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Children's Theater, Winter Fests, and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

Build your own structures together at Chicago Architecture Center's Family Day. Photo by Anna Munzesheimer
Build your own structures together at Chicago Architecture Center's Family Day. Photo by Anna Munzesheimer
1/7/26 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

Brace yourself for Chicago's annual onslaught of sub-zero temperatures this weekend! It's the perfect time to spend the afternoon in a cozy theater indoors. You can do just that with lots of fun children's theater this weekend including The Three Little Pigs at Beverly Arts Center, Footloose at Northwestern University, and Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival in neighborhoods throughout the city. If you do decide to venture outside, check out winter festivals in Bolingbrook or Wheeling, or visit Harold Washington Library for an indoor family fest.

January is FREE month at Mommy Poppins, so we've got a list of 100 free things to do with kids in Chicago. We also have some list of cheap things to do, like inexpensive kids meals and low-cost birthday party spaces to rent.

 And want to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank? Don’t forget to look for the deals link at the top of the calendar to filter for special offers and the free filter to see only free activities!

More Things To Do in Chicago This Week With Kids

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Get up close learning about and exploring fascinating creatures and nature at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Founders Day. Photo courtesy of the museum
Get up close learning about and exploring fascinating creatures and nature at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Founders Day. Photo courtesy of the museum

Best Things To Do This Weekend in Chicago With Kids

Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour

Various Neighborhoods
Thursday, January 22- Saturday, January 24
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 "Stone by Stone," performed by Tian Gombau and "Happy Birthday, Mon Ami" performed by Alex Olmsted. READ MORE

Disney On Ice: Jump In at the Allstate Arena

Rosemont
Thursday, January 22- Sunday, January 25
Experience Disney characters from Moana 2, Inside Out 2, Toy Story, Encanto, and Frozen as they join Mickey and Minnie on a magical new ice adventure! READ MORE

The Three Little Pigs at Beverly Arts Center

Beverly
Friday, January 23
Meet Roxanne, Petunia, and Babe…three Sister Piggies who set out to build their own houses.  Roxanne (the Rock’n Roll Pig) builds hers out of Sticks, Petunia (The Pretty Pig) builds hers out of Straw, and Babe (the sensible, smart Pig) builds hers out of bricks!  Which house will the Big Bad Wolf Huff and Puff and blow down?  Don’t miss CKC’s most popular show!   READ MORE

Northwestern University’s 83rd Annual Dolphin Show Presents “Footloose”

Evanston
Friday, January 23- Sunday, January 25
America’s largest student-produced musical returns for its 83rd annual production with Footloose! Produced by Aiden Kaliner, Ryan Lien, and JingXi Yap and directed by Katherine Horton, this year’s Dolphin Show presents a bold new take on Footloose. When the young protagonist Ren moves to the small town of Bomont, he faces an oppressive reality—the town has outlawed dancing. The story follows Ren as he dares to be different, inspiring his friends and challenging the authority of minister Shaw Moore. Centering on themes of self-expression and change... READ MORE

Lakeshore Learning's Cool Creations

Orland Park and Palatine - Free
Saturday, January 24
Stretch your fun with a cool creations workshop at Chicago-area Lakeshore Learning stores. Kids can make fun crafts and read stories. The January 10 workshop focuses on the story The Day the Crayons Came Home and making a crayon carrier and the January 24 workshop is about Pete The Cat: Rockin' in My School Shoes and making a Reading Rocks bookmark.. At each event, they'll make cool and colorful creations, play with top-rated learning products and even hear a story! READ MORE

RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers

Portage Park
Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25
RAIN is a mesmerizing and intimate sensory experience for babies and their families in which they are invited to slow down, notice, and wonder. Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance. A trio of performers on cello, voice, and movement act as gentle guides in a brand-new world of surprise, delight, and opportunities for connection through sound, touch... READ MORE

Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover at Wonder Works

Oak Park
Through Monday, January 26
Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 15 to 26, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In the lunar exploration pit, children can navigate space themed objects as they develop their gross motor skills. READ MORE

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow & Fire

Hoffman Estates
Friday, January 23- Sunday, January 25
The tour that lit up last year returns bigger and hotter than ever — with even more flames, more glow, and more high-octane action. Fans can expect the same edge-of-your-seat thrills they love, now supercharged with enhanced pyro effects, dazzling lighting, and jaw-dropping stunts. Get ready to cheer on your favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks — Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, HW 5-Alarm™, Bone Shaker™, Bigfoot®, and Skelesaurus™ — plus the all-new Rhinomite™, making its live debut this season!  READ MORE

Community Cares at the DuPage Children's Museum

Naperville
Saturday, January 24
Give the new year a great start at Community Cares at DuPage Children’s Museum. The museum is teaming up with local organizations to give children and their families opportunities to give back to their community in a fun, interactive way. READ MORE

Lincoln Park Preschool Fair

Lincoln Park- FREE
Saturday, January 24
Choosing the right preschool is a big step, and we’re here to make it easier for you. Join us on Saturday, January 24, at the Lincoln Park Branch Library, for a free, one-stop event to meet and learn about some of the best preschools in the neighborhood — all in one convenient place! Register here! READ MORE

Bolingbrook Winterfest

Bolingbrook - Free
Saturday, January 24
This year’s Winterfest will feature indoor and outdoor recreation for families of every age group! Activities are free and for all ages unless otherwise noted. Activities will include archery, dance performances, a family picture trail, food trucks, hot drinks, campfire building, imagination station blocks, a pinecone birdfeeder craft, , snowball fights, a themed story time room, a winter lights glow party, and more! READ MORE

Buffalo Grove Park District Lunar New Year Celebration

Buffalo Grove
Saturday, January 24
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

Wheeling Winterfest

Wheeling- Free
Sunday, January 25
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

Family Fun Fest

Downtown
Sunday, January 25
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
There are lots of inexpensive and fun indoor play opportunities around the city. Photo courtesy of the Skokie Exploratorium
There are lots of inexpensive and fun indoor play opportunities around the city. Photo courtesy of the Skokie Exploratorium

More Fun Things To Do in Chicago Right Now

Chicago's Winter Bucketlist: 33 Things to Do this Winter in Chicago with Kids

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