About our programs

Chicago Children’s Museum offers a rotating calendar of programs in the Art Studio, Great Hall, Pritzker Playspace, and Tinkering Lab. Please visit program locations for session times and free passes.

Space is limited. Free passes are available 1 hour before the workshop starts at each workshop location.


Winter Weeks of Play

December 26 - January 7

The museum will be open daily with special activities and fun for all. Join us for active play and winter warm ups with friends like Old Town School of Folk Music, Fonseca Martial Arts, and more!

  • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26
    Active Play Dance Party!
    Great Hall from 2:15-2:45 pm
    Twirl, twist, and turn to some favorite family tunes!

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27
    Active Play with Ameya Performing Arts
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Strike a pose and explore the tradition of Bollywood dance in this session led by Ameya Performing Arts!

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28
    Active Play with Old Town School of Folk Music
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Feel the music and explore creative movement with Julianne Rice from the Old Town School of Folk Music!

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29
    Active Play Dance Party!
    Great Hall from 2:15-2:45 pm
    Twirl, twist, and turn to some favorite family tunes!

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30
    Active Play with Gingarte Capoeira Chicago
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Try out capoeira, a Brazilian martial art infused with music and dance, in a session led by Gingarte Capoeira Chicago!

    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31
    Active Play Dance Party!
    Great Hall from 1-1:30 pm
    Twirl, twist, and turn to some favorite family tunes!

    MONDAY, JANUARY 1
    Active Play Dance Party!
    Great Hall from 2:15-2:45 pm
    Twirl, twist, and turn to some favorite family tunes!

    TUESDAY, JANUARY 2
    Active Play Dance Party!
    Great Hall from 2:15-2:45 pm
    Twirl, twist, and turn to some favorite family tunes!

    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3
    Active Play with Ballet Folklorico de Chicago
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Explore the rich tradition of Mexican folkloric dance with Ballet Folklorico de Chicago!

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 4
    Active Play with Dance Avondale
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Put on your dancing shoes for a creative movement session with Dance Avondale!

    FRIDAY, JANUARY 5
    Active Play with Chicago Youth Boxing Club
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Build strength, coordination, and confidence with Chicago Youth Boxing Club!

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 6
    Active Play with Fonseca Martial Arts
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Move your body and explore multiple martial arts traditions, including karate and jiu jitsu, in a session led by Fonseca Martial Arts!

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 7
    Active Play with Chemical X Dance Crew
    Great Hall from 2-3 pm
    Find your inner superstar in a K-Pop dance session led by Chemical X Dance Crew!

  • Christmas Eve, December 24: 10 am - 2 pm (early close)

    Christmas Day, December 25: CLOSED

    December 26-30: DAILY, 10 am - 5 pm

    New Year’s Eve, December 31: 10 am - 2 pm (early close)

    New Year’s Day, January 1: 12 - 5 pm (late open)

    January 2-7: DAILY, 10 am - 5 pm


Art Studio

Workshop Times
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm

Dough Sculptures
December 13 - January 8
All Ages
Join in our annual dough sculpture workshop. Shape anything from pretend cookies to latkes, from dinosaurs to astronauts out of our handmade, scented play dough. Allergy alert for flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppermint.


Pritzker Playspace

Session Times
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm

Earthly Wonders
September 7 - December 18
Discover the beauty of natural materials and all of the different ways they can be explored.

Closed for theme changeover
December 19 - 21


Tinkering Lab

Workshop Times
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm

Your Neighborhood
December 6 - January 8
Ages 4 and up
What's missing in the miniature cardboard community built by visitors just like you?  Dream, build, measure and test to add your models to the neighborhood.