Have you seen the city's new tourism web site www.explorechicago.org? Aside from showcasing the city's attractions and neighborhoods, you can browse local activities by type, special interest and location. Added bonus: many of the events featured are the best price of all: free. Here are a few fun winter events that won't break the piggybank:
Feb. 7-8:
Maybe we'll get lucky after Groundhog Day and spring will come early, but we all know hell has a better chance of freezing over. Appropriately, you can head to Frozen Fun Fest at Millennium Park to make the most of the last weeks of winter. Navigate a kid-size ice maze, play frozen versions of cornhole, ring toss and penny pitch, and pose for an ice portrait, all while sipping warm drinks. Festive theatrical and musical strolling performances take place on the hour.
Feb. 12-16:
More snow! Head to Snow Days Chicago, a snow sculpting competition and winter festival in Grant Park, where you can watch professional snow sculptors create 15 unique works crafted out of guess what? Man-made snow. Chances are good the real thing will still be around and falling steadily to add to the atmosphere, but you never know. The five-day event will also feature dog sled demonstrations with Siberian Huskies, a snowboarding competition, and crafts and storytelling for kids.
Every Saturday night in February:
Celebrate Life's Moments on the Magnificent Mile with fireworks at 6:30 p.m.
