STUDENT & YOUTH ACTIVITIES installations encourage students to question their perceptions. Playful people are the guests of honor at Sloomoo Institute , where everyone is encouraged to join in the hands-on, sensory activities. Your group can make their own slime from a selection of colors, textures, and scents that include various fruits, flowers, and desserts. Eat as many ice cream treats as you can at the Museum of Ice Cream . Find out how ice cream is made and play ice cream-themed games. Group bookings are available. ART/CULTURE At the Art Institute of Chicago , arrange a private tour or design your own self-guided tour to discover everything from ancient Roman sculpture to international contemporary art and one of the world’s largest collections of 19th-century French art. Download the free mobile app for an interactive map and audio tours. For a look at modern visual art, the Museum of Contemporary Art offers private tours for grades K – 12, helping youths understand art and its context. Instill a love of literature at the American Writers Museum with a private group tour, along with exhibits and activities in the Children’s Literary Gallery. Learn about famous authors and books, writing styles, and the creative process. Step into a fantasy world at the WNDR Museum , a continually changing immersive art and technology experience that’s also a great opportunity for group selfies. On the lower level of Willis Tower, students will delight in the rainbow hues at the Color Factory Chicago , where creative collaborators have designed art installations and immersive experiences with the aim to inspire joy in life. TOP PARADES CHICAGO ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE In March, see the Chicago River dyed emerald green — one of the world’s most famous St. Patrick’s Day traditions — then watch spirited Irish dancers and bagpipers march the parade route through the Loop. MEMORIAL DAY PARADE Each May, Chicago honors the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the U.S. A wreath laying ceremony in Daley Plaza is followed by a parade of floats and marching bands along State Street. BUD BILLIKEN PARADE A tradition created in 1929, the Bud Billiken Parade is the largest African American parade in the U.S. Bands, floats, and student performers entertain each Au-gust along two miles of Martin Luther King Drive. CHICAGO THANKSGIVING PARADE Start the holiday season in No-vember on historic State Street with a Thanksgiving Day morn-ing parade of helium balloon characters, marching bands, floats, celebrities, and more. THE MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL The highlight of this beloved November holiday event is a dazzling evening parade led by Mickey Mouse, who magically lights the trees along North Michigan Avenue. The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center ways, while the interactive Learning Labs offer hands-on science lessons made specifically for students. On the nearby University of Chicago campus, join a workshop about ancient Middle Eastern treasures housed in the Oriental Institute Museum , or take a guided tour of thought-provoking works at the Smart Museum of Art . Also in Hyde Park is The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center , where students learn about African American art and culture through special programs and activities. At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum , students can explore animal habitats, nature-inspired artwork, and outdoor walking trails. Its Sustainability Center features interactive exhibits that offer useful steps to help save the environment. Enter the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven , a 2,700-square-foot tropical greenhouse, and be surrounded by more than 1,000 free-flying butterflies. For grades 6 – 12, make a reservation (admission is free) at the Money Museum to learn about the Federal Reserve System, interest rates, circulation, and counterfeit currency. Everyone will go home with a free souvenir — a bag of shredded money. See chilling collections at the Medieval Torture Museum in the Loop. Visitors are transported back in time hundreds of years to one of the darkest periods in human history with recreations of torture chambers from the Middle Ages. This intense attraction is recommended for older students. All ages will enjoy the Museum of Illusions Chicago , a visual and sensory experience where images and art The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival ABEL ARCINIEGA (ALL PHOTOS) For even more ideas, go to choosechicago.com/ students . 15
Chicago Travel Professionals Guide 2023: Page 15
