finish your morning. You won’t want to miss it! All ages welcome! Kids 10 and under get free admission.”

Trolls Live

• Saturday & Sunday, January 11th and 12th
• Chicago Theatre
• “Get ready for another hair-raising adventure when Poppy, Branch and their friends come to life on-stage in Trolls LIVE!, their first ever live tour! The journey begins when the Trolls’ Hug Time is unexpectedly put at risk. Knowing that the only way to save it is by doing what the Trolls do best, Poppy hosts a toe-tapping, Trolls-tastic show, jam-packed with all the epic music, glitter, humor and happiness only the Trolls can create.”

Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest

• “Packed with indoor family fun, Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest is a delightful family tradition featuring 170,000 square feet of attractions, including rides, giant slides, indoor ice skating, and holiday decor that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit!”
• Runs through January 12th!

Jack Frost Winter Village

• Goose Island
• Monday-Friday — 4pm-10pm
• Saturdays & Sundays — 11am-10pm
• Runs through March!
• “Pile on your favorite stylish parka, bundle up tight and grab your favorite cohorts and head off for some winter days full of cheer. Snack on festive treats from a rotating roster of food trucks and sip a warm hot chocolate or down your favorite boozy cocktail from any of Jack’s three full-service bars. Wander through the 2-acre outdoor site and test your aim at outdoor lumberjack Axe throwing or snap your Holiday Christmas card at one of Jack’s infamous Instagramable photo opps, then stop at one of three Holiday gypsy caravan to meet with a mystical fortune teller and discover your ghost of Christmas Past, Present & Yet to Come Future just like Ebenezer Scrooge!”
• All ages.

Toys “R” Us Adventure Chicago

• 830 N. Michigan Ave
• October 24th – January 26th
• “Toys“R”Us and Candytopia are excited to present an all-new, totally immersive, fill-up-your-photo-album super-experience! The Toys“R”Us Adventure is a vast indoor playland that celebrates all the whimsy, silly and FUN of toys. Explore over eight mind-blowing rooms and celebrate play with installations designed around brands you know and love.”

Westfield Old Orchard’s Winter Ferris Wheel

• “You’re invited to take a seat in our very own snowflake and float up above the mall for a unique view across Westfield Old Orchard.”
• Experience through January 19th.

Winterland at Gallagher Way

• Wrigleyville’s Winterland event series has a host of family friendly activities for your family. Ice rink, curling & skating lessons, Santa Claus visits, and movie screenings.
• “Skate all winter long underneath the twinkling lights of Winterland at Gallagher Way! The 8,000 square foot ice rink is open to skaters of all ages, every day of the week. Stop by for a couple of laps, check the schedule for a chance to skate with Clark the Cub, rent a skate aid, or arrive in time for select Wednesday figure skating performances.”

Ice Skate in Millennium Park

• November 15th – March 8th, 2020
• Millenium Park, McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
• “Skating is FREE and open to the public. Those skating with their own skates will need to pick up a FREE admission wristband.”
• The Winter Workouts Program will offer free ice skating lessons for all ages and skill levels on select days.
• “DJs spin the music while skaters spin on the ice on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6-8pm (December 6 & 20, January 3 & 17, February 7 & 21, March 6). Admission is free. Skate rental rates apply.”

Ice Skate at Maggie Daley Park

• The skating ribbon at Maggie Daley park is now open!
• “In the heart of downtown Chicago, with the City’s skyline as a backdrop, a ribbon of ice winds through a rolling landscape providing an ice skating experience unlike any other. The skating ribbon is dramatically different from typical civic ice rinks, creating a multi-sensory activity that is integrated into the landscape. Skaters can experience “alpine in the city” as they lace up their ice skates and follow a path twice the length of a lap around a traditional skating rink. Complementing the ribbon are places to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and rent skates.”
• Admission is free unless renting skates.

Ice Skate at The Peninsula Sky Rink:

• “Surrounded by Chicago’s skyscrapers and twinkling lights, the rink is tucked into a pine tree winter wonderland and bathed in festive music and snowflake lighting.”

Parkway Bank Ice Skating

• Rosemont
• Bring your skates and skate for FREE! Rentals for $8!

Morton Arboretum Gnome Hunt

• Daily November 2019 through March 2020
• “The animals may be hibernating, but we still have gnomes. Can you find all of the gnomes hiding in the Children’s Garden?“

Morton Arboretum Winter Play

• Daily from 11 am – 3 pm through March 2020
• “Join us in the Children’s Garden for winter time fun! We’ll set out activities to complement the day. Activity may include painting snow or building a fort. Whatever it may be, you’ll find all the tools you need to have some frosty fun.” 

 

FRIDAY

 

 

10:00 AM: Miss Jamie’s Farm

• Mariano’s Arlington Heights
• “FREE 30 minute music show best suited for 3/4 year olds but 0-2 and 5-8 will have a great time, too! We meet in the cafe, usually, and snacks are occasionally provided.”

