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Enjoy art projects and more at Black Creativity Family Day at the Museum of Science and Industry. Photo courtesy of the museum.
Enjoy art projects and more at Black Creativity Family Day at the Museum of Science and Industry. Photo courtesy of the museum.
1/14/26 - By MommyPoppins

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this MLK, Jr. weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Are you ready for another day off from school? Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by learning about Dr. King's legacy at the Chicago History Museum or Hyde Park Arts Center or joining in Black Creativity Family Day at the Museum of Science and Industry. Kids can also perform service projects in honor of Dr. King at Cook County Forest Preserves. Or, use the long January weekend to celebrate winter fests in Oakbrook Terrace, St. Charles, and Lemont. 

If it snows, you can check out our favorite sledding hills, or if it's extremely cold, see our list of indoor play spaces.

 Here are our top picks for events to attend with your kids this weekend!

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids 

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RAIN is a sensory experience for babies and their caregivers. Photo courtesy of the event.
RAIN is a sensory experience for babies and their caregivers. Photo courtesy of the event.

Things to Do in Chicago On MLK, Jr. Weekend

Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover at Wonder Works

Oak Park
Thursday, January 15- Monday, January 26
Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 15 to 26, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In the lunar exploration pit, children can navigate space themed objects as they develop their gross motor skills. READ MORE

Silver Skates Citywide Speed Skating Championships

North Center - Free
Saturday, January 17
Qualifiers from Silver Skates speed skating races throughout the city compete for bragging rights at McFetridge Park Sports Center. Enter a race to try to win, or come watch the action. READ MORE

Lemont Ice & Lights Fest

Lemont - Free
Saturday, January 17
Embrace the season of ice and lights and celebrate the new year with ice carvings in downtown Lemont. Visit live reindeer at General Fry's Landing, roast marshmallows with Lemont firefighters, enjoy free tractor high rides (weather permitting), and visit The Creamery Truck for free hot chocolates for the first 500 visitors. READ MORE

Magical Starlight Theatre Presents Shrek

Naperville
Friday, January 16- Sunday, January 19
Naperville Park District's Magical Starlight Theatre presents Shrek,  the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. READ MORE

RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers

Portage Park
Friday, January 16-Sunday, February 1
RAIN is a mesmerizing and intimate sensory experience for babies and their families in which they are invited to slow down, notice, and wonder. Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance. A trio of performers on cello, voice, and movement act as gentle guides in a brand-new world of surprise, delight, and opportunities for connection through sound, touch... READ MORE

Kids Meet the Music 1 with D-Composed String Ensemble + Josh Jones

Downtown
Saturday, January 17
Visit Harris Theater for the first performance in its newly reimagined family series, Kids Meet the Music, featuring D-Composed String Ensemble and percussionist Josh Jones for an afternoon celebrating music by Black composers that uses percussive and rhythmic sounds. Presented in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Lower Lobby, explore the rhythmic sounds of string instruments with compositions by Black composers such as Jessie Montgomery and Daniel Bernard Roumain. With Josh Jones, you’ll learn about the many ways percussive sounds come to life through a show-and-tell of a wide array... READ MORE

Robert's Yukon Adventure Day

Glenview
Saturday, January 17
Are you ready for an adventure? Illinois’ first naturalist, Robert Kennicott, grew up at The Grove and made two expeditions to the Yukon, in 1859 and 1865. Bring your family to experience Robert’s journey north and discover what his life was like in this frigid territory. • Watch dog sledding teams from Adopt-a-Husky, proudly sponsored by the Grove Heritage Association. • Learn about winter ecology and animal adaptations. • Try snow shoeing and snow experiments • Participate in an indoor snowball fight • Hot cocoa and s’mores by the campfire (available for... READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at Lakeview Nature Center

Oakbrook Terrace - Free
Saturday, January 17
Celebrate the magic of winter with fun activities that embrace the chill and charm of the great outdoors! At this free, family-friendly event, we'll have sled dog meet and greets, ice experiments, a cozy campfire for roasting marshmallows, a scavenger hunt, and winter-themed games and crafts. Be sure to visit Travelin' Toms Coffee Truck for a variety of beverages to keep you warm. Experience the beauty and excitement of winter like never before! READ MORE

