Teams of artists from around the country and the world gather to create sculpting masterpieces out of 10 ft. blocks of man-made snow.  Other activites include dog sled racing demonstrations and a snowboard rail jam competition.

Strictly Sail Chicago is the largest indoor sailboat show in the U.S. and is the winter destination to find the best deals on new sailboats, gear and accessories, plus educational seminars. The Kid's Yacht Club is where junior sailors can play with remote control sailboats,  learn the ropes aboard a sailing simulator, enjoy crafting toy sailboats, or meet Skipper, the sailing dolphin.

A guided glimpse into the world of outdoor play will depend on the day. Possibilities include snowman and snow fort building with natural materials or garden scavenger hunt for natural objects

See Siberian husky sled pulling and speed demonstrations, meet the dogs and take a photo them and an authentic dog sled, and sign up to foster or adopt a husky without a home. Plus, watch the free film "The Last Great Race" about the husky's role in Alaskan history at noon, 1:30 or 3 p.m.

Search for gnomes in the Children's Garden using your best "I Spy" skills. Checklist provided.

This show celebrates the winter season in the Japanese tradition. The Three Friends of Winter is a silhouette bonsai show, featuring trees that are in their dormant phase, which highlights their branch structure. Each bonsai is exhibited in an artistic setting with an accent object such as suiseki, incense burner, statuary, or pottery. Includes family activities on Saturday and Sunday, such as creating scrolls, storytelling and a suminagashi demonstration.

Docents help children and others learn through interactive displays and games in the showrooms. New topics every month. September: "Traveling Seeds"; October: "Cone Bearing Plants"; November: "Fruits, The Seasonal Food Harvest"; December: "Eggs and the Conservatory Critters"; January: "Urban Wildlife"; February: "Chocolate"; March topic: "Survival in the Jungle"; April: "Carnivorous Plants"; May: "Water Works."

Travel to Starved Rock State Park for the annual Eagle Watch Weekend. See live bird shows, view wild eagles fishing along the river, make crafts and participate in hands-on activities. Kids must be accompanied by a participating adult. Meals not included. Register at http://registration.pdhp.org by Jan. 24.

Build a snowman out of biodegradable and natural items to win. Fill out an entry form at the main office.

Search for signs of wildlife, hidden spring leaves, and learn some interesting facts about snow. Then enjoy hot chocolate around a toasty fire at the end of the program. Pre-registration required.

With small solar lights to guide their way, hikers, skiers and snowshoers can traverse the 1.3-mile fitness trail at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville or the 1.65-mile hilly section of the Millennium Trail adjacent to the winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Starting Sunday, Nov. 4, the trails and adjacent parking lots will remain open until 9 .m. daily until March 9.

Feature the black bear and its adaptations for survival in the forest. Crawl into the bear's den, compare your senses to that of the black bear, feel his fur, come face to face with a black bear mount and more.

Learn what raptors are, how to look for signs of them in your backyard and why they are so important to our ecosystem. Includes a short trail walk and a craft.

If you're looking for an alternative to skating at Millennium Park this winter, look up. Way up-94 stories, to be exact. Touted as the World's Highest Ice Skating Rink, the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center gives ice skaters a bird's-eye view of the city and the lake.

At 20 feet by 45 feet, the rink is probably too small to be your solo destination of the day, but paired with a trip to see the view from the Hancock, it's a nice way for kids to burn off energy while parents enjoy the great view. And because it's synthetic ice, skaters stay warm and don't get wet.

The rink is scheduled to be open for skating from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. through April 18. A 25-minute skate session costs $6 (in addition to the cost to get into the Hancock Observatory). You can bring your own skates or rent some there for a dollar.

Free, fun and educational arts project for kids. Projects change bi-weekly.

See a toy so amazing, so unbelievable, it has the power to transform into anything you want it to be. Enter a world where imagination rules, and ordinary becomes extraordinary.

A new traveling exhibit created by Children's Museum of Pittsburgh that links familiar childhood objects to a process of manufacturing that combines people, ideas and technology. Inspired by the factory tour segments from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, the exhibit offers hands-on activities using real factory tools and machines to create objects including crayons, a baseball bat and a matchbox car, just to name a few.

Dave Seagren and his Tropical Sound Steel Pan bring the spirit of the Caribbean Islands to life with a variety of tropical music styles including reggae, calypso, socca, Latin and pop. Experience the sound of the Caribbean as Dave plays his steel drum or "PAN," an instrument hand crafted from a fifty-five gallon steel oil drum.

The exhibit features the illustrations of W. W. Denslow, a Chicago resident whose famous illustrations helped to inspire the design of the classic 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland. The bright and colorful exhibit provides a variety of learning opportunities and hands-on activities within a three-dimensional representation of Denslow's distinctive illustrations.

Discover how sounds make music, and how music makes you feel, with activities like making melodies on bolt- and wrench-a-phones, using soft sculpture pegs to make a music box, blowing air over a reed, moving musical notes on a staff, beating percussion instruments, and creating an artistic masterpiece that reflects how music makes you feel

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with crafts, snacks, and special surprises.

Hundreds of objects and documents from the exclusive private collection, together with a rare collection of first editions of his most famous works, tell the story of how Charles Dickens and his characters became enduring cultural icons. Interactive and multi-media displays and personal effects take visitors through a chronological tour of the life, literature and legacy of Dickens. View his personal traveling inkwell, take a ride in an early century carriage, and learn about the memorable characters, stories and themes of his famous tales through games, time period puzzles and Dickens' own personal Facebook page.

