Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Chicago in February 2025

Ice Festival 2025 - Downtown Downers Grove
Downers Grove – FREE
January 31- February 2
Join the fun January 31–February 2 and get ready for a weekend of outdoor winter fun! The Ice Festival kicks off Friday evening with live ice carving demonstrations from 5:30–7:30 PM at the corner of Main and Curtiss. The live ice carving fun continues on Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM–3 PM at the Main Street Train Station. Visit the website here.

Groundhog Days in Woodstock
Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock - Free
January 30- February 2
The Chicago area's own Woodstock Willie will predict whether we will have an early spring or six more weeks of winter at Woodstock Square. Families can tour the grounds where the classic movie was filmed and participate in a Groundhog Day bags tourney. Visit the website here.

Ice-A-Palooza
Central Athletic Complex- Ice Rink, Wheaton - Free
February 1
The Wheaton Park District invites families to break their winter blues and experience Ice-A-Palooza! The event includes a meet and greet with Chicago Steel mascot Rusty, open skating, hockey, a preschool activity tent, and kids games. Play It Again Sports will be on site to sell or rent ice skates, while Center Ice DuPage puts on special performances. The event wraps up with a Wheaton Polic Department vs. Wheaton Fire Department hockey game. Concessions will be available for sale. Visit the website here.

National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
Multiple locations
February 1
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is scooping out a new breakfast flavored ice cream for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. In-store parties in each of Jeni's locations will feature fun surprises, coloring sheets and exclusive menu items for the day. Visit the website here.

Global Connections: Lunar New Year
Navy Pier- FREE
February 1
Navy Pier hosts an afternoon celebration of the Year of the Snake, featuring live dance, music, and other performances, traditional food, crafts, and more! Visit the website here.

Morton Arboretum Chocolate Weekend
Lisle
February 1-2
The Morton Arboretum celebrates the cacao tree at this annual party centered around chocolate. Dozens of vendors will have chocolate available for sampling or purchase for Valentine's Day, or just for a treat. Visit the website here.

Groundhog Week at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
Lemont – FREE
February 1-7
Will Sagawau Sam see his shadow on the ski trails this year? Families can sky or hike by an outdoor exhibit to learn about groundhogs and other winter hibernators. Weather dependent. Visit the website here.

Groundhog Day Celebrating the Life of Harold Ramis
Navy Pier - FREE
February 2
Fans are invited to join in the celebration of Harold Ramis’ extraordinary life and career with an official Groundhog Day Celebration on Feb. 2 at Harry Caray’s Tavern Navy Pier to honor the 10th anniversary of Harold’s passing. To commemorate Chicago’s officially declared Harold Ramis Day, cast members from the celebrated 1993 comedy Groundhog Day (co-written and directed by Ramis) will join in a special public event on Navy Pier. Visit the website here.

Kids Valentines Day Party at Park and Field
Logan Square
February 2
Celebrate Valentine's Day with crafts and a magic show at Park & Field. Full food and drink menus will accompany a magic show from Cosmic Underground and a Valentines card crafting station. Visit the website here.

Destination Discovery Story Time at The Field Museum
Museum Campus-FREE
February 5 and 26
Join Librarian Meagan and her friends as they visit the Field Museum on Free Illinois Wednesdays! The guest reader from Chicago Public Library will lead a fun-filled interactive PlayDate with stories, songs and more. PlayLab PlayDates are free to museum guests, don’t require pre-registration, and take place on IL Resident Free Days! Visit the website here.

Disney On Ice: Let's Dance at the Allstate Arena
Rosemont
February 6-9
Mickey and his pals are rocking the DJ table and you’re on the guest list! Feel the electric atmosphere as they remix favorite Disney tunes into colorful worlds. Visit the website here.

Family Valentine's Dance at Gompers Park
North Park
February 7
At this annual event, families enjoy an evening of dancing at the park. The event features a DJ, crafts, and photo opportunities. Food and beverages are available for an extra cost. Visit the website here.

Black History Story Time
Greater Grand Crossing Branch Library, Grand Crossing - FREE
February 8
Join "The Library Lady" for Black History Month story time for the whole family! We share songs, rhymes and books, plus suggestions for at-home activities to celebrate Black History Month. Visit the website here.

