I love Halloween and Halloween is coming early early to the Lincoln Park Zoo's Spooky Zoo Spectacular on Saturday, October 24 at 11:00am.  The Auxiliary Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo invites children to celebrate Halloween at a free, family-friendly event at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Come dressed in your favorite costume and make crafts, visit the Education Zone, and trick-or-treat with the animals.  There will be entertainment throughout the zoo.   Dont miss out on this free, spooktacular opportunity to celebrate Halloween with the Lincoln Park Zoo.     

Come down to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum as it celebrates its 10th anniverary with 10 free days filled with special programming.  From October 23 - November 1 admission to the Nature Museum is free!  Take the Family to see Videos shot by the National Geographic Crittercam in The World Through Animal Eyes exhibit.  Get up close to exotic butterflies as they sit on your shoulder or perch on your arms in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven.  Engage in a bit of waterplay while exploring the dynamics of rivers in the Riverworks display.  These are just a few examples of the variety of learning experiences you can enjoy with your family for free during the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's 10th Anniversary celebration.  The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm.  It's located at  2430 N. Cannon Drive in Chicago, near Lincoln Park.

Vickie from Houston on the Cheap  gave me the scoop on a tasty family deal.  Bring your kids to the nearest Boston Market for a free kids meal when you make an adult purchase of $6.00 or more.  The deal includes up to two meals for kids 14 and under.  If you're really hungry, or have a large family, you can purchase a family meal and get up to 4 free kids meals.  You don't need a coupon but you do need your kids to be present.  It's a great deal for my family because my kids are 13 and 14 and love Boston Market chicken.  The deal runs through October 31, 2009.

Do you know of a Chicago bargain?  Enter a comment and I'll post the deal!      

Celebrate art of all forms at the 24th annual Bucktown Arts Fest.  This weekend, on August 29th and 30th from 11:00am-7:00pm, artists from all over the city invite you to join them for a glorious celebration of art.  Participants will include painters, photographers, crafts people, dancers, musicians, poets, actors and more.  Film buffs can enjoy a film program curated by the Chicago Short Film Brigade.  Don't forget to bring the kids!  Children's activities include baloon artists, painting tles, and using found objects to create mobiles.  The fun takes place at Holstein Park located at 2200 N. Oakley in Bucktown.  It's a good opportunity to meet the artists, explore the neighborhood, and experience a wide variety of art.  For a schedule of performances click here.      

Hot, sticky and sweaty pretty much describes a typical August day in Chicago.   The airconditioner is broken, the kids are bored, the backyard is steamy, where can you get relief?  Pack your swimsuites and head over to the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.  It's the coolest spot in Millennium Park.  Here you'll see kids of all ages keeping cool in the mists and sprays of the delightful Crown Fountain.  Giant faces smile down and occasionally spit fountains of water on people taking advantage of free, cool, refreshing entertainment.  This is one place where people are not only allowed, but encouraged to play in a public fountain.   If you don't feel like getting wet, it's a great place to people watch as mothers chase toddlers, kids play, and people of all ages keep cool on a hot summer's day.   If you want to be cool, head to Crown Fountain!   

It's the end of July and that means it's time for a party at  Chicago's 52nd annual Venetian Night.  This year's theme is "Hollywood on the Lake" and is expected to draw over half a million people to Chicago's lakefront. 

One of the highlights of this festival is the spectacle of over 35 boats decked out in their finest decorations and lights sailing in a parade along the lakefront between the Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Dr. and the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Street followed by a fireworks display over the lakefront.  Festivities begin at the Red Bull High Rise in Butler Field in Grant Park at 6:00pm.  The Chicago Fire Department's Air/Sea Rescue Reinactment will start at 8:00 pm followed by the boat parade at 8:15.  Immediately following the parade, there will be a mega fireworks display over the lakefront choreographed to music. 

If you really want to celebrate in style with a free concert, head over to the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park.  From 6:30pm until 8:30pm  the Grant Park Music Festival will be presenting a program of Italian arias featuring Nicole Cabell and Russell Thomas.  You can watch the fireworks from your seats at the end of the show.  This should be a fantastic night for all and it's free.

Grab a picnic and head down to the lakefront early, on public transporation, as it will be jamming and the parking will be scarce.   