3:00 PM: Miss Jamie’s Farm

• Mariano’s Ravenswood
• “FREE 30 minute music show best suited for 3/4 year olds but 0-2 and 5-8 will have a great time, too! We meet in the cafe, usually, and snacks are occasionally provided. Space is limited, so please be mindful of carts and strollers.”

6:00 PM: StoryJam Workshop with Arranmore Arts

• Dupage Children’s Museum
• “Each 60-minute workshop is facilitated by professional artists from Arranmore Arts, includes content related to classical stories, and focuses on one or more of the following topics: oral tradition, world folklore, stories set in history, personal story-telling style, and storytelling through music.”
• Aimed for children aged 3 -6 years old.

6:30 PM: DJ At The Ice Rink

• The Arboretum of South Barrington
• “Join us every Friday and Saturday evening starting in December and through January for a party on the rink! Enjoy rink-side DJ’s at The Wickstrom Lincoln Ice Rink.”

 

SATURDAY

 

 

10:00 AM: Merit’s Musical Storytime

• Time Out Market Chicago
• “Join Merit School of Music at Time Out Market Chicago for a special live musical storytime. Performing artists will combine music, movement and early literacy skills to explore the new year. We look forward to meeting your little ones and sparking the joy of books through music!”

10:00 AM: CAC’s Family Day

• Chicago Architecture Center
• Free with CAC admission
• “The CAC’s monthly Family Day is a new opportunity for families with children ages 3+ to enhance their Center experience. Explore the galleries with us to learn fun facts, find hidden gems and participate in hands-on demonstrations. Use your imagination to build and make a take-home craft project too.”
• The theme for January is Innovation

10:30 AM: Frosty Fest

• Bittersweet Gold Course, Gurnee
• “Don’t miss this unforgettable chance for wintertime family fun!  Join the Park District and the Village at Bittersweet Golf Course for this free event and take part in all of the fun activities.”
  • Ice-sculpting
  • Horse-drawn sleigh rides
  • Dog Sled Team Demonstrations
  • Hot Cocoa & S’mores
  • Festive Winter Games
  • Life sized snow globe photo op!
  • Anna & Elsa

10:00 AM & 10:45 AM: The Brothers Grimm – Arranmore Arts

• Dupage Children’s Museum
• “Arranmore Arts brings The Brothers Grimm to DCM! The founding fathers of fairy tales, The Brothers Grimm, appear out of the mist to delight and inspire the next generation of storytellers. Through the retelling of their most famous, favorite stories, audiences learn about the history of oral tradition, how to create your own style of story-telling and the hilarious ways in which improvisation can turn everything upside down in a flash. Stories include Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, The Brave Little Tailor and The Bremen Town Musicians.”

10:00 AM: Zumbini and Storytime

• be kids cafe
• Join Cara Turner, Licensed Zumbini Instructor and local author, Tamara Barker for a FREE interactive event for children ages 0-4 and a caregiver. We’ll be singing, dancing, and reading Tamara’s new book, “Babies Around the World Dancing.” 💃📚

10:30 AM & 12:45 PM: iRead Kickoff & Kid Lit Fest

• Highland Park Public Library
• “Catch a storytelling performace by nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione at 10:30 am or 12:45 pm in the Adult Services department.”

11:00 AM: Winterfest

• Century Park in Vernon Hills
• “Spend an afternoon at Century Park and enjoy a day filled with winter activities for all ages. The Free Spirit Sled Dog Demo Team will show off their skills in the snow. Dress for the weather and enjoy s’mores by the fire, and a horse and carriage ride around Century Park. Ice skating and sledding will be available too (weather permitting)!”

11:00 AM: Museum of Contemporary Art Family Day

• “Chicago artists transform the museum for kids and their grown-ups. Enjoy free admission while taking part in workshops, open-studio sessions, gallery tours, and performances.”

12:00 PM: Fiddleheads

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• “Join us most weekends for activities and projects that get kids and grown ups wondering about the plants and the natural world. Come visit on Saturday or Sunday in the colder months to get a dose of the tropics and keep kids connected to nature throughout winter. And in the summer, join us to explore the beautiful outdoors in our nature play space, Play & Grow. Each week we provide a different science-based activity, like tinkering with plants and blocks, playing games, participating in collaborative art projects, and exploring plants around the world.”

2:00 PM: Meet & Greet with Evie & Mal from Descendants

• The Arboretum of South Barrington
• “Come join Joe & Tina from Star 105.5 at the Wickstrom Lincoln Ice Rink at The Arb on Saturday, January 11th from 2 – 4 PM! Win ice rink tickets, Arboretum gift cards and Star 105.5 swag! Meet & Greet with Mal & Evie from Descendants.”

2:00 PM: Rose Crafts with the Rose Queen

• Roselle Public Library
• “Do you like pink? Do you like crafts? If so, this is a perfect program for you! At this event, we will have rosy crafts and snacks with this year’s Rose Queen, Sarah Abraham. Come dressed in your favorite royal attire.”

