Wandering what to do in Chicago this January? Here are the best things to do in Chicago in January 2023 (from a local) – from fun outdoor winter activities to the best indoor attractions.
January is an interesting month to visit Chicago. In the beginning of the month many holiday activities and events are still taking place and they are less likely to be crowded after Christmas. As the month goes on, there are fewer things to do, but there are still plenty of things to do in Chicago in January both indoors and outdoors. If you are willing to brave the cold and snow, January is still a good time to visit Chicago as attractions are less crowded and accommodation is more affordable.
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as I plan to update it regularly with any new events and activities.
Things to Do in Chicago in January 2023
Contents
- Things to Do in Chicago in January 2023
- Enjoy Warm Temperatures Inside the Garfield Park Conservatory
- Attend a Candlelight Concert
- Harry Potter™: Magic at Play
- Visit the Museum of Ice Cream
- Go Outdoor Ice Skating
- See the City of Chicago Christmas Tree
- Winterland at Gallagher Way
- Outdoor Curling
- Have Dinner or Drinks in an Igloo
- Admire Famous Works at The Art Institute of Chicago
- Visit the Field Museum
- Experience the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
- Go Sledding
- Go Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
- Buddy Guy’s January Residency at Buddy Guy’s Legends
- Hold and Feed a Bunny
- Chicago January 2023 Events
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Enjoy Warm Temperatures Inside the Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest and most stunning botanical conservatories in the US. Often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” the Garfield Park Conservatory showcases thousands of plant species from around the world throughout eight indoor display gardens. Even if it is cold outside, you can enjoy the lush flora and tropical temperatures indoors!
Where: 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60624
Hours: Wednesday 10am-8pm (last entry at 6:30pm); Thursday – Sunday 10am-5pm (last entry at 3:30pm); Closed Monday and Tuesday. Click here to make reservations online in advance.
Cost: FREE (suggested donation)
Attend a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some of the concerts taking place this January include:
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Candlelight: A Tribute to ABBA at Stan Mansion
Candlelight: A Tribute to Juan Gabriel
Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer at Music Box Theatre
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Harry Potter™: Magic at Play
The Harry Potter™: Magic at Play is opening its limited time run in Chicago in November. Discover the Wizarding World and celebrate Harry’s adventures in this new hands-on experience, filled with magical moments and active play for witches and wizards of all ages with fun for the whole family. Harry Potter™: Magic at Play is a unique, hands-on experience that will engage imaginations of all ages to bring out the young witch or wizard in all of us. Explore, climb, and play your way through three floors of fun packed with playful celebrations of your favorite places and moments.
When: Through January 29, 2023
Where: Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 (corner of N Michigan Ave. and E Pearson St.)
Cost: Price varies. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
Visit the Museum of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream is Chicago’s newest attraction. Step into an ice cream wonderland that is bound to ignite your senses through a theatrical experience with unlimited ice cream treats as you journey through 14 installations. Ride on the pink Sprink-L line, put your golf skills to the test on the Putt-Putt course, or take a dip in a pool filled with millions of sprinkles.
Where: Tribune Tower, 435 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Cost: You can see full prices and purchase tickets in advance here.
Go Outdoor Ice Skating
There are many outdoor ice skating rinks in Chicago open in January.
One of the best and instaworthy places to go ice skating in downtown Chicago is the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink right in front of The Bean.
Another picture perfect spot is the nearby skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park which has a path twice the length of a lap around a traditional skating rink.
See the City of Chicago Christmas Tree
The City of Chicago puts up a large Christmas Tree annually at Millennium Park during the holiday season.
Make sure to stop by The Bean – a must on any Chicago bucket list. The Bean is located a few feet away from the tree and can even take photos of The Bean with the Christmas tree in the background.
When: Until January 8, 2023
Where: Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Avenue & Washington Street.
Cost: Free.
