July 6-12 from 10am to 3pm - Millenium Park - "Circus Carnival Week"
Sat July 25 at 11am - Ravinia - New Millennium Orchestra, kids concert, $10 pavillion, $5 lawn.
Church of Our Saviour in Lincoln Park sponsors a non-denominational, free playgroup for kids 0-4 years old! This website holds info about the playgroup activities and other (emphasizing free) resources, for area families with tiny kids.
· Art Institute of Chicago Thursdays, Fridays 5–9pm. (111 S Michigan Ave, 312-443-3600, artic.edu/aic). The new Ryan Education Center is always free (use the Modern Wing entrance on Monroe Street).
· Chicago Children’s Museum Thursdays 5–8pm, first Sunday of the month (Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org)
· Chicago History Museum Mondays (1601 N Clark St, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org)
· Clarke House Museum Wednesdays (1827 S Indiana Ave, 312-745-0041, clarkehousemuseum.org)
· DuSable Museum of African-American History Sundays (740 E 56th Pl, 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org)
· Field Museum second Monday of the month (1400 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org)
· Glessner House Museum Wednesdays (1800 S Prairie Ave, 312-326-1480, glessnerhouse.org)
· Museum of Contemporary Art Tuesdays; families with kids 12 and under on the second Saturday of the month, 11am–3pm. (220 E Chicago Ave, 312-280-2660, mcachicago.org)
· Spertus Museum Tuesdays, 10am–noon, Thursdays 2–6pm. Gray Children’s Center is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. (610 S Michigan Ave, 312-322-1700, spertus.edu)
· Swedish American Museum’s Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration Second Tuesday of the month. (5211 N Clark St, 773-728-8111, samac.org)
· The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Thursdays pay what you can; regular admission is $9, kids $7. Or click here to print out a coupon for free child’s admission any day of the week with a paid adult. (2430 N Cannon Dr, 773-755-5100, naturemuseum.org)
· Oriental Institute Museum Suggested $7 donation every day, kids $4 (1155 E 58th St, 773-702-9520, oi.uchicago.edu).
Water Ballet Workshop
Designed for ages 9-13
Program runs for 90 minutes
During the Water Ballet Workshop, Joffrey Ballet dancers teach the students excerpts from Swan Lake choreographed for the pool, as well as popular dances familiar to the children to foster enthusiasm for dance. This exciting workshop provides an opportunity for Chicago Park District students to experience dance in an informal setting where they work closely with Joffrey dancers.
CAMP Joffrey: Creativity, arts, movement, pride
Designed for ages 12-14
Program runs from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. from June 22 – July 31, 2009
An exciting new initiative, CAMP Joffrey incorporates classes in ballet, modern, jazz, Latin, African and hip hop technique with workshops for creative writing, personal development, team building, water ballet and health and nutrition. CAMP highlights include motivational guest speakers and special field trips. This day camp will engage participants all day long as they get caught up in the excitement of dancing for the summer. For more information, contact Linda Swayze at 312.389.8951 or lswayze@joffrey.org.

Saturdays in Feb, 6:30pm, Pioneer Court at 401 N. Michigan Avenue during the month of February 2009: the ONLY winter fireworks experience over the Chicago River, surrounded by magnificent architecture.FREE.
Saturdays in February - Garfield Park Conservatory. 11am - 4pm, Sweet Saturdays. Learn about plants that provide the key ingredients to our favorite sweet treats: bananas, vanilla beans, cinnamon bark, and chocolate trees. Sweet Saturday sample activities: Tropical Treat Stations; design a scratch 'n sniff necklaces with cinnamon and sandpaper and “leaf rubbing” Valentine’s Day Cards; make Chocolate Sachets with the sweet-smelling shells of cocoa beans; Sweet Reads & Candy College. FREE samples from (February 7) Baskin Robbins, Starbucks Coffee; (February 14) Divine Chocolate; (February 21) Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Certified organically and natural sugars, syrups, nectars and honeys. Tropical CafĂ©: at a leisurely pace attendees can buy sandwiches, souvenir treats, and listen to the sweet sounds of tropical tunes. “Member’s Only” Chocolate Lounge: chocolate “taste test”, Pot up a special chocolate mint plant to take home, a drawing to win a fresh chocolate pod, hot chocolate within our relaxing “members only” seating area. Suggested donation at entry is $2.
February 1, Sun, Chinatown, 1pm - Chinese New Year ParadeFebruary 1 - May 10, Lincoln Park Conservatory, 9am - 5pm everyday - Spring Flower Show ...Under the snowy landscapes of Chicago, spring is still able to make an early entrance with the help of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Escape the frozen, tundra-like landscape to the Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The free annual Spring Flower Show offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty of spring with a rare opportunity to meet the direct descendents of the great Azaleas that once bloomed at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. In addition, this year’s flower show will feature a changing selection of spring blooming plants including Azaleas, spring flowering annuals and spring flowering perennials. FREE. ALSO, SAME DATES AT Garfield Park, same hours except Thurs when they are open until 8pm. Experience the beauty of spring early. Encounter rarely seen, direct descendents of the great Azaleas from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, as well as Hydrangeas, Cymbidiums, Orchids, Camellias, spring flowering bulbs and perennials.
February 1-8, Sun - Sun, United Center,"Disney On Ice - Worlds of Fantasy".February 7, Navy Pier, noon - 5pm, Honest Abe at Navy Pier - Join Abe Lincoln for a gathering of all things "Abe" including a replica of the Lincoln Memorial sculpture and historical-character appearances.
Feb 7-8, Sat-Sun, 10am - 4pm, Millenium Park Chase Promenade, Frozen Fun Fest: Celebrate winter with icy enjoyment for the whole family. The round-up of weekend ice activities includes: skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink; guided winter walks in the Lurie Garden (both days at 11 am); kids’-sized maze made of more than 100 blocks of ice; fun, frozen outdoor games, like cornhole and ring toss. Outdoor enthusiasts will also delight in: building frozen masterpieces with Brrrrr blocks, posing for ice portraits created by a professional ice carver, and joining Noble Horse Theatre and Environmental Encroachment in a park procession with the Ice King and Queen and their royal marching band (10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, and 3 pm). And, to help all stay warm, yummy drinks will be provided courtesy of Starbucks. FREE