The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

Can't get enough of marionettes? You'll love the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, which brings puppeteers from across the globe to the city for 12 days of symposiums and more than 120 performances and events. The Puppet Hub returns this year, which includes events on the fourth floor of the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue—take a look around to find everything from a puppet-themed cafe to film screenings in the building’s massive Studebaker Theater. Also back is the Ellen Van Volkenburg Symposium, workshops with visiting puppet artists, the Catapult Artist Intensive and more. For a full list of performances, visit the festival’s website.

The baseball season is still a few months aways but there will be plenty to talk about at the North Siders’ annual convention, which features panels, player meet-and-greets, autograph sessions and interactive experiences. If you're a die-hard Cubbies fan, this is just as sacred as a pilgrimage to the Friendly Confines.

While all of the other music festivals are hibernating, Tomorrow Never Knows brings up-and-coming artists venues all over the city. Organized by the folks at Schubas and Lincoln Hall, the lineup usually sports an abundance of rising acts who perform at the organizing venues as well as Sleeping Village, Metro and more. This year, you'll be able to catch a variety of bands, including American shoegaze band Airiel, indie rockers Maps & Atlases, singer Half Waif and more. Prices vary from show to show; visit the website for the full schedule.

Sober, sober-curious or practicing dry January? Sip your way through a variety of alcohol-free spirits, beer and wine at the third annual NA Day, Chicago’s non-alcoholic tasting event. Hosted by the nonprofit Chicago AF—which focuses on alcohol-free social gatherings—the event will showcase big-name brands like Ritual Zero Proof and Seedlip along with up-and-coming NA offerings for a comprehensive look at this growing sector of the beverage industry. This year, the event will have two sessions: noon-2pm and 3-5pm.

The legendary, if somewhat cheesy, rock ’n' rollers bid farewell to fans after 50+ years of rocking out. The “Peace Out” tour sees them hit the road all over North America throughout the year and into 2025. So don your tightest pants and get your devil horns at the ready for a final hurrah with classics including “Walk this Way” and “Dude (Looks like a Lady)”. For the Chicago gig they'll be joined by The Black Crows, so even more bang for your buck.

Drummer and button-pusher for indie-megastars The xx, Jamie Smith (stagename Jamie xx) turns his talents toward the dance floor for his solo career with a stripped-down mix of shuffling kicks and snares, sub bass, steel drum melodies and bare vocal samples. Supporting his latest record, In Waves, the London-based beatmaker will take over the Aragon Ballroom for an evening of remixes and original club bangers.

Join West Loop hotspot Girl & the Goat for a special LA Fire Relief Brunch that will raise funds for those impacted by the devastating wildfires in California. Stephanie Izard is teaming up with an incredible lineup of chefs, including Maneet Chauhan, Jason Vincent, Joe Sasto, Jonathon Sawyer and Karen Akunowicz, to give back to the LA community. Guests will enjoy dishes by each chef, with all proceeds going straight to the CA Wildfire Disaster & Relief Fund.

Watch Marvel's 2018 blockbuster superhero movie Black Panther while the Chicago Philharmonic performs composer Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar- and Grammy-winning score live. Senegalese tama drummer Massamba Diop, who recorded part of the soundtrack, will also perform. Tickets start at $49.

Time Out Market Chicago hosts a fabulous afternoon of glitz, glam and jaw-dropping performances! Hosted by Khloe Daniels, the drag show will feature performers—Aurora Gozmic, Vanda LaRose and Ari Blakk Diamond—who are ready to slay the stage in dazzling costumes. Tickets include a guaranteed seat to the show as well as bottomless mimosas for the duration of the event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

The Harold Washington Library Center hosts an afternoon of family-friendly fun, featuring winter play activities, music, art and more for children of all ages.

West Loop restaurant PB&J hosts an afternoon dedicated to the unbeatable combo of pizza and beer. Attendees will get to sample 15-20 brews and nosh on five slices of pizza. Upgrade to VIP for an extra hour of beer tastings.

Join Furama Restaurant for an afternoon of dim sum and drag. Catch performances by glamour gods and goddesses including Abhijeet, Dear Jamie and Angelica Grace while enjoying a buffet-style, dim sum feast. Cosplay is encouraged and prizes will be given away.

Check out all sorts of cool trinkets, wares and eats at this indoor market highlighting artisan makers from Chicago’s South Side. Taking place on the second floor of the Promontory, the family-friendly event features new and returning vendors, a cocktail bar, lounge areas and tunes by DJ Sean Alvarez of We Love Soul.

Broadway’s corniest hit musical comes to Chicago for a limited two-week engagement at CIBC Theatre. The Tony Award-winning production tells the tale of a woman who leaves home to learn why the corn in her small town is dying. Filled with humor and earworm songs, Shucked features a score by the Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and is directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien.

Most people call January "the first month of the year" or "four weeks of taking my resolutions seriously," but Chicago blues fans know that it's actually "Buddy Guy month." Throughout the month, the legendary bluesman picks up his polka-dot guitar and takes the stage during a residency at the South Loop blues clubs that bears his name. Guy performs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, with a different supporting act joining him each evening. This year, you'll see Guy paired with folks like Wayne Baker Brooks, Bobby Rush and Laretha Weathersby. Tickets to Guy's January residency aren't exactly cheap, but witnessing a bonafide blues icon perform in his hometown is the kind of experience that's worth the dough.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago presents its 38th annual slate of competition-winning one-acts by Chicago high school students, staged and performed by professional directors and actors. This year's featured plays are Love & Gyros by Lily Zhang, Family Fishing Trip by Lydia Vodopic and Superheroes Anonymous by Carolina Boss.

