Ongoing events
Millennium Park Ice Skating
201 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
When: Fridays : 12 p.m - 10 p.m (ends March 14)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 12 p.m - 8 p.m
(ends March 14)
Sundays : 10 a.m. - 9 p.m (ends March 14)
Saturdays : 10 a.m. - 9 p.m (ends March 14)
Price: Free to skate, $10 skate rental
Art in the Park (Starved Rock State Park)
Location Starved Rock Lodge Main Entrance
Phone 815-667-4211 ext 386
Email ednad@starvedrocklodge.com
From sunrise to sunset you can seek out the awesome wood carvings
on the Lodge grounds and in the park. Grab a map at the Lodge reception
desk and start your hunt: from Indian carvings and Animal carvings to totems
and functional carved art--you'll have fun finding all the art the park has to offer.
Hidden Oaks Family Storytime at Fountaindale Public Library
Bolingbrook
Phone: 630-759-2102
All ages welcome
Read a story around the theme for the day and play nature activities with an experienced Hidden Oaks Naturalist. All sessions are held on Saturday's
from 2:00-2:30 pm at the Fountaindale Public Library. For more information, visit: www.fountaindale.org/
Hidden Oaks Nature Center (Bolingbrook)
The entire family is welcome to come out Saturday mornings at 9:00 am for the Discovery Hike series. Free exploration, playful activities and sensory-rich hikes make for great family memories. For more information, visit:
Acoustic Guitar (Starved Rock State Park)
Location Back Door Lounge
Time 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Description
Local artists bring their talent on the Acoustic Guitar every Friday night (through April). Relaxing, laid-back atmosphere, great food and NO COVER CHARGE. For more information, visit: www.starvedrockstatepark.org/
Rock Star Competition 2010 (Starved Rock State Park)
Location: Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Rock Star competitors hit the stage every Thursday night through March 25th. Competition begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Dining Room. Gather your friends and family and come out to listen to the rockin'est voices in the region.
Outlaw at The Blackstone Hotel (Chicago)
Daily 9am - 5pm (ends in Sept.)
Event Phone Number: 312-542-3437
See more than 12 large graffiti works and several smaller illustrations by Brooklyn B-boy and tagger-turned-artist Mike “Mr. Kaves" McLeer on the hotel's Art Hall floor, including two works commissioned for MTV's reality show "Real World: Brooklyn."
Open Mic Casting Calls at the Lakeshore Theatre (Chicago)
Thursdays : 7:30 p.m.
Event Phone Number: 773-472-3492
www.lakeshoretheater.com
Cheer on emerging comics, musicians and variety performers as they audition for bookings at the Lakeview club. Drink specials include $2 PBR cans.
Soup and Bread at the Hideout (Chicago)
Wednesdays : 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. (ends March 31)
Event Phone Number: 773-227-4433
www.soupnbread.wordpress.com
Hideout staff, regulars and local chefs prepare soup each week for the second annual winter series. Goodwill donations benefit local food banks.
Sunday Salutations Yoga Class (Chicago)
Sundays 10am to 11am
Event Phone Number: 773-883-8860
Stretch and strengthen for free at this weekly class hosted by lululemon and sometimes partnered by various Pilates studios.
Free Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Brookfield Zoo
Every Tuesday and Thursday (ends March 30)
(708) 688-8000
A new polar bear cub is the star at this world-class zoo. Free Tuesdays and Thursdays during February, March, October, November and December.
March
Jackson Street Sounds
72 Polk Street in downtown Oswego
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Visit Jackson Street Sounds at the Little White School Museum on Thursday nights. They will have an open mic night for anyone looking for stage time and a chance to show their stuff. Sign-ups for anyone interested in performing begin at 6:00. Each artist has 10 minutes of set time. All levels of skill are welcome. Coffee and baked goods will be available for purchase. For more information call 630-554-2999.
Little White School Museum
72 Polk Street in downtown Oswego
6:30-9:00pm March 11
All ages are welcome to this free event!
Cabinet of Curiosities at Puck's at the MCA (Chicago)
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
220 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
March 16 : 6 p.m.
April 20 : 6 p.m.
Event Phone Number: 312-397-4034
A new series offers local creative organizations a chance to engage guests with performance art, readings, slide shows, discussions and more. Although there's a theme to each night, the grab-bag nature behind Curiosities means you won't know exactly what you're in store for.
