Things to do in Chicago (January)
1. Travel Show
Date: January 12 – 13, 2019
Explore Thousands of Vacation options with Chicago Travel & Adventure Show. It has travel experts and travel industry vendors at the Donal E Stephen Convention Center ready to guide you for your future trips! Children up to age 16 are free!
Location: Donal E Stephen Convention Center – Hall F 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
Tickets: $11 for one day or $18 for two days. Buy them HERE
2. Wndr Museum
Date: January 2 – 27, 2019
Step into a space that reveals the wonders of the world around us. Featuring a Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room, wndr museum invites you to explore a new genre of immersive experience. Use #ThingstodoinChicago on your Instagram posts for a chance to be featured!
Location: 1130 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL – West Loop
Tickets: $32 – buy them HERE
3. Documentary Film Festival
Date: January 4 – 31, 2019
From January 4 through 31, the Gene Siskel Film Center celebrates the art of the documentary in a special way with the series “Stranger Than Fiction: Documentary Premieres.” Identity in its many meanings and permutations is the theme that weaves through seven features and two shorts, as the subjects of these films explore what it means to be true to themselves, true to their values, and true to their dreams.
Location: Gene Siskel Film Center 164 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601
View Film List and tickets HERE
4. Maxwell Street Market
Bundle up and go to Maxwell Street Market in search of bargains and outstanding Mexican street food. It’s open every Sunday. Free!
Location: 800 S Desplaines St, Chicago, IL 60607
5. Comedy – The Second City
Unseen forces have assessed the data to create the perfect comedy content for all humans! Algorithm Nation or The Static Quo takes no prisoners (well, maybe just a few prisoners) during this frenetic, ultra-current, fall-down funny ride that focuses its sights on hyper-violence, astrological love connections, being woke, pyramid schemes, Facebook soldiers, Black Twitter, morning TV and a whole lot more. Consider this show to be the kind of escape room you’ll never want to escape from…ever.
Cast Members: Ryan Asher, Tyler Davis, Jeffrey Murdoch, Emma Pope, Nate Varrone, and Kimberly Michelle Vaughn
Director: Matt Hovde
Musical Director: Vinnie Pillarella
Stage Manager: Craig Taylor
PERFORMANCES:
Tuesdays – Thursdays at 8pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm and 11pm
Sundays at 7pm
This performance runs about 2 hours with one 10 minute intermission and should be considered rated R.
Location: 616 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614
Tickets HERE
6. Boat and RV Show
Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show includes hundreds of boats and RVs, seminars, camping gear, and even a trout pond for kids.
Date: January 9 – 13, 2019
Location: McCormick Place 2301 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616
Tickets HERE
7. Sketch Comedy Festival
Choose from 125 shows to watch during Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.
Date: January 10 – 20, 2019
Location: Stage 773 1225 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Line-Up and Tickets HERE
8. Rodeo Show – Unleash The Beast
Watch Professional Championship Bull Riders take on bucking bulls at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont (right outside Chicago).
Date: January 12 @ 6:45pm and January 13 @ 1:45pm, 2019
Location: Allstate Arena Rosemont 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
Tickets HERE
9. Tomorrow Never Knows Fest
Taking place over the course of five days in January, “Tomorrow Never Knows” gathers the best of rising local indie artists as well as acclaimed national acts, including both musicians and comedians. TNK is a city-wide event, uniting six independent venues in the area: Lincoln Hall, Schubas, Metro, Smartbar, Hideout and for the first time, Sleeping Village, making for a truly unique Chicagoan experience.
Date: January 16 – 20, 2019
Locations, Line-up and Tickets HERE
10. Adult Night at The Planetarium
Adler After Dark – This month the theme is space invaders and there will be a special museum-wide game. Exclusively for adults 21+, this evening offers you open access, unlimited shows, and unique entertainment every third Thursday of the month from 6:00–10:00 pm (Summer hours, May-August: 6:30–10:30 pm.) With themes that change every month, Adler After Dark is never the same event twice. Reinvent your Adler experience every month with friends, family, or that special someone on a date they’ll never forget.
