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!

Have you ever wanted to skate with a Chicago Blackhawk hockey player?  Here's your chance!  Blackhawk players Kris Versteeg, Troy Bower, and Colin Fraser will be skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Milleneum Park on Thursday, March 5.  Join these Blackhawks at 6:00pm - 6:30pm for a freeskate around the rink.  Autograph signing will follow from 6:45pm-8:00pm.  The skating is free and skates are available for rental for $10.00.

Make like a polar brrrrr, oops I mean bear and take a plunge into Lake Michigan.  On Sunday morning at 10:00 you can support the Special Olympics and bring your team to North Beach for the annual Polar Plunge.  Each participant is asked to raise at least $100.00 with the top three fund raisers taking home prizes.  Afterwards, from 11:00 - 2:00 join in the fun with a meltdown party in a heated tent to take the chill off of the day.  Registration is at 9:30 am with the plunge taking place between 10:00 and 11:00.  Attendance is free.  Take a leap and help the Special Olympics, or land lubbers can just sit on the beach and watch the fun.  

 

Enjoy the last few weeks of winter on the ice.  Bring your skates to  the McCormick Ice Rink (daily from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm) or the Daily Bicentennial Plaza (M-F 8 am - 10:00 pm, Sat,Sun 9 am - 5 pm).  Enjoy downtown Chicago while gliding across a smooth sheet of ice.  If you don't  have skates, they are available to rent.  The McCormick Ice Rink, located at 201 E. Randolph is open through March 15.  The Daley Bicentennial Plaza, at 337 E. Randolph is open through February 28.

See what's new in the auto industry and check out the latest model cars. Visit the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place, February 12 - 22 for half price on weekdays.   You can get half price coupons for weekday tickets on cans of Pepsi, or pick up a coupon at State Farm offices, Shell stations, and participating new car dealers.  More information is available at www.chicagoautoshow.com.

 

Start the month off with relaxation and yoga on the first Thursday of every month at REI on Lincoln Park, 1466 N. Halsted.  From 6:30-7:45 a yoga instructor will be teaching a free class for all levels of experience.  Stretch both your mind and your body at the next class on March 5 at REI.