Toy Swap & Share at Sheil

Lakeview - Free
Saturday, January 17
Join Sheil Park Advisory Council for a fun and eco-friendly community event. Bring gently used toys your family no longer needs and trade them for “new-to-you” treasures. After the swap, all remaining toys will be donated to local organizations, helping even more families in our community. It’s a great way to declutter, refresh your toy box, and give beloved toys a second life. All ages are welcome! Come share, discover, and celebrate the spirit of giving! READ MORE

Polar-Palooza at Creek Bend Nature Center

St. Charles - Free
Saturday, January 17
Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Drift in and thaw out at Creek Bend Nature Center during this nature-based arcade experience! Complete a flurry of activities indoors and out - earning tickets to redeem for prizes. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while you play and learn. From crafts to games, Polar-Palooza activities are appropriate for all ages, so gather up your family and friends for this popular winter festival. READ MORE

Day of Service and Learning

Kenwood - Free
Saturday, January 17
PUSH’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Weekend of Events has the theme of "Building a Beloved Community. Saturday will spent learning about the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and carrying forth his legacy through acts of service. This event is free, family friendly and will feature an on-site resource fair. READ MORE
Reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in events across Chicago this weekend. Source: Chicago Sun-Times Collection, Chicago History Museum
Reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in events across Chicago this weekend. Source: Chicago Sun-Times Collection, Chicago History Museum

Things to Do On Martin Luther King Day in Chicago

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Family Event

Old Town - Free
Visit the Chicago History Museum to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with family. The event includes lectures and panel discussions, a youth poetry workshop, a musical performance, and a hands-on history experience. READ MORE

Cook County Forest Preserves MLK Day of Service

Forest Preserves of Cook County - Free
Saturday, January 17- Monday, January 19
Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering at one of Cook County's Forest Preserves. Litter clean-up events take place at Crabtree Nature Center, Caldwell Woods, Eggers Grove, Evans Field, Trailside Museum of Natural History, Sand Ridge Nature Center, Dan Ryan Woods, and Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center. READ MORE

Black Creativity Family Day

Museum Campus
During this year’s Family Day, families can participate in a day of community art experience, engage in creative activities, and explore the Juried Art Exhibition. SkyART's Make Your Mark collaborative painting, encapsulates the spirit of community. Add your mark to one of the large canvases, ultimately creating an artwork that is a testament to the power of collective creativity and affirms each person's presence in the space. READ MORE

Day of Racial Healing for Teens at Maggie Daley Park

Downtown - Free
Join the Chicago Park District for a Day of Racial Healing on Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day! Teens can enjoy ice skating and first walk of the year, a light lunch, and Xochiquetza performing Danza Aztecza. Then Peace and Education Coalition Back of the Yards and New City will facilitate adialog on Racial Healing. This free retreat is for teens age 13 to 18 years old. This event is structured as a retreat, so we ask that if you attend, you stay to participate from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. READ MORE

Dreams of Tomorrow: MLK Jr. Mural

Elk Grove Village - Free
Join the library in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by creating a collaborative mural. Participants will each paint a piece that combines to form a portrait of Dr. King. Around the mural, participants will share their own dreams for the future of society, creating a powerful display of hope and unity. READ MORE

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Chicago Children's Museum

Downtown
Visit the Chicago Children's Museum to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Design your own Dr. Martin Luther King badge, create your own collage self portrait with Chicago artist and educator Derek Moore, and visit the story lounge to to peruse children's books on the civil rights movement, race, and identity. Explore resources to help you have conversations with your children about race. READ MORE

MLK 2026: Chaos or Community

Hyde Park - Free
Hyde Park Art Center proudly presents a free public Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration MLK DAY 2026: CHAOS OR COMMUNITY. Eclectic programming for all ages blends live music, thought-provoking film, artmaking, and meditation, to highlight art as a vessel for collective memory, liberation, and joy, while reflecting on Dr. King’s profound impact on social justice and cultural movements. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of Chicago Parks and Rec.
Photo courtesy of Chicago Parks and Rec.

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Places featured in this article: