Get out there and play
Take your kids’ love of boats and let it grow this Saturday at the 51st Annual Venetian Night. Pack a picnic and curl up next to the beach as your family watches a boat parade and fireworks.
More than 20 boats, which are usually covered in lights and other themed props, will parade along Lake Michigan at 8:30 p.m. between the Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Road and the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Street in Chicago. After the parade, watch a fireworks display set to music from 93.1 WXRT at 9:30 p.m.
Stake out your spot along the lake early and eat dinner. Because so many people attend the event, it is suggested that families take public transportation, walk or bike. For more information, call (312) 744-3370 or visit venetiannightchicago.us.
Get out there and play some more
Go back in time with your kids to witness the Civil War era—experience battles, meet a dead president and look at plenty of“old stuff”—and by“old stuff” we really mean period artifacts—at The Grove National Historic Landmark, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, during the Civil War Living History Days.
Tour the Confederate (Blue) and Union (Gray) encampments and watch them face off at 2 p.m. Stop by the field hospital directly after the Blue and Gray skirmish to see the“casualties” from the battle. This hour after the battle is not recommended for anyone who is sensitive; instead, visit before the battle or an hour after, when there won’t be any gore.
As you and your family meander around, you’ll be likely to meet Harriet Tubman, President and Mrs. Lincoln, Generals Grant and Lee and Mark Twain. Check out the ladies’ bath house, which is a brothel under the guise of a bath house, where women are“scantily clad” for the 1880s—but they’re completely covered from neck to knee.
From 7-8:30 p.m., candlelight tours of the camps are offered, which include automatic admission to the Butterfly Ball. The tour will pass through the field house and various other stops at the encampment. At the ball, join in on the waltz and other dances with the ladies and gentlemen dressed in their finest. The candlelight tours are recommended for families with kids 6 and up. Sign up when you enter or in advance. Tour tickets are .50. To register, call (847) 657-3215.
The Civil War Living History Days are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is , children 12 and under. Parking is free. For more information, call (847) 299-6096 or visit glenviewparks.org.
Get your tickets here
This week four lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a family six-pack to see the Joliet Jackhammers during any regular 2008 season game. The tickets are undated box seat flex-vouchers. To win, visit our discussion board.
Outside fun
Have a“taste” of Lincoln Park with your family this weekend at the Taste of Lincoln Avenue. The region’s second largest street festival is more than six blocks long, from Fullerton to Wrightwood in Chicago, which are filled with plenty of food vendors and more than 40 musical acts.
There is also a Kids’ Carnival that takes on an entire block—the 800th—of Altgeld Street, with plenty of entertainment for the little ones, including pony rides, a petting zoo and inflatables. On Saturday, Dennis DeBondt, Radio Disney and Mark Nichols will play on the kids’ stage and Those Funny Little People, Trinity Dancers, Hailee Hansen and Chris Fascione play on Sunday. The music begins at 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. respectively.
The Taste of Lincoln Avenue is from noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is a donation before 4 p.m. and after. For more information, call (773) 868-3010 or visit chicagoevents.com.
Piece of the prize
Five lucky Chicago Parent readers will win five tickets to see“Pop Go the Wiggles” at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. To read Chicago Parent’s recent interview with the red Wiggle, Murray Cook, click here. To win, visit our discussion board.
