Start your weekend at a Winter Wonderland in Glenview before heading to Chicago for a new exhibit at The Field Museum and a new show at Goodman Theatre. You can also hear from a Holocaust survivor at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with multiple events around Chicagoland.
Winter Wonderland
Jan. 15
Glenview
It’s freezing, but you might as well make the most of it with an annual winter event at Kohl Children’s Museum. Take a kiddie train ride, make winter crafts, watch an ice sculptor work, meet Elsa and PBS KIDS’ “Nature Cat,” visit all 16 indoor exhibits and more!
“Looking at Ourselves: Rethinking the Sculptures of Malvina Hoffman”
Opens Jan. 15
Chicago
The Field Museum takes a look back at “The Races of Mankind,” one of its exhibitions in the 1930s, by once again showcasing 50 of the exhibit’s sculptures. This new exhibit is “a rich inquiry into the concept of race, which has changed drastically over the past eighty years but is still very much with us today.”
“Another Word for Beauty”
Opens Jan. 16
Chicago
Written by Academy Award nominee José Rivera, Goodman Theatre’s latest production is inspired by the true events of a Colombian prison that holds a beauty pageant every year for the inmates.
“The Children of LaHille: Eluding Nazi Capture During World War II”
Jan. 17
Skokie
Holocaust survivor Walter Reed, author of “The Children of LaHille,” will share his story of survival, as well as those of 100 Jewish children who were able to hide from the Nazis. A book signing will follow Reed’s talk.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations
Jan. 16-18
Evanston
Evanston is celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. all weekend long with events at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Evanston Public Library, Northwestern and ETHS.
Plus, you can honor the activist’s legacy with these events on Monday:
- The Volunteer Center, The Kindness Connection and The Winnetka Community House are coming together for their annual MLK Jr. Day of Service. The event brings in more than 800 volunteers to work on projects that will benefit 20 nonprofits.
- Kids can learn the importance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work at Chicago Children’s Museum’s four showings of “What Does It Mean, Dr. King?”
- Admission to the Chicago History Museum is free for Illinois residents on Monday, when you can watch “The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights” by Writers Theatre and a performance by the Chicago Chamber Choir.
- The Museum of Science and Industry is also free for Illinois residents on Monday as the museum kicks off 2016 Black Creativity programming with Black Creativity Family Day.
- The Art Institute of Chicago will celebrate with free admission, free family art making and more.
- The Chicago Sinfonietta and Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir will perform a tribute concert Monday evening.
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
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