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Maureen Wilkey

Latest posts by Maureen

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2022 in Chicago: Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey Trots, Christmas Shows

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 12:33pm

Holiday light parade photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Naperville

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this Thanksgiving weekend 2022? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Gobble up some activities along with your turkey this Thanksgiving weekend! There's plenty to do around Chicago to kick off the holiday season. Check out the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade along State Street or sing along with carolers in Millennium Park. Get outside to move around after turkey dinner at a Turkey Trot in Grant Park or Beverly, or Opt Outside at North Park Nature Village. The first performances of A Chistmas Carol are scheduled for this weekend at The Goodman Theater downtown and The Mac in Glen Ellyn, while The Nutcracker is playing in Hinsdale and Joliet.

With the weather staying seasonably in the 40s for the weekend, this is a great time to check out one of our favorite holiday light shows and drive-thrus, or plan a skating trip for on one of our favorite outdoor rinks. Plan out one of  your December weekends to include a showing of The Nutcracker or a ride on the CTA Holiday Train.

Let's all give thanks for our wonderful kiddos as we enter this holiday season together!

Read more.

27 Ways to See The Nutcracker Ballet in Chicago this Holiday Season

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Sun, 11/20/2022 - 12:52pm

The Art Deco Nutcracker photo by Dan Swinton Imagery, courtesy of the A & A Ballet

Taking kids to "The Nutcracker" in Chicago this holiday season? We have a list of over two dozen performances of "The Nutcracker" in the Chicago area.

Do you have little ballerinas or danseurs with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads? Then it might be time to pirouette to a production of "The Nutcracker" ballet near Chicago this holiday season. Presented by students and professionals all across Chicagoland, the holiday classic of "The Nutcracker" ballet tells the story of a little girl who dreams that her toy nutcracker comes to life. Ballet companies and schools throughout the world each have their own twist on the story, many with elaborate sets and costumes that give kids and grown-ups the decadent feeling of the holidays. Tchaikovsky's score is one that many parents who once took dance lessons can still hum from memory.

Read more.

Live Christmas Tree vs. Artificial Christmas Tree: Which One is Better for the Earth?

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Tue, 11/15/2022 - 12:00pm

Is it better to chop down a living tree, or reuse a hunk of plastic? We investigated. Photo by Any Lane via Pexels

Every Black Friday, I shoo my kids into the basement, climb the ladder to the attic, and extract our 45-pound artificial Christmas tree. Come January 6, I cram the branches back into the straining box while the kids cry about Christmas being over, then push the box back up the ladder. And every year I wonder if I'm actually helping the environment as I thought by reusing my artificial Christmas tree—or if chopping down a living, breathing Christmas tree would actually be more earth-friendly.

I decided to investigate, and the answer may surprise you... Read on to find out which option is better for our planet, plus get tips on picking the perfect Christmas tree for your family.

For more ways to help save the planet this holiday season and all year long, check out our Earth Kids Guide, and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter.

Read more.

Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Chicago for Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 11/11/2022 - 9:20pm

The Nutcracker is always one of Chicago's top holiday events. Photo by Cheryl Mann, courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet

Looking for holiday activities near Chicago this holiday season 2022? We've got you covered.

Read more.

CTA Holiday Trains and Other Christmas Train Shows in Chicago

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 11/04/2022 - 10:59am

CTA is running its holiday trains and buses in 2022. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Loop Alliance

CTA Holiday Trains and Buses are back in 2022! Here's what you need to know.

The Chicago Loop Alliance has announced that the CTA Holiday Train will be riding the rails again for the 31st year in 2022. Holiday buses are back, too! Santa Claus is planning his return to the trains and buses and for pictures with kids after a year off in 2020 and a year of social distancing in 2021.

Read on for our CTA holiday train tips and more Chicago Christmas train show recommendations. And don't miss our list of Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in Chicago.

Read more.

Best of November: Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving Parade, and More Things to Do in Chicago

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 8:41am

Harry Potter: Magic at Play made our list of best things to do in November. Photo courtesy of Harry Potter: Magic at Play

November brings plenty of things to do, as Chicago gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Chicago this month. 

Read more.

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in Chicago

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Sun, 10/23/2022 - 10:52am

Christmas trains in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Railway Museum.

Looking for Christmas trains in Chicago? Many are cancelled, but we were still able to find available Polar Express train rides near Chicago.

Read more.

How to Compost: A Guide for Kids and Families

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Tue, 10/18/2022 - 10:45am

Did you know that compost actually shouldn't be smelly? Photo by Eva Bronzini

Everything about how to compost sounds like a recipe for disaster: it takes up loads of space, it's super smelly, and everyone knows it attracts mice. Throw kids into the mix, and what parent wants to start that project? Unless ... none of that conventional wisdom is actually true. Composting is clean, stink-and-critter-free, reduces landfill, is great for the earth, and is a task that kids are eager to take on. Ok, mostly critter-free. If you have a backyard, you might want to get some worms—but for your kids, that will be part of the appeal!

Many cities, including New York and Los Angeles, offer composting programs where residents have a separate bin for organic waste. Other cities have private organizations with receptacles in designated locations for compost. But you can also compost in your own yard or kitchen, and with these easy steps to get started, your kids can be a part of the process.

For 26 Tips for Living More Sustainably Every Day and more ideas for creating more earth-friendly habits for your family, check out our Earth Kids Guide and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter for more ideas and activities every month.

Read more.

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