The Wrigley Field Ice Rink will return for the 2011 Holiday Season. The dates will be The Ice Rink at Wrigley Field will be open November 25, 2011 through February 26, 2012.

The City of Chicago has installed a temporary Ice Rink OUTSIDE Wrigley Field, which will allow local residents to take part in Wrigley Field Ice Skating. The Ice Skating rink at Wrigley Field is sponsored by the Chicago Park District, The Chicago Blackhawks and several private donors.

Since the Hockey Game at Wrigley Field, the public has fallen in love with the idea of Ice Skating at Wrigley Field. Residents had the opportunity to ice skate at Wrigley Field last year after the hockey game, but that only lasted for a short time.

Having Ice Skating at Wrigley Field will be a great opportunity for members of the community to get out and soak in the winter fun with their friends and family. Watch for more updates about Wrigley Field Ice Skating.

Checkout all the Chicago Winter Events.

Early bird discounts are available on the Navy Pier website or Click Here for a $2 Coupon.

Navy Pier Winter Wonderland 2011 opens at 10am daily. Winter Wonderfest has decreased the price of their wristbands this year. ($15 Standard, $18 Premium). Premium Winter Wonderfest writstbands include access to the ice skating rink.



Navy Pier Winter Wonderland 2011 – Hours

December 2nd, 2011 – December 17th, 2011
Sunday through Thursday – 10:00am – 5:00pm
Friday and Saturday – 10:00am. – 10:00pm

December 18th, 2011 – January 8th, 2012
Sunday through Thursday – 10:00am – 8:00pm
Friday and Saturday – 10:00am – 10:00pm

Special Winter Wonderland Holiday Hour
Christmas Eve: December 24th, 2011 – 10:00am – 5:00pm
Christmas Day: December 25th, 2011 – CLOSED
New Years Eve: December 31st, 2011 – 10:00am – 8:00pm

Checkout all the Chicago Winter Events.



Navy Pier has extended the “Winter Wonderland” 2011 (aka Winter Wonderfest) to run an extra week into 2012. Winder Worderfest 2011 will be running daily from December 2nd, 2011 until January 8th, 2012. Admission to the Navy Pier Winter Wonderland is free but a wristband is required for some rides and attractions. For complete information about the festival’s admission policies, check out the official Navy Pier Winter Wonderland website.

While the winter wonderland website isn’t hard to navigate, there is a lot of information there, so I will attempt to break down the basics so that you can know what to expect from this festival.

Chicago Blackhawks Skating Rink
Winter Wonderland Ferris wheel
Matterhorn Climb & Slide
Winter Wonderland Wind Glider
Navy Pier Reindeer Express Train Ride
Patch’s Lighthouse
Ice Dragons Kringle Carousel
Navy Pier Extreme Ice Trail Ropes Course
Pepsi Create-A-Cookie Cottage
Wonderland Inflatable Games
Winter WonderStage
Winter WonderFest Junior

Navy Pier Winter Wonderland 2011 – Admission
General Admission is free.

Navy Pier Winter Wonderland Regular Activity Wristband – $15.00
Includes unlimited single-day access to rides and activities excluding Ice Skate Rental.

Navy Pier Winter Wonderland Premium Activity Wristband – $18.00
Includes unlimited single-day access to rides and activities including Ice Skate Rental.

Premium Family Free Parking Package -$76.00
Includes 4 Premium wristbands (includes ice skating) and Parking.

On Tuesday, August 24th, 2010, the Tall Ships Parade will arrive in Chicago. 25 Tall Ships from around the world will dock along the north side of Navy Pier. The six-day extravaganza kicks off with cannon blasts and foreign national anthems against a waterfront backdrop.

Wednesday, August 25th – Sunday, August 29th, 2010 will feature the Tall Ships docked at Navy Pier and along the Chicago River. Events include international music, ship exhibits, crew challenges, arts and crafts, boat building, maritime displays, nightly fireworks, arts and crafts and much more. In addition to on-deck tours and hospitality, visitors will enjoy dockside historical and maritime lectures, nautical-themed dining and sing-alongs.

Ticket Prices for boarding the ships is said to be $20-$25 per person, to board as many ships as you wish. Check back to Chicago Hot Blog for updates as more details emerge. There will of course be plenty to do and see without purchasing a boarding pass.

