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Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2025: Top Free Things To Do in Chicago with Kids

Frosty Fest is free this January in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Gurnee Park District
Frosty Fest is free this January in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Gurnee Park District
12/29/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Do you and your bank account need to recover from the holiday season? If so, we've got you covered with 20 FREE things to do with kids this January across the Chicago area.

Enjoy some outdoor fun with a family campfire and scavenger hunt in River Forest or Winter Exploration Day at Dan Ryan Woods. Skate for speed at the Silver Skates Speed Skating Series or for fun at Parkway Bank Park. Visit the animals at Brookfield Zoo for free, or enjoy Destination Discovery Story Time at the free-on-Wednesdays Field Museum. 

Check out our free museum days guide for fun activities for kids throughout the year. Or check out our lists of the best ice skating rinks and sledding hills, which are mostly free and always a great option on a cold winter day in Chicago.

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Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Production photo courtesy of Straw Dog Theatre
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Production photo courtesy of Straw Dog Theatre

Free Events this January 2025 in Chicago

Winter Flower Show: Snowflakes at Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park
Daily through January 5
The Garfield Park Conservatory hosts its annual holiday flower show. This year, the theme is Snowflakes, which celebrates the beauty of snow with more than 25 macro images of snow crystals hanging above the annual display of poinsettias and lighted conifer trees.  Visitors will enjoy a colorful selection of poinsettias including ‘FabYULEous Red’, ‘Lemon Glow’, ‘Frozen’, and ‘Orange Glow’.  READ MORE

Winter Exploration Day

South Side
Friday, January 3
Forest Preserves of Cook County teaches families about snowshoeing, nature hikes, art, campfires, and more. Celebrate winter in the forest preserves. READ MORE

Brookfield Zoo Free Days

Brookfield
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through February 27
Brookfield Zoo offers free admission for all guests on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays in January and February. READ MORE

Gurnee Frosty Fest

Gurnee
Saturday, January 4
The Gurnee Park District transforms Viking Park into a winter wonderland with outdoor sleigh rides, games, crafts, and ice skating. Warm up with s'mores by the fire and cocoa in the dance hall. READ MORE

Family Winter Scavenger Hunt and Campfire

River Forest
Sunday, January 5
The Trailside Museum of Natural History invites families to take a self-guided scavenger hunt and enjoy warm refreshments to celebrate winter. READ MORE

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Downtown
Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
Let the Strawdog Theatre Company take your family on a Hanukkah adventure with characters such as Herschel of Ostropool and the goblins who are haunting a village. READ MORE

Free Family Day Open House

Evanston
Saturday, January 4
Come out of the cold and into the Dawes House for a free family winter fun day! The event includes classic games, live piano music, warming refreshments, and more family fun. Includes admission to the It's All Fun and Games: Historic Toys of Evanston exhibition. READ MORE

Silver Skates Citywide Speed Skating Series

Various City Parks
Tuesday, January 7-Thursday, January 9 and Tuesday January 14-Thursday January 16, 2024
Think you're the fastest skater in the city? Silver Skates competitions in parks throughout Chicago pit up to 20 skaters in each age category against one another to see who is the fastest. Qualifiers compete in the finals on Saturday, January 20, at McFetridge Sports Center. READ MORE

Destination Discovery Story Time at The Field Museum

Museum Campus
Wednesdays, January 8,15, 22, and 29
Join Librarian Meagan and her friends as they visit the Field Museum on Free Illinois Wednesdays! The guest reader from Chicago Public Library will lead a fun-filled interactive PlayDate with stories, songs and more. PlayLab PlayDates are free to museum guests, don’t require pre-registration, and take place on IL Resident Free Days! READ MORE

Ice Skating at Parkway Bank Park

Rosemont
January 1-5 and weekends through January 26
Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district is thrilled to kick off the holiday season with the return of its Chicago Wolves Ice Rink . Admission to the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink is free. Guests are invited to bring their own skates or rent skates on-site for $8. The Chicago Wolves Ice Rink will be open through January 26, 2025. For more information, visit ParkwayBankPark.com. READ MORE

Lakeshore Learning's Cool Creations

Orland Park and Palatine
Saturday, January 11 and Saturday, January 25
Stretch your fun with a cool creations workshop at Chicago-area Lakeshore Learning stores. Kids can make fun crafts with Wikki Stix. The January 11 workshop focuses on crafty accessories and the January 25 workshop is about vehicles with a twist. At each event, they'll make cool and colorful Wikki Stix creations, play with top-rated learning products and even hear a story! READ MORE

MCA Family Day

Streeterville
Saturday, January 11
The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) hosts a FREE family day the second Saturday of each month. The event includes free admission to the museum, as well as workshops, open-studio sessions, gallery tours, and performances designed and led by Chicago artists. READ MORE

Wood Dale Winter Bash

Wood Dale
Saturday, January 11
Join the Wood Dale Park District in a series of indoor and outdoor activities sure to lift families' spirits. This free event will include crafts, games and activities, snacks, and entertainment. READ MORE

Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour

Various Locations
Thursday, January 16- Sunday, January 26
The Chicago International Puppet Theater’s Festival Neighborhood Tour presents free family-friendly puppet shows outside a different Chicago theater venue each day. The 35-minute performances give families who might not usually get a chance to see puppetry enjoy the show. This year's presentations include "The Amazing Story Machine," performed by by Sandglass Theater Co. and Doppelskope and "Hungry Garden" performed by Poncili Creación. READ MORE

Buffalo Grove Park District Lunar New Year Celebration

Buffalo Grove
Saturday, January 18
Celebrate Lunar New Year early at Buffalo Grove's Community Arts Center with lantern designing, kite decorating, and lunar masks. Asian cuisine, beer wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. READ MORE

Cook County Forest Preserves MLK Day of Service

Cook County Forest Preserves
Saturday, January 18- Monday, January 20
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 Dan Ryan Woods, Sand Ridge Nature Center, Eggers Grove, River Trails Nature Center, Schiller Woods, Caldwell Woods, and Crabtree Nature Center. READ MORE

Silver Skates Citywide Speed Skating Championships

North Center
Saturday, January 18
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. READ MORE

Family Fun Fest

Downtown
Sunday, January 19
Stop in for an open-house celebration with winter play activities, music, art and more. For kids of all ages and their caregivers.  READ MORE

Wheeling Winterfest

Wheeling
Sunday, January 19
Families can enjoy some winter fun at Horizon Park in Wheeling at Winterfest. Meet winter princesses, see a dog sled demonstration, take photos in a giant snow globe, do a winter craft, or join in a penguin egg hunt! READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Family Event

Old Town
Monday, January 20
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. READ MORE

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