There hasn't been much snow to kick off 2023, but there is no doubt that winter is here in Lake County. This weekend we also observe the birthday of one of the most prominent leaders in the Civil Right movement. Let's look at things to do this weekend, January 13-16, 2023.
We will celebrate local breweries, wineries, and distilleries in February with Lake County Libation Trail Month and Check-In Challenge. To plan for this month-long celebration, be sure to click here.
They are celebrating the season in Vernon Hills with some outdoor fun. Highland Park is making a splash and looking into the twilight. You can learn about brave seafarers at the National Museum of the American Sailor. Great things are happening at Volo Museum. Take an evening hike at two Lake County Forest Preserves. Let's look at the top five things to do this weekend, January 13-16.
Celebrate Lake County’s brisk season by heading to Vernon Hill’s free Winter Fest. The Century Park Arboretum winter party is highlighted by horse-drawn carriage rides, a sled dog demonstration by Free Spirit Siberian Rescue of Harvard, sweet treats like s’mores over an open fire, ice skating and sledding (if the ice is frozen and there is snowfall). In addition, the Vernon Hills Park District Winter Fest offers free ice skate rentals.
Saturday, January 14; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Century Park Arboretum, 1002 Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills.
Highland Park hosts various happenings during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday weekend. First, make a splash at the Park District of Highland Park’s Winter Plunge. The kid-friendly pool party encourages youngsters to swim and search for toys and treats. The city’s recreation center event divides participants into three age groups. Coast Guard-approved floating devices are welcome. When the sun sets over Heller Nature Center Saturday night, observe the sky twinkling at the Park District of Highland Park’s Light in the Night. Visitors can explore caves, make shadow puppets and view fireflies. The city’s recreation center also hosts its 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The Civil Rights icon ceremony is highlighted by a keynote address by President of Highland Park Hospital Gabrielle Cummings called “Unity in the Community” and a dance showcase by the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater of Chicago. Following the ceremony, visitors can participate in service projects like making Valentines for veterans, dignity bags for people without housing, thank you notes for first responders and more.
Saturday and Monday, January 14 and 16. Winter Plunge: 1-2:30 p.m. Admission: $12-$15. Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. W, Highland Park. Light up the Night: 6-7:30 p.m. Admission: $12. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd., Highland Park. MLK Day of Service: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free admission. Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. W, Highland Park.
“Farewell to foreign shores; we sail at break of day.” Learn about “a global force for good” at the National Museum of the American Sailor. The Naval Station Great Lakes exhibition unveils the stories of enlisted sailors, from colonial American to present-day soldiers. Then, go “full steam ahead” as visitors explore exhibits like “Sails Unfurled: the Dawn of the Navy,” “Marked by the Sea: Tattoos of the U.S. Navy,” “A Culture of Ink: Tattoos of Navy Sailors and more. The naval museum is free and open to the public, Mondays through Saturdays, but is closed on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Friday-Saturday, January 13-14; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. National Museum of the American Sailor, 2531 Sheridan Rd., Great Lakes.
Volo Museum and Jurassic Gardens are one of Lake County’s most captivating and treasured staples. The museum features a collection of over 300 cars, vans and trucks ranging from antique, vintage, Hollywood and more. The exhibition also features planes, trains, snowmobiles, bicycles, a vintage carousel and so much more. On your trip, you and the kiddies can take a trip back to the prehistoric age at Jurassic Gardens. This experience, separate from the museum, is highlighted by lifelike animatronic dinosaurs, fossil digging and giant reptile facts for kiddies to learn. Volo Museum and Jurassic Garden offer free admission to youngsters ages 12 and under on MLK Day. The Volo Village Road facility also runs sensory Sundays for Jurassic Garden visitors, where the dino venue is well-lit and the animatronics remain quiet and still. Both attractions are open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. year-round.
Friday-Monday, January 13-16; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Volo Museum admission: $16.96-$19.95. Jurassic Gardens: $15.95. Combo Tickets: $24.95-$31.95. Volo Museum and Jurassic Gardens, 27582 Volo Village Rd., Volo.
No matter the season, visitors enjoy the fruits of what Mother Nature gave us in Lake County: The tall trees, the winding trails, the serene bodies of waters, the creatures and critters and the picturesque plant life. The Lake County Forest Preserves District (LCFPD) flips the switch to its solar lit for evening hikes at Old School (Libertyville) and Lakewood Forest Preserves (Wauconda). The Libertyville trail stretches 1.3 miles, while the illuminated Wauconda woods spans a 1.65-mile section of the Millennium Trail. When more snow falls, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is permitted. Canine friends are allowed but must be leashed. The stars on a clear night are spectacular. You can experience a night hike as the LCFPD has solar-lit trails through March 12.
Friday-Monday, January 14-17; Dusk-9 p.m. Old School Forest Preserve, 28285 N. St. Mary’s Rd., Libertyville. Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Rd., Wauconda.
Visit Lake County announces the winners of our 2022 #LetsGoLakeCounty photo contest. See the winners by clicking here.
Click here to see more things to do this weekend January13-16, 2023.
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