Things to do with the kids in the Chicago area in January 2020

Slide from the holidays into the regular routine, but don’t forget to build in some fun this January. From skating, campfires, bald eagles and huskies to music, movies, museums and more, we have a month’s worth of activities for the whole family.

Jan. 1

HOLIDAY FLOWER SHOW: ‘ICE AGE’

Many venues close for New Year’s Day, but the city’s two conservatories stay open — a great opportunity to soak up the holiday flower shows. “Ice Age” in Lincoln Park features a fir tree with lights, hundreds of white poinsettias, a woolly mammoth sculpture and (in case you’re still not sold) model trains, chug-chug-chugging through the scenery. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Drive. Free. https://tinyurl.com/spa3fcp

CHICAGO WOLVES SKATING RINK

Tucked into the mini “park” in Rosemont lies the Chicago Wolves rink, surrounded by a number of fun establishments, including iFLY and the Hofbrauhaus (and just steps away from the 12-screen AMC cinema, in case the kids need to see “Frozen 2” again). It’s open for recreation — with extended hours, even! — on New Year’s Day, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Longer hours continue through Jan. 5, after which the rink is reserved for hockey Mondays through Saturdays. From Jan. 6 to Feb. 23, skating is available Sunday evenings, plus Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 20) and Presidents Day (Feb. 17). Chicago Wolves Ice Rink (inside Parkway Bank Park), 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Free; bring your own skates, or rent a pair for $8. https://tinyurl.com/qs52gub

Jan. 2

NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS: SWIRLING SNOWFLAKES

Take a closer look at snow and ice during the January editions of this Naperville Park District drop-in program. Families plug into age-appropriate activities, from learning how glaciers were carved out of local landscapes to making snowflake-themed crafts. The fun takes place three days during the first week of the new year, starting at 10 a.m and running till early afternoon Jan. 2-4. After that, Swirling Snowflakes repeats Jan. 18 and 20 at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville. Free. napervilleparks.org/upcomingevents

FLURRY DAYS

Coinciding with the winter break, Kohl Children’s Museum offers special Flurry Days programming and extended hours, open till 7 p.m. through Jan. 5. In addition to special indoor activities, take train rides through the Habitat Park Light Trail, 5-7 p.m. Jan. 2-5. If you go Saturday afternoon (Jan. 4), there’s a special bonus: Demos by sled dogs and their humans at 1 p.m. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. $13; train rides cost an additional $4, which includes a light-up bracelet and hot cocoa. kohlchildrensmuseum.org/special-events/flurry/

‘AMAZING POLLINATORS’ & POP-UP HOT CHOCOLATE BAR

Winter break wanes, but this outing will make these interstitial first days of 2020 seem almost as special as the end of December. Ten days remain to catch “Amazing Pollinators,” the immersive Nature Museum exhibit where visitors take on the role of bees, butterflies, bats and other creatures. Play games and complete missions to get through the colorful maze, which depicts various ecosystems. Once you’ve finished, Jan. 2 visitors can treat themselves to a special concoction from the one-day-only pop-up hot chocolate bar. “Amazing Pollinators” runs through Jan. 12 at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Typically $9, $7 for students, $6 for kids 3-12; Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. https://tinyurl.com/w89p264

Jan. 3

EAGLE WATCH

The southwest suburban Four Rivers Environmental Education Center used to be open by appointment only, but it kicks off regular public hours with this two-day celebration of bald eagles, which frequent the area during winter. Dress for the weather to take a guided hike looking for the raptors, then enjoy family activities indoors. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 3-4 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane, Channahon. Free. https://tinyurl.com/tfxr735

JUICEBOX: DUKE OTHERWISE

One of the city’s best free programs for families, Juicebox greets the new year with this Madison-based troubadour. A pro with guitar (and tap shoes too), the much-lauded Duke Otherwise writes whimsical tunes such as “What Kind of Hairdo Do You Do?”; “Yodeling Lament”; and “Slow Monster.” As with all Juicebox events, the all-ages show takes place twice: 11 a.m. Friday at the Chicago Cultural Center (Preston Bradley Hall), 78 E. Washington St.; and 11 a.m. Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free. https://tinyurl.com/y5nxmt9d

Jan. 4

NEVERMORE PARK

With his superhero-and-anime-influenced work, Chicago artist Hebru Brantley makes art kids love. Now his heroic characters Flyboy and Lil Mama have soared into a magical 3-D universe all their own: Nevermore Park. Housed in a 6,000-square-foot gallery space in Pilsen, the immersive experience lets visitors wander among Brantley’s sculptures; wear 3D goggles that reveal hidden messages on the walls; and peruse collages of pop-culture ephemera that track black history. Nevermore tickets are currently on sale through January. Nevermore Park, 949 W. 16th St. $28. nevermorepark.com

