From mid-November to mid-March, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is open to the public, and skate rental is $10. The rink, located right on Michigan Avenue at the McCormick Tribune Plaza, is open daily with differing hours, so check the website before you go. The Chicago Winter Dance in February includes free skating lessons and late-night dance parties, with themes such as "The '80s," "Valentine's Day" and "Lady Gaga." All park events are free.
The Grant Park Music Festival once was held in Grant Park, with the focus on the Petrillo Music Shell. The Festival, however, has moved to Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion. The Grant Park Orchestra, Chorus and resident ensembles perform throughout warmer months in a series of classical concerts. The events are free and open to the public, but you may buy a season membership, which is a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to help keep the events going.
The Chicago Cultural Center hosts a film fest year round, with the most recent series ending December 31, 2012. Some films run concurrently, and all boast free admission to the public. The monthly screening series showcases movies from PBS' "Independent Lens," while the summer series spotlights international films, with each program focusing on one country.
The Cafe Society is a discussion group that meets the third Wednesday of every month at the Randolph Cafe in Millennium Park. Come prepared by viewing the discussion topic, which is chosen from current events or issues, with current media reports serving as the stimulus of the conversation. The most recent series runs through February 15, 2012.