 

Chicago's Dusable Museum of African American History is presenting the 35th Annual Arts and Festival 2009 this weekend.  On Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 between noon and 8:00pm Artists will be leading workshops, demonstrating crafts, and exhibiting fine arts and crafts that relate to African American themes.  The art fair will feature a juried exhibition of both local and national artists working in traditional, ethnic, and experimental art.  Family freindly entertainment includes; Jamal on Fire & the Red Machine, Violinist Jamilia Clark, and Kjdzjcjans (yes that's the right spelling!).  This year the festival celebrates children.  There will be plenty of  activities for children as well as pets. This celebration of African American art draws thousands of people each year. The museum is located at 740 E.56th place in Chicago.  Admission if free.   

Bring the kids, bring the dog, bring yourselves but please leave your iguana at home.  On Saturday, July 11 and Sunday July 12 the West Town Chamber of Commerce presents West Fest.  West Fest is an annual Chicago neighborhood festival celebrating the eclectic persono of the West Town community.  The focus is on "all things local from the food to the talent".  Beginning at around 12:30pm three stages will feature local artists performing original music and entertainment. The main stage is located on Chicago Ave. and Damon.  There will also be a DJ stage and an Adventure Stage Chicago stage.  For a line up of West Fest entertainment click here.  

You can bring the entire  family to this festival.  The Kidfest at Wolcott and Rice street will feature programming and music for kids on the Adventure Stage Chicago stage.  The kids can also partake in crafts, face painting, pony rides, bounce houses and more.  Don't forget about fido!  Dogs are welcome and you can enjoy Petfest with your pet at Wolcott and Chicago Ave.  where there will be pup scrubs for charity.  This year's Petfest will have information for Chicago pet owners on how to keep their city pet happy, healthy, and safe.  There will be lots of free samples and give aways for pet owners and their pets.

On Sunday, July 12 at 2:00pm there will be a fashion show featuring fashions from Chicago's own Soko Fashion Boutique.  In addition to all of the above fun, over 80 vendors will be offering deals on clothes, food, and cold drinks.  You might want to ride your bike and take advantage of the free bike valet.  A $5.00 donation to the West Town Chamber of Commerce is requested to get into the festival.

     

   

July Fourth is a day to spend outside, with your family doing something fun.  Some people spend the day at the pool, others go to parades and many top the day off with a Barb-B-Que.  For something a little different, you might want to consider heading to Millenium Park.  Here you'll find plenty of free fun for the whole family all day long.

Get a healthy start to the day with a morning workout on the Great Lawn.  From 7:00am until 11:00 am a variety of work outs from yoga to arobics to workouts will be offered free to the public.

At 10:00am take the kids and head over to the Chase Prominade North. The  Millenium Park Family Fun Festival  will just be starting for the day.  Take part in musical games and interactive activities fun for kids of all ages.   

When everyone starts to get hungry, it's time to head to the Fourth of July Celebration Picnic on the Great Lawn of Millenium Park.  This isn't just an ordinairy picnic, it's a picnic inspired by the cartoons of John T McCutcheon.  From 11:00am until 1:00pm the Northside Southpaws, a mandolin and guitar duo will be entertaining picnicking people with ragtime, country, and turn of the century inspired waltzes.  You can bring your own picnic lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for $6.95.  The fun doesn't end after lunch!

At 1:30pm the Grant Park Music Festival will make history and present the first Independence Day Concert in Millenium Park's J Pritzker Pavillion.  The free concert will feature the Grant Park Orchestra performing traditional and patriotic favorites.  Chicago tapdance master Lou Alexander will be on hand as a special guest.   

     

After the days festivities, you'll still have time to head home and light the Bar-B-Q and watch the fireworks from your back yard.  What a day!

 Would you like to experience another culture, eat exotic food and shop in a souk?  You don't have to travel far and you don't need to break the bank.  Just head down to Daley Plaza at 50 W. Washington Street where you'll find the third annual Chicago Arabesque in full swing.  From Wednsday, June 24 until Saturday, June 27 Daley Plaze will be transformed into a mecca of Arabic culture.  Watch fashion shows of Arabic style, listen to both traditional and modern middle eastern musicians, sample a variety of Arabic cuisine,  and enjoy all kinds of entertainment and artesian demonstrations.  Bring the kids along as well because  activity booths will feature story tellers, a magic show, face painters, henna tatoos, and more.   Imerse yourself in Arabic culture as you peruse the booths in the souk, otherwise known as a bazaar where jewelry, artwork and crafts will be for sale.  The hours are 10:00am till 3:00pm on Wednsday through Friday and 11:00am-7:00pm on Saturday. For a program schedule click here.   This festival is presented by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Arab Affairs.