The Grand Marshak Float at the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Photo credit: Vito Palmisano
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The mysterious Great Impresario, the man who has designed and created the World’s Fair, brings the magic of the season to life! Photo by Tod Ros for the Joffrey Ballet.
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Pumpkin picking is a firm fall favorite. Photo courtesy of Keller's Farmstand
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The Annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
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There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Photo by Brian & Jaclyn Drum via Flickr 2.0
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It's apple season! Photo courtesy of Apple Holler Orchard
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The Persian Lilies in the Aroid house were stunning. Photo by Lisa Warden-3
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Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook
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Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center
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St. Louis has tons of kid-friendly things to do. Photo courtesy of the City Museum in St. Louis
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Chicago has so many things to do with little kids. Photo courtesy of Aster Hall, Chicago
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An offbeat Chicago museum makes a fun outing for teenagers. Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum
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The Skydeck at Willis Tower has spectacular views spanning four states.
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State parks near Chicago offer more than just hiking. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
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Stroller hikes make it easier to get outside with babies and toddlers. Photo courtesy of the Morton Arboretum
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Obstacle courses and climbing gyms provide indoor fun for big kids. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
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The Chicago Skydeck offers kids a great view of the city. Photo courtesy of the 360 Chicago Skydeck
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Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook
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There are plenty of fishing lakes in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
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Photo courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry
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Pancakes served all day long in Chicago's West Loop! Photo courtesy of The Little Goat, Facebook
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Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Polar Days, Orchids

The Chicago Architecture Center hosts Engineering Fest, featuring exhibits and interactive workshops for the whole family! Photo courtesy of the center
The Chicago Architecture Center hosts Engineering Fest, featuring exhibits and interactive workshops for the whole family! Photo courtesy of the center
2/19/20 - By MommyPoppins

This weekend's best activities for Chicago families are all about appreciating nature and the great outdoors. Polar Adventure Days on Northerly Island this Saturday means plenty of FREE outdoor winter action, including snowshoeing, hot cocoa, and live animals in their winter habitats. Or duck into a lush, fragrant greenhouse for a welcome taste of the tropics at the Chicago Botanic Garden's gorgeous Orchid Show. Then, skate with Princess Anna and Queen Elsa all weekend at Rocket Skate in Bolingbrook.

STEM-loving kids will find exciting things to build and make at the Chicago Architecture Center's Engineering Fest. And Black History Month celebrations continue this weekend with underground railroad hikes and performances at Washington Park. Music lovers shouldn't miss The Music of the Beatles for Kids in Elmhurst.

For even more winter family fun in Chicago, don't forget our roundup of 50+ Free Things to Do With Kids This Winter and our helpful "winter bucket list" of 50 must-do winter activities in Chicago. The event calendar is full of fun ideas, too.

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The Brookfield Zoo hosts Free Days this weeekend! Photo courtesy of the zoo
The Brookfield Zoo hosts Free Days this weeekend! Photo courtesy of the zoo

Things to Do All Weekend

The Orchid Show of Wonders

Glencoe
Step right up to The Orchid Show of Wonders, where your favorite carnival and circus attractions come to life in new ways.The orchid show captures the unexpected and bright nature of wild orchids, with over 10,000 orchids on view.  READ MORE

Engineering Fest at the Chicago Architecture Center

The Loop — FREE for kids 12 and under
The Chicago Architecture Center hosts Engineering Fest, featuring exhibits and interactive workshops for the whole family!  READ MORE

Polar Adventure Day

Northerly Island — FREE
Families can come to Big Marsh Park for a free outdoor adventure, including interactions with birds of prey, sipping on hot chocolate, storytelling, and doing winter-inspired crafts. READ MORE

Free Days at the Field Museum

Museum Campus — FREE
Illinois residents enjoy free general admission to Chicago's world-class Field Museum on Wednesdays throughout 2024. READ MORE

Brookfield Zoo Free Days

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

LEGO Trains at Morton Arboretum

Lisle — Final Weekend
Explore a sprawling display of imaginative landscapes built of LEGO® bricks featuring small trains running through LEGO city streets, between skyscrapers, and into dreamlike scenes populated by mythological creatures. READ MORE

Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Scavenger Hunt for Harry Potter Fans

Eastside
Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in search of art that echoes characters, places, and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. READ MORE

"Frozen" Skate

Bolingbrook
Skate with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna all weekend at Rocket Skate in Bolingbrook. Open skate times may also include music from the Frozen movies. READ MORE
Celebrate Black History Month with an Underground Railroad Hike. Photo courtesy of the event
Celebrate Black History Month with an Underground Railroad Hike. Photo courtesy of the event

Things to Do Saturday

Black History Month Celebration at Washington Park

Washington Park — FREE
Washington Park hosts a Black History Month Celebration, recognizing pioneers in the fields of civic and political engagement, inventors, arts & culture, sports, technology, and health & science. Activities will include performances, cultural interactive displays, and tours. READ MORE

Black History Month: Underground Railroad Hikes

South Holland — FREE
In honor of Black History Month, step back in time on an imaginary jourey along the route of the underground railroad in Illinois in the mid-1800s. READ MORE

Naperville Plays

Naperville
Fun hands-on activities from the DuPage Children's Museum, Naper Settlement, Knoch Knolls Nature Center, and Naperville Public Library will provide plenty of STEAM fun for DuPage area kids. Visitors can quadruple their fun with these unique partner activities. READ MORE

Black History Fest

South Chicago
The Gary Comer Youth Center hosts a Black History Month festival for all ages, celebrating Black Culture: Past, Present, and Future. Guests can shop with black vendors, attend free workshops, enjoy bites and beverages from black culinary artists, as well as live performances, raffles, giveaways, crafts, and more! READ MORE
The Highland PArk Players present Pinkalicious: The Musical. Photo courtesy of the Highland Park Players
The Highland PArk Players present Pinkalicious: The Musical. Photo courtesy of the Highland Park Players

Things to Do Sunday

CANCELED - South Side Story Time

Washington Park — FREE
The Green Line Performing Arts Center hosts a monthly story time hosted by Kido and Arts and Public Life. Each month has a new theme.  READ MORE

That's Weird, Grandma: Star-Studded Stories

Andersonville
Barrel of Monkeys performers portray pop stars as 3rd-5th graders imagine them through dialogue and song, based on stories written by children in this hilarious show. READ MORE

The Music of The Beatles for Kids

Elmhurst
Kids can take a walk down Abbey Road or live in a yellow submarine at Fitz's Spare Keys with this event that celebrates the music of the Beatles. The afternoon includes dancing, sing-a-longs and hula-hooping. Doors open at 11. READ MORE

Pinkalicious the Musical!

Highland Park
*Show dates:  February 22, 23, 29 & March 1st (All dates have shows at 11 AM & 1 PM) A special one-hour presentation for kids (and parents) of all ages. All performances followed by an autograph session/meet and greet with the cast. Based on the book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, this is the tale of Pinkalicious, a little girl who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe... READ MORE

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