Get out and play
For most families in Chicago, Thanksgiving doesn’t just mean eating a ton of turkey—be it real or tofu—and pumpkin pie. In reality, it’s finding something to do while the kids are out of school. This is why the Weekend E-dition is coming to you early, only Turkey-fied.
If your family is into pigskins and gridirons, gather your 6- to 17-year-olds and head down to Rainbow Beach and Park, 3111 E. 77th St., Chicago, for some touch football on Tuesday. This year’s Turkey Bowl is free and starts at 5 p.m. Early registration is not required. For more information, visit the Web site, www.chicagoparkdistrict.com, or call (312) 745-1479.
Bundle up and become an early riser on Turkey Day for McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at 8:30 a.m. The parade travels north on State Street from Congress to Randolph. If you choose to stay home and cook the turkey, you can watch the balloons, floats and marching bands on WGN from 9-11 a.m., check for local listings.
After filling your bellies the day before, burn some calories at Over the River and Through the Woods at the Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center, 35W076 Villa Marie Road, St. Charles. Meet in the parking lot at 10 a.m. for a naturalist-led walk through the woods and across the Fox River, concluding at 11:30 a.m. at the nature center.
In the city on Friday, stop by the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, for the Wreathing of the Lions at 10 a.m. After the ceremony, create your own wreath at the free drop-in workshop and meet the museum’s mascot, Artie the lion, until 3:30 p.m.
Sweet tickets
Chicago Parent has five sets of family four packs to Radio Disney’s Jingle Jam at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Pearl Room at the Coliseum Complex, 19081 Old LaGrange Road, Mokena. To win, tell us what food is considered taboo in your household on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, your name and your phone number to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. Winner’s names will be given to the box office. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.
Get out and play some more
Winter in Chicago is swiftly approaching and with it comes snow and ice. Although snow is not a guarantee this weekend, ice is. The Chicago Park District will be opening nine ice rinks around the city on Friday. Weather permitting, the rinks will remain open through Feb. 29.
The rinks offer skate rentals for various fees, but you can always bring your own. Concessions will be available at most of the rinks. With the exception of McFetridge Sports Center in California Park, 3843 N. California Ave., all of the rinks are outdoors. For a list of ice rinks, visit the Web site, www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (312) 742-7529.
Get your tickets
This month Chicago Parent will be giving away three sets of family five passes to the Zula Patrol exhibit at the Adler Planetarium. Each week during November three families will win five passes for admission to the exhibit and a Sky Show. To win, we’ll post a different question to answer on our Web site every week. For this week, tell us how your family is getting through these dark days as winter approaches. Post your answers on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, your full name and your phone number to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. We will not release your information–it is purely for contact purposes. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees. Zula Patrol’s exhibit will only be in Chicago for another week, so get these tickets while they’re hot!
Piece of the prize
This week, we have five“Mr. Bean’s Holiday” on DVD to give away to Chicago Parent readers. To win, post how your kids help you out on Thanksgiving to our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, your name and your phone number to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. We will not release your information–it is purely for contact purposes. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.