LOGAN CENTER FAMILY SATURDAY: TECHNOLOGIC TAKEOVER

The Logan Center in Hyde Park offers a monthly Family Saturday, with two hours of drop-in activities for all ages. On Jan. 4, the teacher-artists focus on creativity and technology. Get familiar with family-friendly programs and apps from 2-4 p.m. at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Free. https://tinyurl.com/k5deh4m

Jan. 5

CONCERTS FOR KIDS WINTERFEST

Beat Kitchen’s Concerts for Kids series usually features just one performer. But to make sure you get your new year off to a rocking start, this special Winterfest edition loads up the talent! Starting at 11 a.m. and running till 3 p.m., bands hit the stage at the top of every hour. Groove to the Ice Cream Vendors, Jodi Koplin’s Jigglejam, Music for New People, and Wendy and DB. For extra fun, get glitter tattoos or make art at the crafts stations. At Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. $7. https://tinyurl.com/tzle2mc

‘THE PIGEON COMES TO CHICAGO! A MO WILLEMS EXHIBIT’

“I always say, ‘Books beat boredom’!” That’s the gospel according to beloved children’s author-artist Mo Willems. Your kids probably already love his characters — Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny and that crazy Pigeon — and now they can explore Willems’ worlds in this interactive exhibit. Activities include an art-making station, a dress-up station and a mock laundromat. But act fast! It departs in one week. Catch it daily through Jan. 12 at Chicago Children’s Museum (at Navy Pier), 700 E. Grand Ave. $16-$19. First Sundays every month offer free admission for ages 15 and under. chicagochildrensmuseum.org/pigeon

Jan. 6

ALADDIN’

The marriage of voice actor to animated role rarely gets better than Robin Williams to The Genie. But the real triumph of Disney’s 1992 comedy-action romp “Aladdin” is how thrilling it is from the jump. The Genie doesn’t even appear until the second third of the film — after our title hero’s tremendous roller-coast heist of the magic lamp. To top it all off, the musical boasts an Oscar-winning score by composer Alan Menken. This Jan. 6 screening is one of two super-bargain-priced Disney Mondays this month; the original animated “Cinderella” (1950) screens Jan. 13. At Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $1 admission (cash only). https://paramountaurora.com/events/aladdin-1992/

Jan. 9

MEET ALYSSA ZACZEK, AUTHOR OF ‘MARTIN McLEAN, MIDDLE SCHOOL QUEEN’

Originally from Chicago, Minnesota journalist and author Alyssa Zaczek makes her middle-grade debut with “Martin McLean Middle School Queen.” A novel about a shy seventh-grade math whiz who learns how to shine socially when he dresses in drag, the book has great advance buzz. Meet Zaczek when she returns to the area, at 7 p.m. Jan. 9, at Women and Children First in Andersonville; or 7 p.m. Jan. 10, at Anderson’s Bookshop in La Grange. Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.; Anderson’s Bookshop, 26 S. La Grange Road, La Grange. Free to attend, $17 for “Martin McLean, Middle School Queen.”

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT’S FESTIVAL

Every year, Pegasus Theatre sifts through hundreds of one-act plays written by Chicago high-school students to select a few winners, which receive a professional production. For the festival’s 33rd annual production, the featured playwrights are Angelina Davila of Taft High School; Reba Brennan of Senn; and Henry Williams of Lane Tech. Gain insight into the concerns of today’s teens when you catch all three short plays. Jan. 9-24 at Columbia College’s Courtyard Theatre, 72 E. 11th St. $30, $18 for students. http://pegasustheatrechicago.org/productions/33rd-young-playwrights-festival/

Jan. 11

‘ON THE RIGHT TRACK’: TRAIN SONGS OF AMERICA

Calling all junior rail buffs! Elmhurst History Museum’s temporary exhibit, “On the Right Track: By Rail to Chicago and Beyond,” runs through March 29. It’s got plenty to engage adult train enthusiasts, while kid-friendly activities include a toy-train set and a track-switching game. If you visit at 2 p.m. Jan. 11, folk musician Dean Milano performs an all-ages concert of train songs. At Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. Free. http://elmhursthistory.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=2516

VASILOPITA CELEBRATION

Need one more celebration to help kick off the new year? Take the family to Greektown to celebrate 2020 in Hellenic style. Inside the city’s beautiful Greek-American heritage museum, experience the blessing and cutting of the Vasilopita. Also known as St. Basil’s bread, this traditional loaf dates to the fourth century. Vasilopita contains a coin, said to bestow good luck on the person who receives the piece with the trinket baked inside. 1 p.m. at the National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St. $10, $7 for kids 3-12. https://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/education/children-and-family/fall-and-winter/

