So it isn’t a typical winter here in Chicago this year…  We haven’t seen a lot of snow, if any, and temperatures are regularly in the 50’s. None-the-less the Groundhog saw his shadow, so it seems we are in for a few more weeks of winter.  So with this weird winter we are having how can you find winter fun for kids?  No fear we have done some looking around and we have activities that should keep you fully stocked with ideas for the next six weeks:

Winter Fun for Kids

1. Ice skating –  We don’t let a lack of snow stop us from enjoying some outdoor ice time.  A few iconic place you can lace up and skate are, The Maggie Daley Park Ice Ribbon,  The Millenium Park Ice Skating Rink, or The Linclon Park Farmhouse Ice Rink. Admission is free-$5 at these places if you don’t have skates though you’ll have to rent them.
2. Skiing and Snowboarding – Yes you can Ski and Snowboard within an hour from the city center,  They aren’t giant mountains but they are a great way to introduce your kids to these fun winter sports… and yes they make their own snow so you can even ski/board this year.  Check out: Villa Olivia,  Raging Buffalo Ski and Snowboard Park, or Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports.
3. Museums – Outdoor winter sports not your thing? We have world-class museums you should visit especially on one of their many free days for IL residents here are the places we love: The Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, The Shedd Aquarium, The Adler Planetarium, and The Museum of Science and Industry.  You may want to check out one of their sleep over events.

With all the Nature Preserves and Park Districts around we are absolutely missing some of the other fun activities. So by all means tell us what we have missed.  Drop a comment below and let us know what ways you are discovering winter fun for the kids this year! Who knows… we may just add it to the list.

Next week The NFL and their festival of football is descending on our fair city.  For fans of the game this is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the NFL.  This will be three days of football fun.  Maybe just enough to tide you over until the preseason finally gets underway.

Location:

The Fan festival will be held in Grant Park and Congress Plaza for a 900,000 square foot celebration of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Hours of Operation:

• Thursday, April 28: 12PM – 10PM
• Friday, April 29: 12PM – 10PM
• Saturday, April 30: 10AM – 6PM

The event is free to the public though you do need to download the Fan Mobile Pass to participate in some of the events. which include:

• NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field 
• Kids’ Long Snap
• Kids’ Quarterback Challenge
• Gear Up & Go
• Kids’ Extra Point Kick
• NFL PLAY 60 Zone Obstacle Course

To see all the events and download the app visit the NFL Draft Town Page

Don’t forget to  check out our Meetups page as the Chicago Dads will be meeting at various times throughout the festival.

I love summer!  I look forward to it every year.  Without a doubt one of my most favorite things about summer is entertainment in local parks.  Getting out and enjoying the area that has been set aside for public enjoyment and taking in a  good movie or listening to great music.

Now most of the municipalities out here in the greater Chicagoland area do some variation on this theme.  My family loves getting together and enjoying the summer concert series our village of Downers Grove puts on each summer.

If for whatever reason their isn’t something local for you, don’t worry the City of Chicago has you covered.  The Millennium Park Film series and Music series has been announced, along with the Grant Park Music Festival.

From Orchestral to Indie Rock you’ll get your Music fix and then some.  If you like the Movies among the films you can come downtown to see are, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, West Side Story, and Purple Rain.

Bring a Blanket and a picnic or some snacks and join a few 1000 other people for a few summer events your family will love.

…and by the way, it is all FREE!

Grab your calendars and hop over to the following links so you can schedule a few of these events!

The Millennium Park Music Series

The Millennium Park Film Series

Grant Park Music Fesitval