Winterland at Gallagher Way
Winterland at Gallagher Way is back and will be bigger than ever. In addition to the Gallagher Ice Rink (now inside the ballpark) and Santa’s Workshop, there will be new family-friendly experiences inside iconic Wrigley Field. Ticket are now available for purchase.
When: Through January 8, 2023.
Where: Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Outdoor Curling
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Curling is a winter sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice or a lane towards a target. Below is a list of places offering outdoor curling (along with drinks):
Upstairs at The Gwen, 521 North Rush Street
Kennedy Rooftop, 1551 W North Ave
Harry Caray’s Tavern – Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave
Have Dinner or Drinks in an Igloo
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Having dinner and drinks in an outdoor igloo has been trendy for a few years. Here are some of the best outdoor igloos in Chicago open this winter.
Kennedy Rooftop: 1551 W North Ave
I|O at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago: 127 West Huron Street
Admire Famous Works at The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States and is frequently found on lists of the top museums in the world.
Where: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
Cost: $25 for adults, $19 for seniors, students and teens (14-17); members and children under 14 are always free. Click here to buy a skip the line ticket if you want to avoid long lines.
Visit the Field Museum
The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Inside the museum you will see Maximo, the Titanosaur, the largest dinosaur that ever lived. (Click here to purchase an Early Access VIP Tour if you want to avoid crowds).
Where: Chicago’s Museum Campus, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 (detailed directions and parking information is available here)
When: Open daily 9am to 5pm (last admission at 4pm)
Tip: If you are visiting a few museums and indoor attractions, consider purchasing a Chicago CityPASS or Go Chicago Card to save money on entrance fees.
Experience the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
From the creators of the blockbuster show at Atelier des Lumières featured in Emily in Paris (one of my favorite travel shows on Netflix), the popular Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is a massive indoor digital presentation of Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork.
When: Extended by popular demand through January 15, 2023
Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace at Germania Place, 108 W. Germania Pl, Chicago
Cost: Tickets start at $39.99 plus fees for off peak times. You can see full prices and purchase tickets in advance here.
Go Sledding
Chances are that by January there will be enough snow on the ground to go sledding. There are several sledding hills in parks and forest preserves in Chicago that are fun for kids or kids at heart.
Where: Various. See Best Sledding Hills in Chicago.
Cost: Free
Go Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Looking for a fun outdoor winter activity? If there are four or more inches of snow on the ground, take a trip to the Morton Arboretum in the suburbs for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails are marked and groomed. There are rentals available or you can bring your own cross-country skis or snowshoes.
When: Rentals start January 7, 2023 (as soon as snowfall permits it).
Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532 (about 26 miles west of downtown Chicago)
Cost: Cross-country skis (includes boots and poles) for 2-hour rental: $20 member/$22 guest (costs apply to adults and children); Snowshoes: Adults – $13 members/$15 guests; Children – (Ages 10 and younger) $11 members/$13 guests.
Buddy Guy’s January Residency at Buddy Guy’s Legends
Looking for something different to do in Chicago at night? January is the only month of the year when you can find blues icon, Buddy Guy, performing in his namesake blues club.
When: Thursdays through Sundays
Where: Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Cost: Tickets start at $65 per person for standing room
Hold and Feed a Bunny
Looking for a unique thing to do in Chicago? Visit the Cuddle Bunny in Chicago, where visitors can pet and feed bunnies. Cuddle Bunny also hosts special events like yoga and story time.
When: Open daily from 10:00 am – 08:00 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Activities and bunny interaction after 6pm are by reservation ONLY.
Where: Cuddle Bunny, 2901 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Cost: Price varies.
Chicago January 2023 Events
In addition to the activities mentioned above, other January 2023 events in Chicago include: Chicago Polar Plunge (January 28, 2023), Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown (January 29, 2023), and Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival (January 19-29, 2023).
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago in January.
Planning a trip to Chicago? Check out my Chicago guides and itineraries:
