About us
WINDY CITY DADS is a diverse and welcoming community for Chicago-land fathers living in the city and suburbs. We believe in active parenting, shared experiences and building a supportive network. Whether you are a new dad or seasoned pro, join us as we navigate fatherhood together.
Please note: this group is strictly for Dads, we understand sometimes wives will join for their significant others but we encourage all fathers to join our group on their own accord, it takes few minutes to setup their own meetup profile. We want this group to be a comfortable place for all Dads to learn and talk about anything dad related.
Our Windy City Dads Group is FREE to join and attend meetup events. Some meetups will have a cost to participate but everyone can pay their own way is what we found out works the best.
Level Up Your Windy City Dads Gear!
Windy City Dads Group Online Store! > Shop the collection: [Swag.WindyCityDads.com](www.swag.windycitydads.com)
As our community grows, so does our impact. To keep our core membership free and accessible to every dad in Chicago, we are moving toward a "Support the Crew" model. Every shirt, hoodie, or mug you buy directly funds our meetup expenses, operating expenses, and community events.
Why grab a shirt?
• Stand Out: Our sponsors love seeing a sea of Windy City Dads gear at our exclusive screenings. It helps us secure even bigger perks for you.
• The Dad Uniform: It makes finding the group at a crowded park or restaurant a breeze.
• Quality: We didn't just slap a logo on a cheap tee; these are built for the "dad life."
For those who want to go the extra mile without the gear, you can become an Official Group Supporter below.
Our goal is to keep membership dues at $0. By rocking our gear and supporting the store, you’re ensuring we stay one of the largest, most active dad communities in the city that we love. Let’s show Chicago who we are!
For those of you on social media, we also ask that you share your evebt engagement photos on your personal accounts like Facebook taging our "Windy City Dads" so we can engage share, like and comment, which will help broaden our social media reach in an effort to expand our audience and ultimately get more members to join our meetup group. By doing so will help us get more sponsored event opportunities. You can also follow us on Instagram and TicTok @WindyCityDads
FYI ~ When you 1st join and setup your Meetup profile (or if you reinstall Meetup on your device), please note you will be asked by Meetup to pay $9.99/month to upgrade to "Meetup+". You do NOT need to pay for this, because our group is FREE. When this offer from Meetup pops up, just hit the X in the top corner to decline it.
Featured event
Windy City Dads Group Online Store!
Level Up Your Windy City Dads Gear!
Windy City Dads Group Online Store! > Shop the collection: Swag.WindyCityDads.com
As our community grows, so does our impact. To keep our core membership free and accessible to every dad in Chicago, we are moving toward a "Support the Crew" model. Every shirt, hoodie, or mug you buy directly funds our meetup expenses, operating expenses, and community events.
Why grab a shirt?
• Stand Out: Our sponsors love seeing a sea of Windy City Dads gear at our exclusive screenings. It helps us secure even bigger perks for you.
• The Dad Uniform: It makes finding the group at a crowded park or restaurant a breeze.
• Quality: We didn't just slap a logo on a cheap tee; these are built for the "dad life."
For those who want to go the extra mile without the gear, you can become an Official Group Supporter below.
Our goal is to keep membership dues at $0. By rocking our gear and supporting the store, you’re ensuring we stay one of the largest, most active dad communities in the city that we love. Let’s show Chicago who we are!
Upcoming events
9
Design the 2026 Windy City Dads Father’s Day Shirt!
·OnlineOnlineWhen: Submissions Open Now – Friday, May 29th, at noon.
Where: Online Submissions (Upload to this Meetup)
Cost: Free to Enter### Dads—Everyone Wins This Father’s Day!
We’re launching our 2026 Father’s Day Design Contest, but with a major upgrade. This year, we aren’t just crowning one winner—we’re making sure up to 25 kids get to see their masterpiece brought to life.
### The Two Ways to Win:
🏆 The Official 2026 Group Winner We will select one design to be the "Official 2026 WCDG Father’s Day Tee."
- The Prize: The winning artist receives their shirt for FREE.
- The Group: This design will be available for everyone else to buy for $19 (plus shipping and tax) at our store. https://swag.windycitydads.com
🎨 The "Custom Keepsake" (Everyone is a Winner! or at least the first 25 submissions.) Want your child’s specific drawing on a shirt even if they don't win the grand prize?
- The Deal: The first 25 entries can purchase a one-off t-shirt featuring their child’s design for just $19 (plus shipping and tax).
- How to Enter:
- Create: Have your kids design a shirt that represents their "Windy City Dad" and the fun stuff that they have together
- Submit: Upload a clear photo of the drawing on an 8.5" by 11" piece of plain white paper or a digital file of the artwork to the comments of this Meetup event by noon on Friday, May 29th. If you have questions, please send them to: fathersday2026@windycitydads.com
- The Reveal: We’ll announce the "Official Group Design" winner on Tuesday, June 2nd.
- The Rules:
- One entry per child
- The dad must be a member of our Windy City Dad's Group Meetup, and your child must be under 18 years old.