Family Fun Day-Main Library
Date: 3/23/2010
Location: Main Library-150 N. Ottawa St. Joliet, IL 60432
Also 3/30/10 at Black Road Branch-3395 Black Road
Detail: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
(All Ages) Find fabulous family fun at the library with a day of drop-in activities for all ages. From 10-4 p.m., family style board games and do-it-yourself crafts will be available in meeting room. Other events include a Guitar Hero competition from 10-12, bingo from 12:30-1:30, a Wii sports competition from 1:30-2:30 and a special craft from 3-4. No registration is required. For more information call (815) 740-2660.
Easter Egg Hunt (ages 2-5 w/ adult)
Date: 03/27/10
Start Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Cost: free
Location : Holstein Park
2200 North Oakley Avenue, Chicago, ILý
(312) 742-7554ý
Meet the big white bunny and look for hidden eggs! Also, most events feature face painting, arts and crafts plus photo opportunities with the bunny (bring your camera). Some activities may require pre-registration due to limited space. Many programs are admission free or have nominal entrance fees. Participants should call the individual parks for additional information.
April
Downhill Derby
Race Day is fun for everyone. Kids who have built model cars in one of the Chicago Park District's woodshop classes will have fun racing them down the track.
Date: 04/09/10
Start Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: free
Location : Merrimac Park
6343 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, ILý - (773) 685-3382ý
Chicago's neighborhood festivals are great opportunities for communities to come together in the parks celebrating with friends, neighbors and family members. All throughout the city, the Chicago Park District organizes festivals and special events which are family focused and offer activities for Chicagoians of all ages.
Community organizations and chambers of commerce periodically sponsor neighborhood festivals which include local parks. Additionally, some parks sponsor mini-festivals to bring the community together for fun and socializing.
Earth Day: Park Clean-up
Join your neighbors to help spruce up the park and beach area surrounding the Loyola Park fieldhouse.
Date: 04/17/10
Start Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: free
Location : Loyola Park
1230 West Greenleaf Avenue, Chicago, ILý
(773) 262-8605
During April, the Chicago Park District joins the rest of the world to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning-up our parks and learning more about our planet and its resources. Participants get hands-on environmental education while enjoying nature walks, festivals, crafts projects, or even assisting with the care of our parks and nature areas.
May
Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival (Chicago)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The entire family is invited to Montrose Harbor in Lincoln Park for Mayor Daley’s Kids and kites Festival.
If the kids don’t have a kite let alone know how to fly one, don’t worry. The Mayor’s Office of Special Events will provide free kits for children to design and create their own kite. Kite flying professionals will be coming out to demonstrate exactly how it is done, and help you master your kite flying skills. For more information, visit www.chicagokite.com
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm
Location: Montrose Harbor in Lincoln Park
Chicago, IL 60614
Arbor Day Celebration (Palos Heights)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Tree seedlings and planting guides will be given to the first 200 families attending Arbor Day 2010. The fun filled festival includes a display of animal guests, family games, and judging of local schools' poster entries. Visitors can enjoy hayrides, nature exhibits, face painting, and puppet shows. Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension will be on hand to answer questions about tree planting and gardening. Food and beverages will be sold by the Palos Heights Kiwanis Club and coffee and treats will be sold by Ollie’s. For more information call (708) 361-1873.
Location: Lake Katherine, Palos Heights
11:00am - 3:00 pm - May 1, 2010
Admission: Free
Celtic Fest (Chicago)
May 8 & 9, 2010
Location:
Millennium Park
N. Michigan Ave. & E. Randolph St.
Chicago
12th Annual St. Charles Fine Art Show (St. Charles)
May. 22 & 23, 2010
Hours: Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm. Free.
A cultural arts event encompassing all aspects of the visual arts through an art exhibition and sale. Set in the beautiful Fox Valley, the St. Charles Fine Art Show is a forum for the display and sale of the finest quality original art. The show features artists from across the country.
Cuneo Museum Fine Art Festival
May. 29, 2010 - May. 30, 2010
1350 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, IL
(847) 362-3042
Spend two days in a park setting surrounded by an historic museum and gorgeous sculpture garden shopping and enjoying fine arts while meandering through the grassy knoll. The springtime outdoors art festival features juried arts, fine crafts and musical entertainment in a lush garden setting. Free admission to this event; additional admission for mansion tours.
June
Chicago Blues Festival
When: June 11th, 12th, 13th
Grant Park
500 S. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-744-3315
Event Phone Number:
312-744-3315
August
63rd Annual Sweet Corn Festival
Aug. 12, 2010 - Aug. 15, 2010
Illinois Ave. & Jefferson Street
Mendota, IL
Carnival, parade, queen pageant, over 200 crafters, flea market food booths, beer garden with live bands and free sweet corn on Sunday.