Visitors become space adventurers and set off on a journey to discover the Universe in a way never done before. Travel a billion light-years and back, fly through space, orbit the Moon, zoom into a canyon on Mars, and soar through the cosmic web where a million galaxies shower down. The experience was created utilizing real telescopic data and the best scientific imagery.

The longest-running exhibition of African-American art in the U.S. features more than 100 dynamic works of art from amateur and professional African-American artists from around the nation.

Exhibit explores Schulz's personal history and his role as the sole inspiration and artistic talent behind Peanuts and its unique cast of characters. Through original cartoons, reproductions and related Peanuts ephemera, guests see how characters were developed and evolved. Schulz's Santa Rosa, Calif. studio, recreated for the first time, allows for a deeper look into his work and life. Kids and families have a chance to exercise their own Schultz-like creativity with activities like making a zoetrope.

Winter fundraiser features displays and demonstrations by natural history experts, live music, dancers, refreshments, and an open bar.

In a new twist on fairytale fun, favorite Disney characters compete to be the next superstar in comical segments leading up to the tales of show stopping princesses. Opening Jan. 23-27, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, then moving to Chicago's United Center, Jan. 30-Feb. 10. For additional information, visit disneyonice.com.

Professor McBumble's group of traveling actor's teach the lesson's of Anti-Bullying by using fairtales as their backdrop. Performances run from Jan. 23-May 3 at various locations. Check website for dates and location schedule.

Watch men painted blue do unusual performance art and original slapstick comedy. It's fun to sit in the front, but remember to wear a plastic poncho to avoid the flying food and liquids. Buy tickets at the box office, online, via Ticketmaster or by calling (773) 348-4000.

Bud, Not Buddy  follows the journey of a young African-American orphan as he searches for his father. Clues kept in a suitcase lead him to adventures in Depression-era Michigan, where he finds community among a group of jazz musicians and, ultimately, an unexpected sense of home. Performances are Jan. 12-Feb. 24, 2013.

Based on the book by Gary D. Schmidt, performances are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 19-March 2 (no performances Jan. 26-Feb. 2). Recommended for children 9 and older.

The ComedySportz crew gets in the Imagination Machine to visit the Snow Queen, in this version of the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen. They'll meet a goblin who shatters a mirror that makes you only see bad things, a Summer Sorceress, who keeps it summer around her at all times, a Helpful Reindeer and a very confused married couple of Crows.

The Cat in the Hat is the perfect friend for a boring rainy afternoon. From games and mischief to Thing One and Thing Two, The Cat brings all sorts of trouble to this gray day--but will Sally and her brother be able to explain the mess to Mother? Performances run Jan. 26-June 9, 2013.

When happily ever after isn't what he expected, the Frog Prince heads out for a new adventure. While searching for his true amphibian self, he meets witches from Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. Performances run Jan. 26-June 9, 2013.

Musical that chronicles the sociological effects upon youth from fatherless homes and how they manage to uplift themselves in spite of it. Kwanzaa week holiday performances are Dec. 26, 27, 28. Regular run is Jan. 12-June 1, 2013.

Cinderella is presented by The State Ballet Theatre of Russia. Tickets can be purchased at the Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

From superheroes to undersea adventures, princesses to dinosaurs, Storytown takes children on an interactive, improvised adventure. The actors use kids' suggestions and ideas to create a different story each week. Kids design the setting and help shapes the story. Runs through the end of February 2013, then moves to Stage 773 in Chicago.

A burglar is at large in Boogle Bay and the prime suspect is the ghost of the infamous pirate Blackeye Doodle. Hungry for adventure, young Otto and his Uncle Tooth set out to capture the mischievous thief and recover the stolen goods. Performances are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 12-Feb. 17. One hour before each performance, for an extra $10, kids can participate in Stories Come Alive! Hour, an interactive storytelling session followed by on-your-feet theatre games to explore the characters, plot, and themes of the book

This fresh version of the timeless tale contains songs, dances and puppetry. Performances run 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 20-Feb. 23.

One of the most iconic musicals comes to life. Performances run Jan. 16-Feb. 3, 2013.

The story of Snow White's less-famous sister is performed from Jan. 6-26.

Stanley Lambchop wants to travel the world to escape his ordinary life. One night, a bulletin board falls right on top of Stanley and he wakes up really flat. Recommended for kids 3-10.

Warner Bros. cartoons are on the big screen with their original scores played by a live symphony orchestra. Performances are 3 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 and 3 p.m. Jan. 27.

The Northwestern University Symphonic Band celebrates a variety of music and sound in this concert for kids.

Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and Sundays at noon, families can enjoy a show from one of the city's popular kids' music artists. Visit the Web site for a schedule of entertainers and specific show dates. Runs through May 19.

All-ages, all-city celebration of Chicago's new and emerging artists of the hip hop generation. Includes film, music videos, and a poetry/storytelling slam in addition to $10 fade haircuts, a Hip Hop Art Gallery and a Hip Hop Boutique and some of Chicago's best DJs. Plus a B-Boy/B-Girl Dance Battle.

Taste international cuisine, see flamboyant dance performances and hear exotic foreign songs. Attractions include Sea World's Antarctic Experience, a heated scuba tank for diving, a rock wall for climbing and theaters for cooking, music and dance events.

One-man show for families at 7 p.m. Jan. 26.

The show will open Jan. 18, with performances Jan. 18-20 and 25-27. Tickets are on sale at the Naperville Park District at www.napervilleparks.org and at the Administration Building, 320 W. Jackson Ave., and at the new 95th Street Center, located at 2244 W. 95th St.

Show off your skills at the annual City Table Tennis Championships.  The top two finishers in each age division will receive awards. Participants will need to bring their own paddle.