Fun Things to Do in Chicago for February 2024

Explore Chicago by celebrating the Lunar New Year in Chinatown, taking a wine class at the Discovery Center, and more with a Meetup group.

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Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, and one of the most recognizable. Chicago is known far and wide because of its top-tier universities, stunning museums, world-famous sports teams like the Chicago Bulls, deep-dish pizza, and so much more. Whether you’re a long-time resident or a first-time visitor, you can discover tons of fun things to do in Chicago, like joining a whirlyball league or wandering through the incredible Mitsuwa Marketplace.

With Meetup, you never have to do fun things alone. Check out the following Meetup events happening around Chicago during the month of February 2024, and have a great time with new friends!   

Discover a new sport at WhirlyBall Chicago   

WhirlyBall Chicago is one of the world’s premier places dedicated to a 21st-century team sport. It combines elements of basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and bumper cars! The object of the game is to use lacrosse-like slings to pass around a wiffle ball to teammates, and eventually to throw the ball into the other team’s goal at one end of an open bumper car court.    

On Sunday, February 4, you can join Free & Cheap Culture & Night Life as they kick off a six-week whirlyball league. This Meetup group of nearly 19,000 members believes hanging out with the same group of people each week makes it effortless to build relationships. WhirlyBall Chicago also features bowling lanes, laser tag, and arcade games, so stick around after your match! 

Participate in a silent book club 

North Chicagoland Silent Book Club creates a communal space for readers to gather and crack open their books together. There’s no reading list, members just bring whatever books they fancy, then enjoy a calming atmosphere where everyone is free to read at their own pace. 

On Saturday, February 10, you can join this Meetup group of nearly 300 members at the Robert Crown Community Center. After a quiet reading hour, the space opens up for bookish chats over snacks and drinks. 

Check out the Mitsuwa Japanese Market 

Located in Arlington Heights, the Mitsuwa Marketplace is a one-stop shop filled with all kinds of Japanese products, including food and drink as well as homegoods, books, cosmetics, and more. You can purchase packaged food from their stores or get it fresh from their market stalls and eat it at the food court. If you’re a fan of sushi, ramen, Japanese pastries, and Japanese-style coffee, this is the place for you. 

On Saturday, February 17, you can join Foodies Friendship & Fun, a Meetup group of nearly 600 members, as they explore this epic grocery store only available in a select few cities across the country.  

Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Chinatown  

On Sunday, February 18, Chicago will be celebrating the Lunar New Year with a festive parade through Chinatown. You can witness all the colorful floats, dancing dragons, and traditional musicians with HiYak® Adventures. This Meetup group has over 200 members who often hike and kayak (hence HiYak), and generally love being outdoors.  

They’ll gather at Kung Fu Tea for some soothing warm beverages before heading out into the cold and walking along the parade route. Make sure to wear red, a traditional symbol of the Lunar New Year, or anything that screams “Year of the Dragon” to you!   

Take a non-traditional wine class at the Discovery Center 

Located in Irving Park, the Discovery Center is Chicago’s largest and longest-running adult education center. On Friday, February 23, you can register for one of their most fun classes on sparkling, rosé, and orange wines! 

Join 20s and 30s Socials, a Meetup group of nearly 2,000 members, as they travel the wine landscape beyond the red and white binary. You’ll taste some fantastic wines, talk about how they’re made, why they’re made, and how to find a bottle you love at any price. The class will also cover wine and food pairings, the influence of soil and climate on wine, and how to read a wine label. Whether you’re a wine lover or you’re just beginning your journey, this class has something to offer. 

Don’t see any activities that speak to you? 

Don’t worry. There are so many fun things to do in Chicago, it would be impossible to capture them all on one list. If there’s an activity you’d love to do in Chicago but you can’t find an event for it, you can easily create your own Meetup group and host your own event!  

Check out these new Meetup groups in Chicago     

Find events, join groups, and communicate with your people—from anywhere. Download the Meetup app today!

Last modified on January 29, 2024