Date: January 17, 2019
Location: Adler Planetarium 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Advance Purchase:
$20 General Admission/$15 Adler members
At the Door (Based on Availability):
$25 General Admission/$20 Adler members
Buy Tickets HERE
*Doane Observatory tours will not be available at January Adler After Dark as they continue to make improvements to the observatory. Thank you for your patience!
11. Puppet Festival
The 12-day, city-wide Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival showcases an entertaining and eclectic array of puppet styles from around the world including marionettes, shadow puppets, Bunraku puppets, tiny toy puppets, and distinctive, innovative styles of contemporary puppetry. The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is a mission-driven program of Chicago-based theater company Blair Thomas & Co. Founded in 2002, Blair Thomas & Co. is recognized as an international contributor to contemporary puppetry and a creator of uniquely expressive spectacle theater.
January 17 – 27, 2019
Location: Studebaker Theater 410 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Performances and Tickets HERE
11. Cubs Convention
Cubs fans will enjoy autograph signings, player meet-and-greets, interactive exhibits, and special panels with Cubs players, alumni, and management at the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand.
Date: January 18 – 20, 2019
Location: Sheraton Grand Chicago 301 E North Water St, Chicago, IL 60611
Tickets HERE
12. MLK Museum Day
Get free admission on Martin Luther King Day if you can show a valid ID that has an Illinois address
Date: January 21, 2019
Locations:
- Adler Planetarium Check Map
- Art Institute of Chicago & MLK event Check Map
- Chicago History Museum & MLK events Check Map
- The Field Museum Check Map
- Museum of Science and Industry Check Map
- Shedd Aquarium Check Map
13. Chicago Restaurant Week
Date: January 25 – Feb. 7, 2019
Get a special deal on a fixed-price lunch or dinner at 400 local restaurants during Chicago Restaurant Week. Don’t miss the biggest restaurant event of the year! Chicago Restaurant Week returns for two weeks of dining deals from hundreds of celebrated restaurants all across the city.
The 12th annual culinary celebration features special prix fixe menus starting at $24 for brunch and lunch, and $36 and/or $48 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). It’s the perfect excuse to visit an old favorite or try somewhere new.
Follow and Tag @BestRestaurantsChicago for a chance to be featured!
View Participating restaurants HERE
14. Polar Bear Plunge
Date: January 26, 2019 (Noon, 12 pm)
Location: Oak Street Beach
Register to join the Chicago Polar Bear Club, and then take the Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan for charity at Oak Street Beach, followed by an optional after party. Free to watch.
Registration: $30
After Party: $35
Bundle (Registration and After Party): $60
Register HERE
15. Beernival
“Beernival” features carnival games with prizes, competitive flip cup, a beer pong tournament, and unlimited domestic beer at Rizzo’s Bar for age 21+. Ticket price includes domestic beer and cider for 3 hours. After the drink package is over, stay as long as you’d like right at Rizzo’s, where the fun will continue all evening long! Proceeds benefit Autism Speaks – Chicago Chapter
Date: January 26, 2019 at 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Rizzo’s Bar 3658 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Tickets HERE
16. Winter Beer Festival
Each winter the LSRCC takes the Chicago street festival scene indoors with Winter Brew! On Saturday, January 26, local breweries and cideries from around Chicago will be setting up shop in the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center’s 5th floor Ballroom and 6th floor Skyline Lounge. Each will showcase at least up to two different craft beers or ciders, and rare, specialty tappings throughout the day. Come in from the cold and get warmed up!
Date: Saturday, January 26th 2019 (Lincoln Square)
Time: 12pm – 4pm (Saturday 1st session)
6pm – 10pm (Saturday 2nd session)
Location: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center 4740 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Admission ticket: $10, advance purchase only
Beverage/Food Tickets: Beers start at 4 tickets (one ticket = $1); Pre-purchase of 10 or 20 tickets available.
NOTE: MUST be at least 21 years of age for entry to this event. Photo IDs will be checked at the door.
Tickets HERE