- We reserve the right to disqualify any entries deemed inappropriate by our group leaders.
- Original artwork only.
- If we suspect the use of AI, your submission will be reviewed and possibly disqualified.
- By submitting a design, you grant Windy City Dads and its sponsors permission to use the artwork, including for display on the Windy City Dads website, in our swag store, and across social media channels.
### Important Dates:
- May 29th: Submission Deadline.
- June 2: Winner announced & custom order links go live at our swag store at https://swag.windycitydads.com
- June 10: Order any shirt (custom or official) to guarantee delivery by Father’s Day.
Get those markers out! Whether your child takes the title or you just want a custom keepsake of their art, this is the best way to gear up for June 21st.
If you have any questions, please feel free to submit them to fathersday2026@windycitydads.com9 attendees
Dads Night Out ~ Billards @ Hot Pockets Sports Bar (Palatine)
Hot Pockets Billiards and Sports Bar, 365 W Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL, USOrder your own Windy City Dads Group merch today at Swag.WindyCityDads.com
We invite you to come out & join us for another fun DADS NIGHT OUT with some of your fellow WINDY CITY DADS GROUP members. This specific event is for DADS ONLY where we can hang out together in a kid free zone, have adult conversations.
This time around we will head back to Hot Pockets Sports Bar in Palatine for some billiards/darts, food & drinks. Bring some cash (or venmo/zellle) so we can all chip in for the pool table rental fee.
RSVP if you plan on joining us here!
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ONLINE STORE:
Now you can look the part and help support the crew. Make it easy for other Windy City Dads to find you in the crowd and help promote our group. When you purchase a Windy City Dads shirt or hat, you are helping us keep our group free. Go to swag.windycitydads.comVOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
WINDY CITY DADS is always looking for members who would be interested in organizing meetups in your neck of the woods and helping us keep this group an active community... be it a Dads Night Out or Playgroup activity with the kids and/or Family Outing to grab a pizza, see a movie, go to zoo, etc. If interested, contact Brian via meetup or Brian@WindyCityDads.com2 attendees
ROYAL'S BIG SPLASH Character Indoor Pool Party (Schaumburg)
The Water Works Indoor Water Park, 505 North Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL, USPurchase your Event Tickets here...
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/royals-big-splash-2026-character-pool-bash-tickets-1985102529102We invite you and your family to join us for a fun FAMILY OUTING Saturday May30 from 630pm - 830pm for one of our most favorite events of the year... ROYAL'S BIG SPLASH Character Pool Bash!
Dive into fun at Royal’s Big Splash 2026—where your fave characters party poolside in person!
## Get Ready for Royal's Big Splash 2026 Character Pool Bash!
Join us for an unforgettable evening full of fun, family, friends, and fabulously FULL CAST of Royal characters! Dive into the excitement at the coolest pool party around and make a splash with your favorite personalities. It's all about good vibes, great company, and memories that’ll last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on the biggest pool bash of 2026!
Royal's Big Splash Summer Celebration 2026!
Saturday May 30th 6:30pm-8:30pm -
Tickets about $15 per personLimited tickets will be sold.
Swim with our special guest The Little Mermaid, along with our full cast of your kids favorite characters.
*Kiddie Splash Area with slides, rapids & play structure
*Full Pool with Big Kid Water slides
*Grown Up's Only, Hot Tub
*Shell-fie Station
*Barefoot Grill open for snack/drink purchases
*And all INDOORS, so we don't have to worry about the weather!CALL WITH ANY QUESTIONS - (773) 800-9046
EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS - info@royalprincessparties.com*Children under 8 must be accompanied/supervised by an adult at all times.
*Parents/Guardians are responsible for their children and possessions at all times.
*Proper Bathing attire required (including swim pants for the little ones). Floaties are allowed.
*No outdoor food permitted
*General Pool rules will be provided at Royal's Big Splash - with a WAIVER for you to sign.
*No refunds will be given if you cannot attend Royal's Big Splash.NOTE: This event is NOT hosted by The Water Works.
Royal Princess Parties LLC has privately rented the Indoor Water Park for the evening.RSVP (+family) if you plan on joining us!**
**After you RSVP here, please go the following Eventbrite link to order your tickets for this private event.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/royals-big-splash-2026-character-pool-bash-tickets-1985102529102
................................
ONLINE STORE:
Now you can look the part and help support the crew. Make it easy for other Windy City Dads to find you in the crowd and help promote our group. When you purchase a Windy City Dads shirt or hat, you are helping us keep our group free. Go to swag.windycitydads.comVOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
WINDY CITY DADS is always looking for members who would be interested in organizing meetups in your neck of the woods and helping us keep this group an active community... be it a Dads Night Out or Playgroup activity with the kids and/or Family Outing to grab a pizza, see a movie, go to zoo, etc. If interested, please contact Brian Dykes via meetup messenger or by email Brian@WindyCityDads.com13 attendees
Past events
52
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