January is packed with family-friendly activities all around Chicagoland! From inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations to exciting winter festivals and picturesque outdoor ice skating rinks, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the season.
Scroll through our handpicked list of the best January family events in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Looking for even more fun? Don’t miss our packed event calendar filled with activities for every family.
Read more: Find Our Full List of January Events in Chicago Parent’s Events Calendar
This article was updated on Dec. 23, 2024, by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update added new Chicagoland events to the ChicagoParent.com calendar and highlighted this month’s top family-friendly activities. For questions, contact Kari at kari@chicagoparent.com.
Best January events for Chicagoland families
Great Midwest Train Show at DuPage County Fairgrounds
Jan. 5, 2025Â
- Address: 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton
- Area: Western Suburbs
- Cost: $7-$8/adult, free/ages 11 and under (cash only at the door)
See hundreds of trains for sale, trains kids can run, an operating model train display, over 120 exhibitors from across the country and more.
Winterfest at Century Park Pavilion
Jan. 11, 2025
- Address: 1400 Indianwood Drive, Vernon Hills
- Area: North/Northwest Suburbs
- Cost: Free
Families can toast s’mores over the fire, watch the sled dog team, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and more at this annual winterfest.Â
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Jan. 15-28, 2025Â
- Address: Various locations in Chicago
- Area: City
- Cost: $15-$48
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival showcases more than 100 puppet performances and events at dozens of venues across the city.
Ice & Lights Fest in Downtown Lemont
Jan. 18, 2025Â
- Address: Downtown Lemont
- Area: South Suburbs
- Cost: Free
Lemont’s annual Ice & Light Fest features more than 20 ice sculptures on display, live reindeer, marshmallow roasting, live ice carvings and more.Â
Family Event | Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Chicago History Museum
Jan. 20, 2025
- Address: 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Area: Chicago
- Cost: Free w/museum admission
Enjoy this annual family-friendly event at the Chicago History Museum. There will be activities and performances for all ages.Â
Disney on Ice presents Let’s Dance! at Allstate Arena
Jan. 23-26, Feb. 6-9, 2025
- Addresses: Allstate Arena, 620 Mannheim Road, Rosemont; United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago
- Area: City and North/Northwest Suburbs
- Cost: $20-plus
Watch Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald along with characters from Frozen 2, Wish, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Moana. You’ll see figure skating, eye-catching costumes and more. Also, Disney on Ice will stop at the United Center Jan. 30-Feb. 2!Â
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party at NOW Arena
Jan. 25-26, 2025
- Address: 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., Hoffman Estates
- Area: North/Northwest Suburbs
- Cost: Ticket prices coming soon
See Mega Wrex, Bigfoot, Bone Shaker, Tiger Shark, Gunkster and more light up the floor as they smash, crash and compete in epic monster truck battles! Spectacular laser light shows and Hot Wheels toy giveaways, too.
Manual Cinema’s The Magic City at the Chicago Children’s Theatre
Opens Jan. 25, 2025Â
- Address: 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago
- Area: Chicago
- Cost: $32.25-plus
Kids ages 6 and up can enjoy a performance about a miniature city coming to life and Philomena finding herself trapped inside of it. This performance is a fusion of actors, live music, miniatures and puppets.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at James M. Nederlander Theatre
Through Feb 1, 2025
- Address: 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago
- Area: City
- Cost: $45.50-plus
Ages 8 and up can see the Broadway performance of the story that depicts Harry Potter’s son, Albus befriending Draco Malfoy’s son. See spells, battles and theatrical magic.
Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen at Chicago Children’s Museum
Through Jan. 20, 2025
- Address: 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
- Area: City
- Cost: $21/person, free/under 1
All ages can explore this interactive, traveling exhibit that allows visitors to explore the world of aviation and the Tuskegee Airmen’s history. Hands-on experiences include Cockpit Flight Trainer, Things that Fly Praxinoscope, Land the Plane Maze, Imagination Mirrors and Wearable Wings.
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