Organizers revved up for Family Day at the auto show
Presidents Day is the day to plan a trip to the 2019 Chicago Auto Show if you have children. Monday, Feb. 18, is the day you can enjoy Family Day festivities, sponsored by The Daily Herald Media Group and the Meet Chicago Northwest convention and visitors bureau.
Because it is scheduled on a school holiday, the Chicago Auto Show's Family Day is designed to be a fun experience for all ages while families take in all that the Chicago Auto Show offers. The Family Day part of the show is actually located right outside the auto show floor, so it is free and open to the public. You don't need a ticket to the auto show to get into this area.
Family Day activities, which will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature affiliates of Meet Chicago Northwest, each providing fun entertainment at their booths. There also will be lively entertainment on the main stage, which will be decorated with a plethora of colorful balloons provided by Balloons by Chicago.
My Party Princess, a party and event planning business, will facilitate appearances of characters such as Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Fancy Nancy. In addition, "Skates" from the Chicago Wolves, "Coop" from the Schaumburg Boomers, "Boogie" from Topgolf, "Brock the Croc" from the Raging Waves Waterpark and knights from Medieval Times will be on hand to interact with attendees and pose for pictures with children.
There will be more than a dozen booths hosting activities including interactive games and puzzles. The Daily Herald will have a caricature artist creating drawings and will also offer a game in which you try to guess the number of stuffed animals in a container for a chance to win a prize. The newspaper is also giving away bags filled with free promotions to the first 800 people who visit its booth.
Family Day main stage
Enjoy a virtually nonstop schedule of performances on the Main Stage throughout the day. Times noted are tentative. For the most up-to-date schedule, go to events.dailyherald.com.
My Party Princess: Performances by several surprise Disney princesses are sure to delight your little ones. (Tentatively scheduled for 10:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.)
HOTT Productions Roselle: Featuring exciting dance team performances. (12:40 and 2:40 performances planned)
Medieval Times: Children ages 5 to 12 can train to be a knight of the realm under the tutelage of Medieval Times knights. Learn to perform basic sword strike in a group training session. Participants will then be raised to a knight or lady of realm in a group knighting ceremony. Space is limited, so arrive early to reserve a participation spot. (11:35 a.m., 1:45 and 3:15 p.m. performances)
Trickster Gallery of Native American Art: Dancers will be in full colorful regalia while they perform an Aztec-style, Nueallee cultural dance. (10:40 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.)
School of Rock: School of Rock will take the stage to perform their favorites from the School of Rock acoustic shows. (11:15 a.m. and 1:15 and 4 p.m.)
Activity booths
Here are the Family Day sponsors who will have activities and giveaways at their booths this year:
AMITA Health
Nurses will be on site giving children the opportunity to create art, using Band-Aids.
Arlington International Racecourse
Spin the Arlington Park prize wheel for a chance to win.
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo will keep the kids busy with educational activities and fun giveaways.
Caricature by Bruce
Stop by to see what you look like in a caricature drawing.
Chicago Dogs
Stop by the Chicago Dogs booth to dress up as a hot dog and take a picture with the lovable "Squeeze" and the mischievous "Ketchup." You can also win prizes by playing the team's fan favorite Lucky Dog game and be the first to experience a new interactive game, Three Strikes.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox booth will offer you a chance to win some great prizes! Additionally, from noon to 1 p.m., the team's mascot, Southpaw, will be available to meet with fans and take photos outside the booth.
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves will host dog adoptions at its booth from 1 to 6 p.m., along with team partners Chaos and Cuddles. The Wolves Adopt-A-Dog Program has sent more than 1,400 dogs to new homes from local animal shelters. You will also be able to test your hockey skills with an interactive game and register to win prizes.
Gameworks
Participate in interactive games for children and enjoy a character visit. There will also be giveaways and the chance to win a children's birthday party for 10.
IKEA
IKEA will offer arts and crafts projects for the kids and will be giving away coupons and an IKEA soft toy, while supplies last.
Medieval Times
During its three Main Stage performances, children ages 5-12 can learn from professional knights and perform the basic sword strikes used in combat. They will be taught in a group training session featuring a full speed demonstration by knights using real titanium swords! Space is limited in each session. Take photos with the knights at the booth and also be sure to pick up this year's event bag to get the 2019 Medieval Time calendar and great coupons.
My Party Princess
Stop by to see surprise character appearances from the princesses and friends. You may also enter for a chance to win.
Raging Waves Waterpark
Stop to meet Brock the Croc and enter for a chance to win a Family Four-Pack.
Schaumburg Boomers
Stop by for a game of bag toss for a chance to win and visit with the team's mascot, Coop.
School of Rock
The school's Chicago, Chicago West and Glen Ellyn locations host a Music Petting Zoo where kids get the opportunity to play a variety of musical instruments. You can also spin the School of Rock prize wheel for chance to win.
Topgolf
Topgolf's Wood Dale and Naperville locations will host a putting game for the kids to win fun prizes.
Trickster Gallery
Schaumburg's Trickster Art Gallery, the only Native American-owned and operated art institution in Illinois, will present an Aztec dance presentation for children and families to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of the Aztecs.