Bronzeville Children's Museum Annual Black History Month Celebration
2025-02-08 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Bronzeville Children’s Museum, 9301 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL, 60617, United States
We will be Honoring Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The Celebration will include Music, Singing, Crafts, Story Telling, Balloons and other activities.

Engineering Fest 2025
2025-02-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Drive, The Metropolitan, 66th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606, United States
Engineering Fest is the CAC’s premier family event, where young people are invited to imagine and design the worlds they want, need and deserve. Join us for FREE hands-on activities that explore Sustainable Engineering!
What is Engineering Fest?
Engineering Fest is the Chicago Architecture Center’s premier family event, where young people are invited to imagine and design the worlds they want, need and deserve. Join for hands-on activities that explore Sustainable Engineering!
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, visit between 10am and 2pm to build and learn, explore the Willis Tower, meet engineers, and learn how architecture and engineering partner to create sustainable cities.
COST
This festival is FREE with pre-registration.
If you find programs like these valuable, please consider donating to the CAC to help us create more of them!
WHERE WILL THIS EVENT BE HELD?
Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60606.
Who is this event for?
Activities are geared toward youth ages 8-12, but the whole family is welcome to join!
Groups of youth from other organizations are welcome to attend with chaperones.
What will I learn?
Engineering Fest 2025 is all about Sustainable Engineering! How is Chicago’s unique architecture responding to evolving climate needs? What can we learn from past engineering innovation? How can we design a more sustainable future for all?
Expect all the following, and more!

Hands-on activities — Design, build and test engineering solutions at drop-in stations
Interactions with professionals — Learn about education and career pathways from activity facilitators working in engineering and related fields
Walking tours — Deepen understandings of sustainable engineering with CAC’s expert Education Guides
Exposure to further CAC Learning offerings
Free passes to visit the Chicago Architecture Center, with brief survey completion

Questions? Email caclearning@architecture.org
CAC’s Engineering Fest is a part of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Youth Learning Programs.

Summer Youth Social Powwow
2025-05-31 12:00 - 19:00 | Trickster Cultural Center, 190 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL, 60193, United States
This youth-led community event is FREE and open to the general public event. This “Summer Youth Social Powwow” event aims to foster community relations, youth literacy, cultural exchange with a powwow and provide local community resources at Trickster Cultural Center.

DANK Haus Oktoberfest Celebration
2025-09-27 18:30 - 23:30 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest at the DANK Haus on Friday, September 27th, from 6:30–11:30 PM with an indoor festival straight out of Munich! Our historic Marunde Ballroom on the 5th floor will be transformed with biergarten-style tables, traditional festival décor, and our signature vintage bar pouring imported German Bier like Spaten Oktoberfest and Würzburger, alongside other authentic German brews on tap.
Feast on German classics—Thüringer, Bratwurst, Leberkäse, potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzels, and Landjäger—while enjoying live entertainment, including the Alpine Thunder band, Schuhplattler dancers, and the mesmerizing Alphorn Duo!
Test your strength in our famous Stein Holding Contest, dance the night away, and come dressed in your finest Dirndl or Lederhosen.
We appreciate your RSVP, with special packages available when you reserve your spot. Don’t miss the Oktoberfest of the season at the DANK Haus!

Daughters of Anacaona: A Groundbreaking Art Exhibition Celebrating Feminine Strength, Resilience, and Integrity
2025-10-09 - 2025-12-12 | Alliance Française de Chicago, 54 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
The Alliance Française de Chicago, in partnership with Partners In Health, proudly announces the opening of Daughters of Anacaona. This groundbreaking art exhibition in celebration of feminine strength and integrity will be on display in the Alliance’s Eleanor Wood Prince Salon.
This compelling exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the legacy of Anacaona, the legendary Taíno cacica (chief), poet, and composer whose resistance and sacrifice symbolize the strength and dignity of Caribbean women across history. Curated by three dynamic exhibiting women artists from the Haitian diaspora—Chantal Bethel, Véronique De Mesmaeker, and Persida Louison—this exhibition is a convergence of ancestral memory, historical truth, and contemporary creative expression. Their work spans mixed media, acrylic, fiber, ceramics, and poetry. A special grand opening will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 9 at AF-Chicago in River North. The program will feature a moderated conversation with the artists led by Chantal Bethel and a presentation by Partners In Health, as well as light refreshments, drinks, and cultural exchange.
$10 Suggested Donation

Open House Chicago 2025
2025-10-18 - 2025-10-19
Taking place Oct. 18-19, OHC is a FREE public festival that provides access to places of architectural, historical and cultural significance across 20+ Chicago neighborhoods.
Each October, the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) hosts Open House Chicago (OHC), a free public festival that offers rare behind-the-scenes access to sites of architectural, historical and cultural significance. The event also spotlights businesses, organizations and creative leaders contributing to the vitality of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.
OHC is one of the largest events of its kind in the world. This festival is a part of Open House Worldwide, a network of almost 60 organizations hosting festivals and conversations about architecture, design and cities across the globe.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the festival, photo competition, and the featured sites and neighborhoods, which will be announced as the event dates approach. We look forward to seeing you out there!

The German Imprint on our American Christmas
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
The German Imprint on our American Christmas | Presented by Mike Haas
Christmas — or Weihnachten — is Germany’s most beloved holiday, and America’s too! What many Americans don’t realize is just how deeply German immigrants have shaped the way we celebrate the season.
From the Christmas tree to Santa Claus, from mistletoe and gingerbread houses to Nutcrackers and Advent calendars, so many of our favorite traditions have German origins. Even our cherished Christmas music from Handel’s Messiah to O Tannenbaum to Silent Night carries the spirit of that heritage. And who could forget A Charlie Brown Christmas or the joyful Christmas markets that now brighten towns across the United States?
Join us for an insightful and festive presentation exploring the stories behind these beloved traditions. Whether you come to learn, share, or simply celebrate, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation of the German influence on America’s most cherished holiday.

Black History Month
2026-02-01 - 2026-03-01, 2027-02-01 - 2027-03-01, 2028-02-01 - 2028-02-29, 2029-02-01 - 2029-03-01