‘CHECK THE METHOD’ SPOKEN-WORD WORKSHOPS

Calling all writers! This Wicker Park-based weekly workshop, facilitated by Young Chicago Authors, offers a framework for teens to transform their daily experiences into poetry and hip-hop spoken word. The gratis drop-in program requires no registration; just show up, ready to write. 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 11 through Feb. 15, at Young Chicago Authors, 1180 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd floor. Free. https://youngchicagoauthors.org/programs/workshops/check-the-method

MCA FAMILY DAY: TREASURE BOX

For the January edition of its monthly Family Day, MCA unpacks geometry (with some cool sculptures and activities) and the hobby of collecting things. What’s in your personal box of treasures? Drop in and explore, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Free for families with kids 12 and under. https://mcachicago.org/Calendar/2020/01/Family-Day-Treasure-Box

Jan. 12

KID LIT FEST

Highland Park Public Library throws its annual Kid Lit Fest, populated with great Chicago-area authors whose books collectively appeal to all ages. Among the writers are Liesl Shurtliff, who reinvents famous fairy tales for middle-school readers; Jacob Grant, whose beautiful picture books focus on animals; and Celia Pérez, who followed up her award-winning debut novel, “The First Rule of Punk,” with the acclaimed “Strange Birds.” Admission is free to all, and visitors may buy books on-site and get them signed by the authors. 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. at Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Ave., Highland Park. Free. https://hplibrary.org/events/iread-kickoff-kid-lit-fest-0

BOTANIC GARDEN FAMILY CLASS: LOCO FOR COCOA

How on earth does bitter fruit produce such delicious desserts? Find out today at the Botanic Garden’s family class devoted to the cacao bean. Together, grownups and children ages 4-10 learn about the plant, taste different kinds of chocolate, then dip treats into fondue. All together now: yummm! Advance registration recommended. Four sessions over two dates: 9:30-11 a.m. or 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 12 and Jan. 25, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. $24 per adult-child pair. https://tinyurl.com/wz7ur9r

‘FORTS: BUILD YOUR OWN ADVENTURE’

The time-honored childhood DIY ritual of creating with cardboard is the centerpiece of “Forts! Build Your Own Adventure.” Designed for families to experience together, this interactive Filament Theatre show uses boxes, blankets, clotheslines and more to design new worlds. In a nod to Chicago’s proud immigrant communities, instructions are also available in Spanish and Polish. January brings two special performances: a sensory-friendly version Jan. 12, and an additional show Jan. 20, which is Martin Luther King Day. At Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. $8-$9.75. http://www.filamenttheatre.org/forts/

Jan. 13

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR’S NEW SINGER DAYS

Chicago Children’s Choir is more than just the one large ensemble: The group also maintains a network of neighborhood choirs. Now’s the time for kids to plug into the smaller groups, via New Singer Days held in 10 different neighborhoods. No experience is required — the choir seeks students who can match pitch and have a passion to sing. On Jan. 13, the process takes place in Austin, Bucktown, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Pilsen/Little Village and Rogers Park; Jan. 14 in Albany Park, Beverly, Hyde Park and Lincoln Park. Check-in begins at 4:15 p.m., with rehearsal at 4:30 and auditions 5-5:30. Find exact locations and sign up in advance online: ccchoir.org/join/auditions

Jan. 16

CHICAGO PLAYWORKS: ‘BROOKLYN BRIDGE’

As a “latchkey kid,” 10-year-old Sasha is supposed stay inside her apartment, alone in the evenings, while her immigrant mom goes to work. But Sasha ventures out into the hallways of her Brooklyn tenement one night, seeking help on a school project. This acclaimed play by Melissa James Gibson arrives via the great Chicago Playworks program, a program of DePaul University’s Theatre School. The show runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and (most) Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., Jan. 16 through Feb. 22. Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive. $12. https://theatre.depaul.edu/on-stage/Pages/production-details.aspx?dpusearchbyid=374

TSUKASA TAIKO IN CONCERT

An intergenerational troupe dedicated to the art of Japanese drumming, Chicago’s own Tsukasa Taiko brings its booming sound and impressive technique to the northwest burbs for a concert performance. The group is always worth listening to — but beware, parents: Your kids might want to take up drumming afterward! 7:30 p.m. at Metropolis Arts, 111 W. Campbell St. $25. https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?actions=58&p=1

