Boredom is hard to achieve in a place like Chicago, where top-quality exhibits and activities for kids lurk around every corner. Some are permanent, some are temporary, but they all are perfect go-tos when creativity is waning for family date ideas. From massive dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo to Frida and Prince, we’re letting you in on some of our favorite long-running or temporary exhibits for families in Chicago.
Museums
Museum of Science & Industry's the Art of Brick
MSI's The Art of Brick on display Feb. 10- Sep. 5, features intriguing works of art made exclusively from LEGO bricks. The collection of creative and inspiring pieces was created by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya.
Underground Adventures at Field Museum
When you’re paying a visit to everyone’s favorite T.Rex, Sue, pop into Underground Adventure for a bug’s-eye view of the world. You’ll magically shrink to 1/100th your actual size, smaller than a penny, to explore an immersive environment of worm tunnels and soil chambers. Kids will learn soil is home to an incredible diversity of living things and that not a single plant or animal could survive without it.
wndr Museum
WNDR Museum, the ever-evolving, immersive art and technology experience, features one-of-a-kind installations from artists, collectives and studios locally and globally that prioritize joy, curiosity and creativity.
Science & You at Kohl Children's Museum
Through Sep. 5, kids get to play in a child-sized laboratory to explore how scientists impact health and wellness in the Science & You exhibit. They can explore machines, processes and technology that demonstrate the role science plays to keep the body healthy. The immersive, open-ended exhibit provides kids the opportunity to play, explore, discover and experiment.
Remembering Dr. King at Chicago History Museum
On display until Jul. 4, 2022, Remembering Dr. King is a collection of 25 photographs depicting key moments in Dr. King's work during the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit places a special emphasis on his time in Chicago shedding light on the existence of discrimination and segregation. the abysmal state of housing and the realities of poverty in the north. More info.
Zoos
Brookfield Zoo's Ice Age Giants
Ice Age Giants unleashes more than 30 life-sized animatronic re-creations of dinosaurs that roamed North America and Eurasia during the Ice Age. Through Oct. 30, kids can see a 15-foot-tall woolly mammoth, an oafish 20-foot-long ground sloth, a 12-foot-tall giant bird, a fearsome 5-foot-long saber-toothed cat and more. Adding to the lifelike effects, parts of the animals such as the head, eyes, mouth, and tail move, making the experience even more realistic.
Arboretums
Morton Arboretum's Human + Nature
Five massive outdoor sculptures created exclusively for Morton Arboretum by artist Daniel Popper rise above the natural landscapes in Human + Nature. The 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures are installed across the 1,700-acre site and lead guests to areas they may not otherwise explore. Using thought-provoking human forms paired with elements of nature, each piece will bring attention to the deep connection between humans and nature.
Immersive Experiences
Frida: Immersive Dream
Frida: Immersive Dream focuses on the art and life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the beloved 20th-century Mexican artist best known for compelling self-portraits and radiant pieces inspired by life in her native country. The artist's best-known works will be brought to life and set to music through May 28.
Prince: The Immersive Experience
Chicago will glow purple when Prince: The Immersive Experience makes its worldwide debut, Jun. 9-Oct. 9. Fans can immerse themselves in the music and life of Prince in 10 multi-dimensional spaces.
Stage Shows
Lookingglass Alice
Lookingglass Alice takes kids on a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole, through Jul. 31. This signature Lookingglass production has toured the country enchanting audiences, painted each time with a fresh coat of magic. The awe-inspiring production has come back home to Lookingglass Theatre for a new generation to discover.
Chicago Kids Company's Rapunzel
After stealing a precious plant, the King and Queen are forced to let their wacky gardener raise their daughter, Rapunzel. She is locked away in a tower where she grows into a young woman with a beautiful singing voice and flowing hair. After 18 long years, Rapunzel meets a handsome prince who just might help her escape. Presenting at Beverly Arts Center through May 6 and at Stahl Family Theater, May 11-Aug. 5.
Winnie the Pooh at Mercury Theatre
Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation introduces kids to Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl (and, Tigger too!). This fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories of iconic characters loved for generations. Presenting through Jun. 12.
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