Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment in Chicago for kids and families to enjoy. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on the latest activities.
Windy City Smokeout
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When: July 8-11
Where: United Center Parking Lot C, 1901 W. Madison
What: At one of the first big festival events this summer, attendees will have to be vaccinated or show proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test. The four-day event features great food alongside performances by Brett Eldredge, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Morgan Evans, Ryan Hurd, Randy Rogers Band, Hailey Whitters and many more. United Center Parking Lot C, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $40-$65.
More information: windycitysmokeout.com
‘Alice in Wonderland’
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When: 6 p.m. July 9-10, 15-17
Where: Melody Farm Nature Preserve, 350 N. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest
What: Citadel Theatre presents an outdoor staging of Scott Phelps’ adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic. Travel down the rabbit hole with Alice as she encounters the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and more. Tickets: $15, $10 for Open Lands members.
More information: citadeltheatre.org
Southport Art Festival
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When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 10-11
Where: Southport and Waveland
What: The festival is back with its eclectic array of artists and local vendors. There’s a children’s area with interactive games and a patio to enjoy food and drink specials. Also during the festival the Mercury Theatre (3745 N. Southport) will celebrate its reopening with an open house at the theatre’s Venus Cabaret with live music and cocktails. Admission is free.
More information: starevents.com
Taste of Chicago To Go
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Where: Locations vary
When: July 7-11
What: New and reimagined, Taste of Chicago to Go replaces the usual Grant Park festival this summer as food, music and dance events are offered free across the city. Highlights include pop-up events at Pullman City Market (July 7), Austin Town Hall City Market (July 8), The Hatchery (July 10), the West Englewood neighborhood (July 10) and Eli’s Cheesecake Co. (July 10). There’s also a special “Taste-ing” event at Goose Island Brewery’s Tap Room (July 9); an afternoon of Puerto Rican food and coffee with Marisel Vera, author of “The Taste of Sugar,” at !WEPA! Mercado del Pueblo (July 9); a Picnic in White at Millennium Park produced by women restaurateurs (July 11), and pop-up music performances at participating eateries citywide (July 7-11).
More information: tasteofchicago.us
Tempel Lipizzans’ stallions
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When: Ongoing
Where: Tempel Farms, 17000 Wadsworth, Old Mill Creek.
What: The stallions return for a new season of equestrian dressage along with interactive, educational events. Performances feature synchronized movements set to classical music that show off the strength, beauty and intelligence of the Lipizzan horse. Following each event, there are self-guided tours through the stables to meet and pet the equine stars and ask questions of riders and trainers about how the Lipizzans are raised, trained and taught to “dance.” Tickets: $35, $25 for ages 4-14.
More information: tempelfarms.com
‘Par Excellence Redux’
When: “The Front 9” (to Sept. 16) and “The Back Nine” (Oct. 13-Jan. 2)
Where: Tee off at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill, Elmhurst
What: A fun new exhibit features a fully playable 18-hole mini-golf course created by more than 20 artists, designers and architects from Chicago and beyond. The family-friendly course pays homage to the School of the Art Institute’s wildly popular 1988 exhibition “Par Excellence.” Course themes range from social justice to the occult and include a fortune-telling hole that has the power to dramatically change scores as well as a hole that challenges players with an optical illusion. Admission is $5-$10 (online timed reservations); children 4 and under free.
More information: elmhurstartmuseum.org
Chicago Children’s Museum
Where: Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand
When: Ongoing
What: Fun and learning are on the agenda at the popular family gathering spot, offering a wide variety of exhibits aimed at improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. Babies and toddlers can enjoy “Treehouse Trails” and “Kids Town” while “Tinker Lab” and “Dinosaur Expedition” will enthrall older children. Admission: $19.
More information: chicagochildrensmuseum.org.
‘Becoming Jane’
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When: To Sept. 6
Where: Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
What: Generations have been inspired by the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall who has not only shown the urgent need to protect chimpanzees but also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environments. A new exhibit at the Field Museum, “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Jane Goodall,” follows her journey from a curious young child in England to a passionate scientist studying chimpanzees in Africa. Included in the exhibit are a recreation of her field research tent, a hologram-like projection of Goodall who shares her fieldwork memories, augmented reality activities and a projection of Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. Admission: $18-$32
More information: fieldmuseum.org
‘Hello Helios: The warming suns of Chicago’s Greektown’
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When: Through spring 2022
Where: Halsted from Monroe to Van Buren
What: Welcome summer with a new outdoor exhibit celebrating the start of summer with 24 artworks inspired by the sun and related mythologies from Greek, Aztec, Yoruba, Japanese and Native American cultures.
More information: greektownchicago.org
Kayak for Conservation
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When: Ongoing
Where: Kayak Chicago: 1220 W LeMoyne,
What: Get close to nature via the Shedd Aquarium’s popular Kayak for Conservation program, which features a variety of socially distant kayaking experiences on the Chicago River. Participants learn about the river’s environmental history and discover wildlife living in its ecosystem. Sessions are open to all levels of kayakers (including newbies) and are led by Shedd’s wildlife conservation experts. The cost is pay-what-you-can ranging from $20-$100 per participant, with a recommended $40, the base cost of the program.
More information: sheddaquarium.org/kayak
‘Take Flight’
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When: Permanent
Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.
What: The MSI’s Boeing 747 reopens with a reimagined exhibit that explores modern aviation and the science of flight. The plane’s interior has been restored and new interactive elements have been added. Tickets: $12.95, $21.95.
More information: msichicago.org