Jan. 17

JUICEBOX: SUZI SHELTON

January brings this special engagement of the Juicebox series, geared for the toddler set. Moving beyond the fertile local crop of kindie artists, the city’s Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events imports Brooklyn-based Suzi Shelton, who’s built a large fan base in New York. Give her songs a listen on her YouTube channel. As with all Juicebox events, the all-ages show happens twice: 11 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Chicago Cultural Center (Preston Bradley Hall), 78 E. Washington St.; and 11 a.m. Jan. 18 at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free. https://tinyurl.com/y5nxmt9d

HYDE PARK ART CENTER’S TEEN ARTSHOP

Calling all teen artists! The Hyde Park Art Center offers a few different courses, all tuition-free, exclusively for high-school students. Some of the Teen Education programming consists of advanced-track classes, but the popular weekly ArtShop offers a great starting point. Apply early for the winter term, which begins Jan. 17; accepted students gain access to various labs inside the Art Center, from drawing and painting to photo departments to ceramics. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays at Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Free. hydeparkart.org/education/teens/artshop/

Jan. 18

SNOW DAY FESTIVAL

This annual celebration of winter provides enough fun to thaw even the Grinchiest of souls. Go for a hike on snowshoes, speed down a 40-foot sled hill, watch an ice sculptor ply the trade, make s’mores around a bonfire and more. Need to warm up? Head indoors to check out the nature center’s exhibits and craft station. Plus, the first 200 visitors get a winter giveaway. Noon to 4 p.m. at Plum Creek Nature Center, 27064 S. Dutton Road, Crete Township. Free. https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/event-calendar/january-2020/snow-day-festival

‘TOO HOT TO HANDEL: THE JAZZ-GOSPEL MESSIAH’

Scoop up the kids and the grandparents too — this ebullient concert truly is entertainment for all ages. The two 15th annual Martin Luther King Day weekend concerts transform Handel’s famous “Messiah” into a blend of oratorio, jazz and gospel. The result? A joyously interactive, everybody-clap-your-hands experience. The soloists and 150-member choir, singing famous numbers such as “And the Glory of the Lord” and the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus, get help from more than 50 musicians and, occasionally, from the audience. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway. $29-$68; $5 day-of-show tickets for teens registered for Urban Gateways’ Teen Arts Pass [https://teenartspass.urbangateways.org]. https://tickets.auditoriumtheatre.org/production/2464/too-hot-to-handel/

Jan. 19

WINTER CAMPFIRES

Dress for the weather for this outdoor adventure from the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Take a hike to find signs on animal and plant life, then sip hot cocoa and gather around an afternoon bonfire to make s’mores. 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest; fpdcc.com/event/winter-scavenger-hunt-and-campfire If that date or location doesn’t work, try a nighttime version of the event, 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Camp Shabbona Woods, 15810 S. Torrence Ave., South Holland; fpdcc.com/event/winter-campfire-night-hike/

CHICAGO SINFONIETTA’S MLK TRIBUTE CONCERT

This Chicago gem — a thoroughly multicultural orchestra dedicated to promoting diversity — performs its annual tribute to the great civil-rights leader. This year’s concert has a decidedly contemporary bent. It opens with Kymberli Joye (familiar to viewers of “The Voice”) singing Patty Griffin’s stirring “Up to the Mountain,” an anthem inspired by King’s final speech. Also on the program: the Chicago premiere of “The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,” which commemorates those lost to police violence; and John Legend and Common’s Oscar- and Grammy-winning “Glory.” The concert takes place twice: 3 p.m. Sunday at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 7:30 p.m. Monday (MLK Day) at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $10-$62. chicagosinfonietta.org/1920season/mlk-tribute/

Jan. 20

BLACK CREATIVITY FAMILY DAY

Art meets science during the Museum of Science and Industry’s annual “Black Creativity” programming, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a come-one-come-all Family Day kickoff on MLK Day. The juried art exhibition, billed as the longest-running showcase of African-American art in the nation, displays more than 100 works, some of them by student artists. Meanwhile, Innovation Studio workshops encourage visitors of all ages to use STEM skills to design solutions to everyday challenges. Through March 1 at MSI, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive. Free general admission to Illinois residents Jan. 20-23 and again Jan. 27-30. https://tinyurl.com/y97oeqz5

‘HOW PEOPLE MAKE THINGS’

Think of it as one giant factory tour, with a big DIY station to put what you’ve learned to work: That’s the idea behind the new kid-oriented exhibit, “How People Make Things.” Find out how humans and machines work together to make everyday objects, from boxes to shoes to toys. Then, kids can use tools to cut, mold, deform and assemble. This Pittsburgh export comes to Naperville for a good long visit, opening Jan. 20 and running through Sept. 6 at DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. $13. dupagechildrens.org/how-people-make-things