Tall Ships Chicago

Tall Ship rigging may include square rigs and gaff rigs, with separate topmasts and topsails. It is generally more complex than modern rigging, which utilizes newer materials such as aluminum and steel to construct taller, lightweight masts with fewer, more versatile sails. Most smaller, modern vessels use Bermuda rig. Though it did not become popular elsewhere until the twentieth century, this rig was developed in Bermuda in the seventeenth century, and had historically been used on its small ships, the Bermuda sloops.

It has not yet been decided how registration will be setup for the event, but it is likely that the public will be able to register online. Attendees should expect long lines and extremely high security.

Obama’s Grant Park Election Night Party

Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign will hold what it hopes will be an Election Night celebration in Grant Park in Chicago, a campaign aide confirmed this morning.

The Obama event is expected to take place on the south end of the park in an area known as Hutchison Field.

It could also be cold on the night of Nov. 4. But it will almost certainly no colder than frigid February 2007 day when Obama announced his presidential bid at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

The campaign aide declined to say how large a crowd is expected, or whether it would rival the size of the pope’s appearance or the Bull’s celebration.

Chicago May Events 2008
Looptopia 2008, one of the biggest events of the springtime, comes to Chicago’s Loop on the night of Friday, May 2, 2008.

Midnight Juggernauts bring their U.S. tour to Chicago’s Double Door on Friday, May 2, 2008.

MCA First Friday opens their doors for their monthly party on Friday, May 2, 2008.

Hyde Park Art Center hosts their monthly “Cocktails and Clay” event on Friday, May 9, 2008.

The Police come to Chicago’s Allstate Arena on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

The Chicago Roller Derby will hold events on Saturday, May 10 and Saturday, May 31, 2008.

Duran Duran come to Chicago’s Rosemont Theatre on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

The Cure will perform at Chicago’s Allstate Arena on Friday, May 17, 2008.

Chicago Green Festival will be at Chicago’s Navy Pier, May 17 & 18, 2008.

Air Traffic will perform at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge on May 18, 2008.

Navy Pier Fireworks will kick off the 2008 season on Saturday, May 24, 2008. Additional dates include Wednesday, May 28 and Saturday, May 31.

Chicago April 2008 Events
MCA First Friday will take place on Friday, April 4th, 2008. Hit the scene with some of Chicago’s most eligible singles and check out some of the newest art exhibits.

The Hyde Park Art Center holds its monthly social mixer, “Cocktails and Clay”, on Friday, April 11, 2008.

Chicago Roller Derby holds their April event on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Merchandise Mart Artopolis will be the headlining event in Chicago during April 24-28, 2008.

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Head over to Red Dog House and get your Microchip Dog Tracker to help keep your dog safe. $30; Thursday, March 6th.

MCA First Friday takes place at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday, March 7th.

Lebowski Fest Chicago will run March 7-9, 2008, at various locations across Chicago. Celebrating the cult-classic film, many of the movie’s stars have been known to make appearances at these festivals.

The Chicago Flower Show will be at Rosemont’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, March 8-16.

Hyde Park Art Center will host their monthly Second Friday, “Cocktails and Clay” event on Friday, March 14th.

One of the biggest parties of the year, The Soutside Irish Parade romps through Chicago’s Southside on Sunday, March 9th. Get there early to get a good view of the green madness.

Another Southside institution, The Chicago Roller Derby will have it’s monthly run at The Roller Derby Stadium on Sunday, March 9th and Saturday, March 29th at 6pm.

WWE Smackdown comes to Chicago’s Allstate Arena on Tuesday, March 11th. Don’t miss the chance to see all of your favorite WWE Superstars. (Click Here to Buy Tickets Now)

The Chicago Scuba Expo will be at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, March 15-17, 2008. Scuba Exhibitions, Workshops and Seminars.

March 15th is the day when the city will Dye The Chicago River Green, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The annual event is one of Chicago’s favorite traditions. It happens at 10:45 am. Then head down to Grant Park for Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Future Events
Pitchfork Music Festival 2008
Lollapalooza 2008
Taste of Chicago 2008
2008 Chicago Air Show
Bon Jovi Chicago

For more information, check out the official Critical Mass Art Show 2008 website.

The Critical Mass Art Show 2008 features art that celebrates the bicycle as a way for people to connect with their community and be a better citizen. Choosing to travel by bicycle slows down the damage we are doing to our planet – especially the damage done by personal automobiles, which are wreaking havoc with emissions of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances, and are responsible for more than 40,000 deaths a year in the United States alone. With diversity, vitality and vision, the Critical Mass Art Show celebrates the bicycle as a symbol of self-sufficiency and an elegant solution to congestion, pollution and sprawl produced by the private automobile.

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