2:00 PM: Highland Park Winter Fest

• Free family event
• Centennial Ice Arena, Highland Park
• Indoor ice skating and open gymnastics time
• Skating instructors will offer free group lessons
• Food available for purchase

4:00 PM: Make Your Own Charm Bracelet

• Learning Express Toys Glen Ellyn
• Free event. Ages 6+. Reservations required. Call today to reserve your spot. 630-942-8574

4:30 PM: Family Fitness Event

• The Menomonee Club Drucker Center: 535 N. Dayton St, Chicago
• Please join Skip & Scoot and Baby Bootcamp Chicago for an evening of fitness for the WHOLE FAMILY! Small group, stroller friendly, personal training and skill-based obstacle course and movement games for children.
• $40 / family
• Register for only one child and then list the rest of the family members during checkout
• Come in athletic clothing and bring water!

6:30 PM: DJ At The Ice Rink

• The Arboretum of South Barrington
• “Join us every Friday and Saturday evening starting in December and through January for a party on the rink! Enjoy rink-side DJ’s at The Wickstrom Lincoln Ice Rink.”

8:00 PM: The Mozart Effect: Live!

• Harris Theater Millenium Park
• “Based on the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and featuring his most popular works, The Mozart Effect: Live!™  takes the presentation of the live symphony orchestra to an entirely new place.   Performed by the 40 piece Chicago Philharmonic symphony orchestra, conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, accompanied by high definition large format immersive video and visual effects, The Mozart Effect: Live!™ is curated to stimulate the senses, inspire, and engage the deepest corners of the human psyche.”

 

SUNDAY

 

 

9:00 AM: The Little Red Donut Truck

• Geneva Ace Hardware
• “Back by popular demand! The Little Red Donut Truck and their delicious apple cider donuts will be back at Geneva Ace Hardware on January 12th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Start the New Year with a bag of deliciousness!”

9:30 AM & 1:00 PM: Loco For Cocoa

• Chicago Botanic Garden
• “Discover the sweet story of chocolate from bitter bean to delicious dessert. Participants will investigate the raw ingredients, taste test different types of chocolate and practice dipping fruits and snacks into chocolate to make treats extra enjoyable. This program engages the adult and child together. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, unregistered children and children 3 years old or younger may not attend this program. Each registered child may bring up to two adults. Ages 4 – 10.”

9:30 AM: Everyone At Play

• Kohl’s Children’s Museum
• “The Museum works collaboratively with community organizations to invite families with children with special needs to the Museum to explore the exhibits while closed to the general public. These events, titled Everyone at Play, usually occur on specified Sunday mornings. This provides opportunities for calm, creative, and collaborative play.”

12:00 PM: Fiddleheads

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• “Join us most weekends for activities and projects that get kids and grown ups wondering about the plants and the natural world. Come visit on Saturday or Sunday in the colder months to get a dose of the tropics and keep kids connected to nature throughout winter. And in the summer, join us to explore the beautiful outdoors in our nature play space, Play & Grow. Each week we provide a different science-based activity, like tinkering with plants and blocks, playing games, participating in collaborative art projects, and exploring plants around the world.”

12:00 PM: Winter On The Green

• Breidert Green Park, Frankfort
• “Experience the magic when an ice sculpture unfolds before your eyes during a demonstration by professional ice sculptors (12:30 PM). Ride the free heated trolley through downtown Frankfort and view ice sculptures on display. Trolley available until 2:00 PM! Bring your camera for great photo ops! What a “cool” way to spend your Sunday afternoon!”

12:00 PM: Julgransplundring

• Swedish American Museum, Chicago
• “Julgransplundring is a family event where Swedes celebrate the end of Christmas by “dancing the tree out” It is a party where you get to dance around the tree one last time before it is taken out and all the Christmas decorations come down. The Museum will celebrate this with an event for the whole family with games, dancing and hot dogs.”
• 5$/person admission

12:30 PM: Scandinavian Jam

• Swedish American Museum, Chicago
• “It is music at the Museum – wake up your ears, exercise your fingers and play along with us! Musicians and instructors Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler co-host a Scandinavian Jam at the Swedish American Museum the second Sunday of every month. Join us for an afternoon of traditional roots music starting with instruction from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. New tunes are taught in the call and response “aural” tradition. The afternoon continues with a brief snack, and the jam session kicks off at 2 p.m”

1:00 PM: Blizzard Skate

• Rocket Ice Skating Rink, Bolingbrook
• “Public ice skating at Rocket Ice Skating Rink provides a great opportunity for the whole family to get out on the ice together. It is a fun setting for beginners to give skating a try in a relaxed environment. The music rocks and the mood is friendly, so come out and join the fun!”

3:40 PM: Skate with Anna and Elsa

• Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva
• “These sisters will be on the ice during public skate to skate with their friends and will be off the ice before and after for photos.”