Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (January 3-5, 2025)
This weekend is your last opportunity to enjoy any holiday activities and attractions that you have yet to experience.
(If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here.)
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are the best weekend events in Chicago:
Kevin Hart Acting My Age at The Chicago Theatre – January 3-5, 2025
The Leaning In Tour Alex English at Zanies – January 2-4, 2025
Winter Exploration Day at Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion – Friday, January 3, 2025, 11am – 2pm | FREE
Bowie Ball: David Bowie’s 78th Birthday feat. Heaven Malone – Friday, January 3, 2025, 9pm – 2am
Magical Three Kings Celebration (at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture) – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 10am-3pm | FREE
Wellness in the Woods: Yoga at Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 2025, 11am | FREE
Family Day at Evanston History Center – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 3-5pm | FREE
Skanking Through The Snow: Midwest Ska Fest – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 6pm
Chicago Wind Symphony Winter Concert at UIC School of Theatre & Music – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 7pm | FREE
Ensemble Dal Niente & Macie Stewart Concert at Elastic Arts Foundation – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 8pm | FREE
Dining in the Dark: A Unique Blindfolded Experience at About Last Knife – Saturday, January 4, 2025, 8:30pm
Wicker Park Winter Farmers Market – Sunday, January 5, 2025, 9am-2pm
Brendan Scannell at Zanies – Sunday, January 5, 2025, 7pm
Les Misérables at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – Through January 5, 2025
More Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
In addition to the weekend events listed above, below are more things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
This is the final weekend to see the Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S Lake Shore Drive) this holiday season. The annual celebration began in 1942 and features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree, surrounded by a forest of more than 40 trees and displays which represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the globe.
Cost: Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light is included in regular museum admission. You can purchase a skip the line ticket here.
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience, an indoor family friendly whimsical holiday wonderland filled with festive delights and sparkling lights, is ending this weekend.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Cost: $15.00 for adults and $12.50 for children 12 and under. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.
Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier
Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier offers free outdoor holiday lights, as well as fun activities and attractions such as axe throwing and a new ice slide.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Cost: Includes both free and ticketed activities. Single and pre-bundled tickets are available.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ at Lincoln Park Zoo is a cheerful, family-friendly holiday event features hundreds of luminous LED displays and seasonal experiences, all under the glow of millions of lights.
See Blue Man Group Before They Leave Chicago
This is the final weekend you can see the Blue Man Group perform in Chicago. (They will be ending their Chicago run on January 5.)
Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657
Go Outdoor Ice Skating
Both the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink right in front of the Bean and skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park are open and require advance reservations. You can find more places to go outdoor ice skating here.
Titanic: The Exhibition
Titanic: The Exhibition is ending its run in the Chicago area this weekend. This interactive experience allows you to step inside recreations of the Titanic’s interior. Immerse yourself in the stories of its passengers, see hundreds of artifacts, and discover the tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the historic ship.
Where: 4963 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, IL 60077 (about 17 miles from downtown Chicago)
Cost: Price varies. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago this weekend. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are looking for things to do during the week, you can find more things to do in Chicago in January here.
