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Events and Activities in Chicago for Kids This Weekend
Thursday, Jan. 15 - Monday, Jan. 19
Looking for family-friendly activities in Chicago this weekend? Here are some fun events to add to your list!
Best Things To Do This Weekend In and Near Chicago With Kids
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover at Wonder Works
Oak Park
Thursday, January 15- Monday, January 26
Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 15 to 26, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In the lunar exploration pit, children can navigate space themed objects as they develop their gross motor skills. Website
Silver Skates Citywide Speed Skating Championships
North Center - Free
Saturday, January 17
Qualifiers from Silver Skates speed skating races throughout the city compete for bragging rights at McFetridge Park Sports Center. Enter a race to try to win, or come watch the action. Website
Lemont Ice & Lights Fest
Lemont - Free
Saturday, January 17
Embrace the season of ice and lights and celebrate the new year with ice carvings in downtown Lemont. Visit live reindeer at General Fry's Landing, roast marshmallows with Lemont firefighters, enjoy free tractor high rides (weather permitting), and visit The Creamery Truck for free hot chocolates for the first 500 visitors. Website
Magical Starlight Theatre Presents Shrek
Naperville
Friday, January 16- Sunday, January 19
Naperville Park District's Magical Starlight Theatre presents Shrek, the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. Website
RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers
Filament Theater, Portage Park
Friday, January 16-Sunday, February 1
RAIN is a mesmerizing and intimate sensory experience for babies and their families in which they are invited to slow down, notice, and wonder. Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance. A trio of performers on cello, voice, and movement act as gentle guides in a brand-new world of surprise, delight, and opportunities for connection through sound, touch, and performance Website
Kids Meet the Music 1 with D-Composed String Ensemble + Josh Jones
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Downtown
Saturday, January 17
Visit Harris Theater for the first performance in its newly reimagined family series, Kids Meet the Music, featuring D-Composed String Ensemble and percussionist Josh Jones for an afternoon celebrating music by Black composers that uses percussive and rhythmic sounds. Presented in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Lower Lobby, explore the rhythmic sounds of string instruments with compositions by Black composers such as Jessie Montgomery and Daniel Bernard Roumain. With Josh Jones, you’ll learn about the many ways percussive sounds come to life through a show-and-tell of a wide array of percussion instruments.This musical will conclude with a collaborative moment between the strings of D-Composed, the percussive sounds of Josh Jones, and opportunities for our audience to join in on the music-making fun. Little ones can stick around at the end for an instrument meet and greet where they can get up close and personal and learn more about some of the featured instruments! Website
Robert's Yukon Adventure Day
The Grove, Glenview
Saturday, January 17
Are you ready for an adventure? Illinois’ first naturalist, Robert Kennicott, grew up at The Grove and made two expeditions to the Yukon, in 1859 and 1865. Bring your family to experience Robert’s journey north and discover what his life was like in this frigid territory. • Watch dog sledding teams from Adopt-a-Husky, proudly sponsored by the Grove Heritage Association. • Learn about winter ecology and animal adaptations. • Try snow shoeing and snow experiments • Participate in an indoor snowball fight • Hot cocoa and s’mores by the campfire. Website
Winter Wonderland at Lakeview Nature Center
Oakbrook Terrace - Free
Saturday, January 17
Celebrate the magic of winter with fun activities that embrace the chill and charm of the great outdoors! At this free, family-friendly event, we'll have sled dog meet and greets, ice experiments, a cozy campfire for roasting marshmallows, a scavenger hunt, and winter-themed games and crafts. Be sure to visit Travelin' Toms Coffee Truck for a variety of beverages to keep you warm. Experience the beauty and excitement of winter like never before! Website
Toy Swap & Share at Sheil Park
Lakeview - Free
Saturday, January 17
Join Sheil Park Advisory Council for a fun and eco-friendly community event. Bring gently used toys your family no longer needs and trade them for “new-to-you” treasures. After the swap, all remaining toys will be donated to local organizations, helping even more families in our community. It’s a great way to declutter, refresh your toy box, and give beloved toys a second life. All ages are welcome! Come share, discover, and celebrate the spirit of giving! Website
Polar-Palooza at Creek Bend Nature Center
St. Charles - Free
Saturday, January 17
Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Drift in and thaw out at Creek Bend Nature Center during this nature-based arcade experience! Complete a flurry of activities indoors and out - earning tickets to redeem for prizes. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while you play and learn. From crafts to games, Polar-Palooza activities are appropriate for all ages, so gather up your family and friends for this popular winter festival. Website
Day of Service and Learning
Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Kenwood - Free
Saturday, January 17
PUSH’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Weekend of Events has the theme of "Building a Beloved Community. Saturday will spent learning about the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and carrying forth his legacy through acts of service. This event is free, family friendly and will feature an on-site resource fair. Website
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Family Event
Chicago History Museum, Old Town - Free
Monday, January 19
Visit the Chicago History Museum to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with family. The event includes lectures and panel discussions, a youth poetry workshop, a musical performance, and a hands-on history experience. Website
Cook County Forest Preserves MLK Day of Service
Forest Preserves of Cook County - Free
Saturday, January 17- Monday, January 19
Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering at one of Cook County's Forest Preserves. Litter clean-up events take place at Crabtree Nature Center, Caldwell Woods, Eggers Grove, Evans Field, Trailside Museum of Natural History, Sand Ridge Nature Center, Dan Ryan Woods, and Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center. Website
Black Creativity Family Day
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Monday, January 19
During this year’s Family Day, families can participate in a day of community art experience, engage in creative activities, and explore the Juried Art Exhibition. SkyART's Make Your Mark collaborative painting, encapsulates the spirit of community. Add your mark to one of the large canvases, ultimately creating an artwork that is a testament to the power of collective creativity and affirms each person's presence in the space. Website
Day of Racial Healing for Teens at Maggie Daley Park
Downtown - Free
Monday, January 19
Join the Chicago Park District for a Day of Racial Healing on Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day! Teens can enjoy ice skating and first walk of the year, a light lunch, and Xochiquetza performing Danza Aztecza. Then Peace and Education Coalition Back of the Yards and New City will facilitate adialog on Racial Healing. This free retreat is for teens age 13 to 18 years old. This event is structured as a retreat, so we ask that if you attend, you stay to participate from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Website
Dreams of Tomorrow: MLK Jr. Mural
Elk Grove Village Public Library - Free
Monday, January 19
Join the library in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by creating a collaborative mural. Participants will each paint a piece that combines to form a portrait of Dr. King. Around the mural, participants will share their own dreams for the future of society, creating a powerful display of hope and unity. Website
Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Chicago Children's Museum
Downtown
Monday, January 19
Visit the Chicago Children's Museum to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Design your own Dr. Martin Luther King badge, create your own collage self portrait with Chicago artist and educator Derek Moore, and visit the story lounge to to peruse children's books on the civil rights movement, race, and identity. Explore resources to help you have conversations with your children about race. Website
MLK 2026: Chaos or Community
Hyde Park Art Center - Free
Monday, January 19
Hyde Park Art Center proudly presents a free public Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration MLK DAY 2026: CHAOS OR COMMUNITY. Eclectic programming for all ages blends live music, thought-provoking film, artmaking, and meditation, to highlight art as a vessel for collective memory, liberation, and joy, while reflecting on Dr. King’s profound impact on social justice and cultural movements. Website