Winter in Chicago is one of the most beautiful and magical times of year. The steady falling snow over the bright lights of the city make a picture perfect moment. Don’t waste the season by laying in bed every day. The Chicago area is full of fun activities the entire month of January!
Drive-In Movie at Rock Island Public House
Are you tired of staying at home to watch all your favorite movies? Rock Island Public House is offering FREE movies at the drive in every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Food and drinks are available for purchase to give you a movie theater experience from your car. Parking is first come, first served!
Fire & Ice Pop Up at Recess
Recess is ready to heat up your entire month of January with their Fire & Ice pop up. This festival will take you through a winter wonderland full of ice sculptures and winter fun. There will be plenty of photo ops for the family and snowflake crafts for the kids. When you are done with the cold and ready to cozy up, the patio is full of fire pits to roast smores and enjoy a delicious cocktail. Space is limited so buy your tickets now!
Ice Skating at Maggie Daley
Grab your skates, because the famous ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is open! Left your skates at home? Pick up a pair of skates at the rink! This fun winter activity is available all month long. Bring a few friends and skate around some of the most beautiful scenery in Chicago! Admission is free but reservations are required. Remember to dress warm!
King Day Virtual Performance from the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute wants to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day with you! Register online to join Rebirth Poetry Ensemble and In the Spirit performance duo. Rebirth Poetry Ensemble will be performing spoken word pieces in response to the exhibition “Bisa Butler: Portraits”. These young poets have been performing at the annual King Day festival for many years. The performance duo, In the Spirit, will be telling original stories to bring to life the legacy of Dr. King. This free virtual event takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Make sure to register before January 18th!
Nocturnal Night at North Park Nature Center Park
What happens when the sun goes down? Visit the Nature Center on January 29th to experience nature at night. Participants will be allowed to hike through the preserve, find nocturnal animals, and gaze up at the stars. Remember to mark this on your calendar because it will only take place the final night of January!
Chicago Polar Bear Club is recreating one of Chicago’s most beloved winter traditions on January 30th. Instead of jumping through Lake Michigan, they are keeping it socially distanced by challenging participants to plunge remotely. Use your creativity whether it’s plunging in the freezing bathtub or hosing down in the backyard. Just remember to post a photo and hashtag #CPBC2021. Sign up and create an online fundraising page to collect donations for local families!
The Dreamscape from Museum of Contemporary Art
The Dreamscape from Museum of Contemporary Art is bringing together the live performances of artists featured in The Long Dream. This surreal online event will feature a variety of different pieces of artwork. Participants will be allowed to choose their own experience by exploring through the artwork which contains live streamed music, video art, and more! RSVP to access the event and get pre-show information! The Dreamscape takes place on January 16th on ZOOM and is completely virtual.
Tiffany in Chicago
Did you know that Chicago has one of the largest collections of Tiffany Glass in the country? The Chicago Architecture Center will be hosting a virtual program on Zoom January 27th to inspect these fine pieces of work crafted by Tiffany. Louis Comfort Tiffany has left his mark on Chicago’s architecture with his art-glass and installations. Sign up to learn more about the technique and design used to create Tiffany’s artistry.
Do not let the cold weather stop you from having fun this year! Whether you are at home or out and about, there are several options for everyone!
Written By: Megan Collins