At sites in Lincoln Park and across the city, the Chicago Park District is busy offering a variety of family-friendly diversions for the December holidays. In addition, the parks are offering alternative New Year's Eve activities to bid farewell to 2005 and welcome 2006.
A Family Gingerbread House Workshop, for all ages, will enliven Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. The cost is $20 per house. Families can come together in a festive atmosphere to create a beautiful, candy filled gingerbread house to adorn their holiday table. The Center will supply the workspace, house, candy and icing. The participants supply the creativity and sticky fingers. This festive workshop is quickly becoming an annual tradition. For more information, call (312) 742-7726.
The Snowflake Festival, for all ages, will also be held at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center; it takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, with a cost of $3. Family activities include winter arts and craft projects, refreshments and holiday entertainment performed by the Park Kids. For more information, call (312) 742-7726.
A Rockin' New Year's Eve will shake the Lincoln Park Cultural Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. The event, for all ages, costs $5, with advanced sales only. Attendees can look forward to a variety of holiday activities, hats, and noisemakers along with pizza and pop and a lively show starring the Popeye and Sweet Pea dog act. After the performance, count down the New Year, a little early for the little guys! Make lots of noise and throw lots of confetti. It's 2006! For more information, call (312) 742-7726.
Skate with Santa at McFetridge Sports Center, 3843 N. California Ave., from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. This event, for all ages, costs $5 (with discounts for students and seniors). Enjoy ice-skating with Santa, Rudolph and the rest of their crew as they glide on the ice with you and your family. All ages are welcome to also visit with Santa, sip on hot chocolate and sing holiday carols. For more information, call (773) 478-2609.
A free Winter Solstice Festival for all ages is slated for North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Come celebrate the winter season at the nature center as the shortest day of the year approaches. Enjoy live holiday music, a shadow puppet play, roasted chestnuts, luminary-lit trails and hot apple cider as part of this magical event. For more information, call (312) 744-5472.
At Northerly Island on the Museum Campus, free Polar Adventures for all ages are planned for noon to 2 p.m. on three Saturdays: Dec. 17, Jan. 21 and Feb. 18. Families are invited to engage in hands-on winter activities such as snow shoeing, cross country skiing and a variety of winter nature craft activities (weather permitting). On select days, visitors will be able to take advantage of leisurely horse-drawn carriage rides around the island, watch a dog sled team demonstration, adventure on a theater hike of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow Queen," visit with arctic mammal friends and listen to a storyteller's Old Man Winter and Native American animal tales. Please confirm scheduled activities for Polar Adventure Day; call (312)
742-4907.
Don't miss the free Skate with Santa, for all ages, from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, in Daley Bicentennial Plaza, 337 E. Randolph St. Santa, Rudolph, hot chocolate, holiday carols, and the crispness of skates on ice—what more could you want? For more information, call (312) 742-7648.
A free pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, for all ages, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. Learn the meaning of the seven days of Kwanzaa and the history of its origins while enjoying delicious refreshments, music and performances. For more information, call (312) 746-5494.
The Chocolate House Making Class will be held at Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St., from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. The cost is $10 per house. Create a completely edible chocolate house! This delightful treat is perfect for holiday gift giving or as a one-of-a-kind centerpiece. All ages are welcome to participate, but children under 10 years old will require adult supervision. For more information, call (312) 742-7895.
Celebrate the New Year around the lighted Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, starting at 11:40 p.m. with music and a countdown to midnight. Ring in the New Year with other Chicagoans as the skies explode with fireworks choreographed to a musical soundtrack. The fireworks show is free. |