The South Loop Farmers Market heads indoors for the season, bringing more than 75 vendors each Sunday to the fourth level of Water Tower Place. Shop for fresh produce, preserved veggies, cheeses, meats and more while enjoying live entertainment. Guests can also check out a kids' play zone, capture special moments with family and pet photography, and play some virtual reality games.

Chicago farmers market season is well past its peak, but you can still get in on the fresh produce action during this winter edition of the Wicker Park market, which pops up inside The Robey on select Sundays from December through March. Browse goods from more than 15 local, rotating vendors like Donutistry, Hook Point Fisheries and The Love U Collective—and you can always grab a coffee from Cafe Robey to sip on while you stock up.

On the third Friday of every month,  resident artists at Bridgeport's Zhou B Art Center open their studio doors to the public for a night of mixing, mingling and, of course, art. Tour individual artist work spaces and shop for one-of-a-kind works from local painters, sculpters, photographers and more.

Skate under the Chicago skyline and within eyeshot of the Chicago Christmas Tree at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park. Plus, take advantage of free skating lessons on most Saturdays and Sundays, where you can learn both beginner- and intermediate-level skills. Note that you'll need to make a free online reservation for both regular skating and lessons, and if it seems too warm to skate, call ahead—this rink is open through February 2, weather permitting.

Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago with the city's sweeping skyline as a backdrop, the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is a winter attraction unlike any other. Skaters can lace up and wind around a winding ice-covered path that's twice the length of a lap around a traditional rink. Reservations for the popular ice rink should be made in advance, as they tend to fill up quickly.

Admission to the Skating Ribbon is free Monday through Thursday and for 11am sessions Friday through Sunday (and $5 for other time slots Friday through Sunday, as well as holidays) if you bring your own skates. No skates? Entry is $17–$23 if you need to rent a pair. The Ribbon stays open through March (weather permitting) and even offers hours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Slide past an indoor skydiving center and Fogo de Chão on the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park, where you can hit the ice on most days through the end of January. Check the official website for hours. Admission is free, and skate rentals are $8

Located on the terrace of The Peninsula Chicago, the 2,100-square-foot Sky Rink offers ice skating in the shadows of the city's tallest buildings, all while overlooking Michigan Avenue. Show off your skills in a winter wonderland featuring snowflake lighting and festive music, and when you need to warm up, grab a hot drink and snack at the Chalet.

Immerse yourself in a picture-perfect whimsical décor, sparkling lights and breathtaking Chicago skyline views from the 22nd floor and indulge in a delightful selection of holiday-themed cocktails, including steaming spiced mulled wine and chilled festive drinks. LondonHouse Chicago's rooftop also offers cozy heated igloos, which can be booked by contacting rsvp@londonhouse.com; reservations require a $600 food and drink minimum.

There’s plenty of cold weather fun to be had on the Art Deco-inspired terrace at the Gwen Hotel, which offers curling lanes plus fire pits and hot cocktails so you can warm up between rounds. Heat lamps are set up around the perimeter to keep things toasty and you can also hang out with a group around one of the fire tables.

The Godfrey’s rooftop becomes a winter wonderland when the temperatures plunge, featuring clear heated igloos decorated with festive lights that can be booked for groups of up to 10 people indulging in bottle service. Even if you’re not going all out, you can hang out at a booth under the retractable roof or gather around an outdoor fire pit for s’mores and a hot cocktail.

Look out over Lake Michigan and Millennium Park from the glass atrium on top of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. The outdoor terrace is accessible year round and features fire pits to keep you toasty while you sip drinks. Cindy’s is running an après ski-inspired pop-up, with classic cold weather cocktails and themed decorations that transport guests to a snowy mountain getaway, daily through February 28.

Fairmont Chicago has brought back its seasonal experience, Fairmont Lodge, for another year of wintry fun. The hotel’s lobby is transformed into a wonderland featuring themed décor, festive programming and seasonal menus. Guests can reserve a Lodge experience and indulge in hand-crafted cocktails and sweet and savory fondue, capped off with some tabletop s'mores. There’s also live entertainment Thursday through Saturday.

Just because baseball season is over doesn't mean the action in Wrigleyville goes into hibernation. Alma, the Hotel Zachary bar located across from Wrigley Field, is bringing back its heated terrace globes from November 16 to January 26. Up to six guests can enjoy holiday cocktails or kid-friendly options like hot chocolate, eggnog or sparkling cider, plus a build-your-own s’mores station curated by Amy’s Candy Bar. The globes also come equipped with a record player so you can play some holiday tunes, as well as board games and Polaroid cameras to help capture those picture-perfect moments.

The six-time Tony Award-winning production kicks off its national tour with a five-month run in Chicago. Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure—joined by a brave new generation, including Harry’s son Albus—that threatens to change the past and future forever. The play has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016, and holds a record 60 major honors.

Iconic chocolate brand Hershey has brought its first-ever immersive attraction to Water Tower Place, transporting guests to a whimsical, real-life candyland. Upon entering the indoor play experience, guests will explore various themed zones to discover what makes Hershey treats so special. From navigating a Twizzlers maze to celebrating the perfect combination in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, it’s family-friendly fun that tugs at the heartstrings. Plus, when you’re finished, stop by the retail store to snag limited-edition merch.

This new exhibition from Chicago Gamespace and the Cleve Carney Museum explores the history of legendary Chicago video game company Midway and its rise to prominence in the ‘90s. Take a look at behind-the-scenes videos, interviews with former game designers, and art, or try your hand at any of the 15 playable arcade games. Midway’s celebrated legacy includes hits like NARC, Smash TV, Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and Cruis’N USA.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has debuted an exhibit dedicated to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels—you just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

For more than 30 years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.