Okay, Chicago. We made it to March. The snow is gone, and hopefully the chill will be gone soon too… the kids are climbing the walls, and I’m officially declaring this a “get-out-of-the-house” weekend with another edition of things to do in Chicago. Whether you’re wrangling a three-year-old or finally stealing a night out with your partner, I’ve got you covered. As always, I’m sharing what I’d personally put on our family calendar, plus a couple picks just for the grown-ups. Let’s do it.
FOR THE KIDS
Once Upon a Symphony: The Bremen Town Musicians 📅 Saturday, March 7 📍 Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. 🎟️ Tickets required, check cso.org 👦 Ages 3 to 5
This one is genuinely special. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra does a 45-minute storytelling concert designed specifically for the littlest music lovers. We’re talking ages 3 to 5. Your kids follow four farm animals on a big adventure with live musicians, costumes, and a set designed just for them. It’s their first “real” concert experience, and honestly? It’s mine every time too. My daughter still talks about the last one we went to.
Pro tip: Arrive a little early so they can take in the grandeur of Orchestra Hall before it fills up. There’s something about watching a small child’s face when they walk into that space for the first time.
🏡 Realtor Mom Take: Symphony Center sits right in the heart of the Michigan Avenue Cultural Mile, and the real estate around South Loop and the Loop continues to be one of the best-kept secrets for families wanting walkability plus culture right out the front door. Just saying.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon: Last Weekend! 📅 Friday to Sunday, March 6 to 8 (closes after this weekend!) 📍 337 E. Randolph St., Millennium Park area 💰 Free admission; skate rentals ~$14 👦 All ages Reserve your session here
This is your LAST CHANCE of the season. The ribbon closes after March 8, and I refuse to let us miss it two years in a row. The Maggie Daley skating ribbon is genuinely one of the most iconic Chicago winter experiences. It winds through the park with skyline views that will make you fall in love with this city all over again. No hockey vibes, no rink drama. Just a beautiful, meandering path perfect for wobbly little legs and parents holding on for dear life.
Bundle up, grab hot cocoa from the café nearby, and consider this one a non-negotiable family moment before winter officially packs up.
🏡 Realtor Mom Take: The neighborhood around Millennium Park and Streeterville is having a moment right now. If you’ve ever thought about being walking distance from experiences like this, it’s worth a conversation.
Photo credit: Chicago Magazine
FOR THE ADULTS
Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color at the Art Institute of Chicago 📅 Opens Saturday, March 7 (runs through June 1) 📍 111 S. Michigan Ave. 🎟️ Included with museum admission 🍸 Must-pair: drinks at Cindy’s rooftop after Get tickets here
This is a big deal, and March 7 is opening weekend. Matisse’s iconic Jazz series, made from bold cut-paper works late in his career, is a landmark in modern art history, and this exhibit is a rare chance to see it up close right here in Chicago. It’s visually striking, emotionally alive, and the kind of art that reminds you why living in this city is a privilege.
Do yourself a favor: pair it with drinks at Cindy’s at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, just across the street. The rooftop views of Millennium Park and the skyline are unreal, especially as we head into longer evenings.
🏡 Realtor Mom Take: Michigan Avenue corridor real estate is perennially strong, and the density of walkable cultural amenities in this pocket of the city is something buyers consistently undervalue until they’re living it.
Photo credit: Art Institute of Chicago
Green City Market (Avondale): Saturday Morning Reset 📅 Saturday, March 7 · 8am to 1pm 📍 Avondale location (check greencitymarket.org for exact address) 💰 Free to browse Plan your visit here
Okay, I know this sounds tame, but hear me out. There is something deeply satisfying about starting a Saturday at an indoor farmers market, coffee in hand, kids at home with the other parent (or grandma), just wandering among beautiful produce and fresh bread like an actual adult who has their life together. Green City Market on Saturdays through March is that vibe.
Pick up a loaf of bread, local honey, some cheese that costs more than it should, and feel excellent about your weekend choices. Bonus: the Avondale neighborhood is one I love talking to clients about. Young, vibrant, growing. The kind of neighborhood that still feels a little like a secret.
🏡 Realtor Mom Take: Avondale is one of Chicago’s most exciting neighborhoods for buyers right now. Strong bones, good transit, and a community feel that’s hard to manufacture. If you haven’t looked here yet, let’s talk.
Photo credit: Green City Market
That’s your weekend. Two experiences to make your kids’ eyes light up and two to remind yourself that you are more than just a mom (though honestly, being a Chicago mom is a full-time hustle and I wear it proudly). Whether you lace up skates at Maggie Daley or sip something beautiful under an open sky at Cindy’s, you’re doing Chicago right.
As always, drop a comment below and tell me what your family is up to this weekend. I love hearing from you. And if any of this inspired a “maybe I should think about where we’re actually living” conversation, my DMs are always open. 🏡
Enjoy Chicago,
Juliana