Wonka Walk
Downtown Glen Ellyn – FREE
February 8
Enter a world of pure imagination in downtown Glen Ellyn by looking for a Golden Ticket in the store front windows the weekend before Valentine's Day. Ticket finders will receive a special prize from the businesses. Everyone wins with a free showing of the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the Glen Art Theater. You can also find Willy Wonka and an Oompa Loompa strolling downtown or at Chocolaterie Stam. Visit the website here.

Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration & Parade
Uptown – FREE
February 8
Kick off the Year of the Snake with this decades-old Uptown tradition kicking off near the Argyle "L" stop, complete with music, lion dances, floats, entertainment from local groups, activity "pop-ups" and more. Visit the website here.

Victorian Valentines
DuPage County Historical Museum, Wheaton
February 8-9
Kids can make Victorian Valentines, which were treasured keepsakes in their time, using feathers, beads, and bits of fabric. Visit the website here.

Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place
February 8-17
McCormick Place hosts the annual Chicago Auto Show, featuring nearly 1,000 different vehicles on display, including domestic and imported cars and trucks, sport utility vehicles, experimental or concept cars, antique and collector cars, and auto-related exhibits. Visit the website here.

Lunar New Year Parade
Chinatown – FREE
February 9
The whole family can celebrate the Year of the Snake with a Lunar New Year parade through Chinatown! The parade will feature traditional dragon and lion dancing teams, colorful floats, marching bands, and marching groups. Visit the website here.

Love Bug Dance
DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville
February 13
Kids and their parents can celebrate love, friendship, and family at this dance at the DuPage Children's Museum. DJ Bach to Rock will be spinning the tunes while kids indulge in tasty treats, create corsages or boutonnieres for their dates, take dance lessons, create cards, and play in the museums exhibits. Bubble Blizzards will take place at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 and Tiny Dancer lessons are at 6 and 6:45. Visit the website here.

Presidents Day at the Chicago History Museum
Old Town – FREE
February 17
Celebrate the four U.S. Presidents who have lived in Illinois at the Chicago History Museum on Presidents Day. Families can learn more about Lincoln, Grant, Reagan, and Obama with family friendly activities, including writing letters to the President and free museum admission. Visit the website here.

UMOJA Black History Month Celebration at Homan Square
Homan Square Community Center Park, North Lawndale - Free
February 22
Homan Square Park hosts its annual UMOJA Black History Celebration, featuring performances by children and adults in park programs, vendors of African American products and attire, and food vendors featuring soul food menus. Visit the website here,

Black History Month Family Event at the Chicago History Museum
Old Town
February 22
Join historians at the Chicago History Museum to learn more about Black figures who have had an impact on the national and local level. Learn about how Black History Week started in Chicago and celebrate the history and contributions of this vital third of the city’s population through activities that center on this year’s theme of “African Americans and the Arts.” Visit the website here.

Black History Month: Underground Railroad Presentations
Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland – FREE
February 22 & 23
Come visit Sand Ridge Nature Center to learn more about the Underground Railroad that existed in the Calumet Region during the mid-1800s. Families can explore two self-guided trails throughout the day. From 2 pm to 3 pm, Tom Shepherd and/or Dr. Larry McClellan from the Little Calumet River Underground Railroad Project will give a presentation accompanied by spiritual singer Lana Lewis. Visit the website here for Feb 22.
Visit the website here for Feb 23.

Farmhouse Tours: Curing a Cold in the 1890s
Klein Creek Farm, West Chicago
Thursdays - Mondays in February
Families can learn about how families in the 1890s took care of each other when they were sick at these tours at Klein Creek Farm. Learn about the kinds of foods that were prepared for ailing family members and the use of candy as medicine. Tours are at the top of the hour each hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the website here.

Laser Taylor Swift
Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College, River Forest
Saturdays in February
Cernan Earth and Space Center had a blank space in their schedule and they knew just whose name to write... Taylor Swift. Swifties of all ages can get sparkly and enjoy a laser light show set to Taylor Swift's music every Saturday night in January and February. Tickets are only available day of starting at 6:30 p.m. Visit the website here.

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