It’s getting to that point of winter when just a little hint of sun would go a long way to help our moods. I can’t promise this weekend will be sunny, but I can promise these events will help brighten your days off.

Start with a concert by one of the newest (and maybe best) duos in country music before spending some time with your family at a Winterfest and soon-to-be-closed, can’t-miss museum exhibit. You can also start thinking about getting your home ready for spring at the Ideal Home Show Chicago.

Day + Shay

Jan. 23
Waukegan

“19 You +Me” made this duo one of the hottest up-and-coming acts in country music, and this concert at Genesee Theatre will be the perfect way to start your weekend. 

Ideal Home Show Chicago

Jan. 23-25
Chicago

If you’re thinking about remodeling your home and need a little inspiration, stop by McCormick Place this weekend. Hundreds of experts, including HGTV’s Ahmed Hassan, will share their tips, products and ideas. Plus, the first 250 guests will receive a swag bag sponsored by The Naked Grape and Barefoot Wine.  

73rd Annual Dolphin Show

Opens Jan. 23
Evanston

Northwestern is teeming with talent, and The Dolphin Show, the country’s largest student-run musical, is no exception. This year, students will present “Titanic,” which won five Tony Awards in 1997.

Winterfest

Jan. 24
Libertyville

Join A. Perry Homes for a festive afternoon filled with sledding, ice skating, live music, broom ball, food and more. The event is free with a donation of toiletries for Northwestern Settlement. RSVP to stephanie@aperryhomes.com.

RACE: Are We So Different?

Closes Jan. 25
Skokie

If you didn’t get to the Illinois Holocaust Museum for this unprecedented exhibit on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, make sure you get there before Sunday. The exhibit is “the first national exhibition to tell the stories of race from the biological, cultural, and historical points of view.”

• Learn more about the exhibit by reading “RACE: We Aren’t So Different.”