KING DAY FESTIVAL

The Art Institute celebrates MLK Day with a complimentary celebration. Performances include Damon Locks and his Black Monument Ensemble, and the youth artists of Rebirth/Reborn Poetry Ensemble. Drop-in workshops range from the kinetic, with the Move Me Soul dancers, to the visual, with William Estrada’s Mobile Street Art Cart. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Art Institute Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. The entire museum is free Jan. 20 to Illinois residents. Activities in AIC’s Ryan Learning Center are free for everyone: enter at 159 E. Monroe St. https://tinyurl.com/qleahbj

‘WHAT DOES IT MEAN, DR. KING?’

The thorny topics of bigotry and discrimination can be difficult to talk about with little ones, but the Chicago Children’s Museum provides a framework for it. In honor of MLK Day, this interactive musical show explains the civil rights movement through the stories of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges. Less than 30 minutes long and geared to kids 4 and up, this original production takes place four times. Afterward, audience members can write a letter to King about what they learned. Performances at 10:45 and 11:45 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. (Can’t make it Monday? CCM offers a sneak preview at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19.) Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 E. Grand Ave. $16-$19. chicagochildrensmuseum.org

Jan. 23

MEET CARTOONIST ART BALTAZAR

Winner of multiple Eisner Awards (the Pultizers of comic books), cartoonist and Chicago native Art Baltazar has a brand-new graphic novel to delight your middle schoolers. The clever “Drew & Jot: Dueling Doodles” contains a comic within a comic: It tells the story of two fifth-grade boys who collaborate on a hero-and-villain tale — but a younger sister’s doodles might prove the most dangerous foe of all! Meet Baltazar at 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Free to attend; $15 for “Drew & Jot.” https://tinyurl.com/vur8vl2

Jan. 25

HUSKY HEROES

The good news: By attending this celebration of Siberian huskies, you’ll not only learn about the lives of these sled dogs, but you’ll witness cool demos of sled-pulling and skijoring (pulling a person on skis). The bad news: When you get home to your dogs, you’ll start to wonder how the heck they got so lazy! Interested in adopting? Huskies love winter, which means the event takes place primarily outdoors, so dress for the weather. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25-26 at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $15, $10 for kids 2-17; free parking. mortonarb.org/events/husky-heroes

POLAR ADVENTURE DAY

This annual tradition celebrates the joys of winter on Northerly Island, one of Chicago’s heavenly pockets of nature. Stroll the prairie with a cup of hot cocoa — while wearing snowshoes, if the weather demands it. Better still, meet a variety of animals well adapted for cold: birds of prey, huskies and wolves. Need to warm up? Hit the craft station indoors. Nearby parking ($3, cash only) is limited, so plan ahead. Noon till 4 p.m. Jan. 25, repeating Feb. 29, at Northerly Island, 1521 S. Linn White Drive. Free. https://tinyurl.com/svedgks

Jan. 26

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERT

Traditional Chinese music and theater take the spotlight at Symphony Center, a celebration to welcome the Year of the Rat. Featured performers are the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and the Zhejiang Shaoju Opera Theatre, taking the stage at 3 p.m. (Arrive early for preconcert activities, 1:30-2:30.) At Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $20-$80, or $99 for a family of four. https://order.cso.org/10471

Jan. 28

‘ONCE ON THIS ISLAND’

Tony-winning composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are better known for “Ragtime” and “Seussical,” but their best musical is actually this sumptuous fable about noble peasants, dubious aristocrats and a pantheon of Caribbean deities. The Broadway tour brings 2018’s Tony-winning production, recommended for ages 5 and up, to the Loop — an opportunity well worth the splurge. Eight performances over six days remain in the run: Jan. 28 to Feb. 2 at Cadillac Palace, 151 W. Randolph St. $21-$96. broadwayinchicago.com/show/once-on-this-island/

Jan. 31

‘REQUIEM: A WHITE WANDERER’

An innovative visual art and sound hybrid, “Requiem: A White Wanderer” is an installation and concert designed to focus attention on climate change. Inspired by the trillion-ton iceberg that calved off an Antarctic ice shelf in 2017, Chicago-based Luftwerk and composer Katherine Young used seismic data from the event to create the piece. Visitors can take “sound walks” around Pritzker Pavilion Lawn Jan. 31 through Feb. 2; the all-ages concert takes place twice Feb. 1, at 5 and 7 p.m. The earlier concert is specifically family-oriented; advance registration is highly recommended. At Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free. https://tinyurl.com/wdp8an7

Web Behrens is a freelance reporter.