Presidents Day 2025: 19 Things To Do In Chicago With Kids
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Indoor activities rule the calendar this upcoming Presidents Day weekend.
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MLK Weekend 2025 in Chicago: 19 Best Things To Do With Kids
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Winter festivals, Chicago Cubs convention, and of course, MLK Day events.
75 Jokes for Kids That Will Keep the Whole Family in Giggles
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If you're in need of a little lighthearted fun, these funny jokes for kids will have the whole family giggling away. Some of them are corny (dad jokes, anyone?), some are clever, and others might make you think for a second. But they'll all get you closer to hearing your kids let out that deep belly laugh that brings you—and them—so much joy.
From animal and food jokes to school and sports jokes, here are 75 of our favorite jokes for kids. Bonus: Most of these are simple jokes that kids can memorize and retell on their own.
Looking for more laughs? We've got riddles, tongue twisters, knock knock jokes, and more silliness in our Guide to the Best Jokes and Humor for Kids.
18 Family-Friendly Food Halls in NYC for an Easy, Delicious Meal
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You want to grab a bite out with the kids and the local pizza joint isn't going to cut it—but asking your wiggly, tired kids to sit quietly in a nice restaurant is like lighting a firecracker and then hoping it won't explode. New York City's diverse selection of food halls is the perfect solution.
Despite their historic mall-culture reputation, the model of a casual food hall with multiple food options is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, and not just in suburbia. Right here in NYC, food halls are gaining major foodie clout with excellent vendors, artisan marketplaces, and appealing perks (and sweet treats) for families with kids. It's the perfect eatery for families: There's a food option for everyone, minimal wait times, multiple bathrooms, and no one notices if your kid tantrums or drops half their meal on the floor.
Read on for 18 outstanding food halls in NYC offering top-notch eats, spacious seating, and lots to do in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Battery Park, Chelsea, Midtown, Dumbo, and more.
Check out our Guide to Family-Friendly NYC Restaurants for more dining in just about every neighborhood to satisfy every finicky palate.
40+ Free Things to Do in Chicago with Kids this Winter
Submitted by MommyPoppins on
Say what you want about Chicago winters, but the fact is, this town knows how to pack a lot of fun into the coldest months of the year. And best of all, there are plenty of FREE things to do in Chicago during the winter.
Some of the city's best attractions offer free admission during the winter, with free Illinois resident days at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum—plus, The DuSable Museum is always free (to help you celebrate MLK Day and Black History Month in February), and the Art Institute of Chicago is free on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays through St. Patrick's Day. Speaking of St. Patrick's Day, lots of parades are returning as everyone becomes Chi-rish for a day, or you can see a different kind of parade at Chinese New Year in Chinatown. Groundhog Day and Valentine's Day also make our list of fun free things to do in Chicago this winter.
Looking for more? Our list of 100 Things to Do With Chicago Kids Before They Grow Up might do the trick, and of course you can always find more daily activities in our Chicago Event Calendar or our Chicago Winter Fun Guide.
Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Irish Fests, Jurassic Quest, Train Show
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St. Patrick's Day celebrations kick off in earnest this weekend around Chicago, with parades with Irish dancing and music in Lemont and Elmhurst. (If you don't love swimming through beer and crowds, neighborhood celebrations like these are a kid-friendly alternative to the main parade downtown.) Dinosaurs have taken over the Dulles Expo & Conference Center as part of Jurassic Quest, and on Saturday families can enjoy the 65th Annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in Naperville.
Kids can color eggs for Persian New Year at a Persian Nowruz Celebration featuring music and dance performances, and at the DuPage County Fairgrounds kids can see the world's largest monthly train exhibit, with more than 550 tables of model trains to see and buy.
The Morton Arboretum has confirmed that their enchanted Troll Hunt will continue through this summer—since their gentle giants have weathered this rough winter so well. (Better than most of us, anyway.)
Looking for more family fun in Chicago? Look no further than our constantly-updating event calendar, and our indoor winter fun bucket list for Chicago kids.
Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Dr. Seuss, Monster Jam
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Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Oh, the places you'll go...in a giant mud-spewing monster truck. This weekend the Monster Jam tears up the Allstate Arena in Rosemont with wheelies, donuts, big engines, and even bigger tires.
Train-lovers and budding historians alike will find a rich story to explore at The Chinese Helped Build the Railroad – The Railroad Helped Build America, honoring the thousands of workers who helped create our country's transportation foundation. This is the last weekend for this exhibit! There's plenty more to do this weekend, from maple sugaring to Nick Jr. Live!, so check our picks below to get inspired. If you're looking for even more family fun, our event calendar and winter fun list should help.
Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Polar Days, Orchids
Submitted by MommyPoppins on
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.
