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Windy City Dads

Chicago, IL, US

77 members · Public group

Organized by Brian Dykes and 12 others

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What we’re about

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.

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.

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.

Upcoming events (3)

Wed, Jun 4, 2025, 6:15 PM CDTFREE! Screening @ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Chicago)
AMC River East 21, Chicago, IL
WINDY CITY DADS have been given a block of reserved seats for this advance screening where some of our members and family can enjoy in exchange to help promote this film.

How to Train Your Dragon," directed by the renowned Dean DeBlois.

Before you RSVP, please read through all of the following list of EXPECTATIONS to participate in this sponsored event...

We invite you and your family (or come alone) to join us for FREE Advance Screening of this film. We have been given a total of 10 guaranteed seats for our WINDY CITY DADS group to enjoy.
Everyone including guests must check-in prior to 6:15PM and participate in our GROUP PHOTO organized by our Event Hosts. We ask every family to upload 3-4 photo's to our meetup site before the event is over, of your family enjoying the event so we can share with our sponsor as a thank you for this opportunity.

Guest check-in table is usually placed near ticket collection; this is where we usually meetup to get a group photo. Parking and concessions are your responsibility.

For those of you on social media, we also ask that you share your family photos on your personal accounts like Facebook taging our "Windy City Dads" and using hashtag #WINDYCITYDADS so we can 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 also help us get more fun sponsored event opportunities.

Most importantly, we ask that ALL our members who attend our sponsored advance movie screenings, to WEAR their Windy City Dads shirt to the meetup, which does a few things; helps our members be more clearly recognized and the sponsor can tell which group we are with, plus it looks amazing in our group photo and member engagement photos that we know our sponsors really likes seeing too. If you don't have your own Windy City Dads Group shirt, you can buy it online from our Merchandise Store (to be launched soon). We feel this is a small ask that builds member engagement and appreciation for our sponsored opportunities. It’s a good thing to do.

ONLY!!! RSVP (+Guests) if you are 100% committed to going, checking in on-time and fully participate as noted above, since we don't want any seats to be empty. Once you RSVP, no changes can be made, your crew must attend -- no exceptions! If by chance you're no-show or change your RSVP (without approval), than you will loose the privilege to be included with any future advance screenings. Our waitlist is for the organizer to use, only if event sponsor increases our head count, if this happens then Brian Dykes will reach out to members via meetup messenger, so make sure your meetup notifications are turned ON so that you won't miss out.

Thanks for your understanding!

*** Volunteers 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 Brian@WindyCityDads.com

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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – IN THEATERS JUNE 13
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | #HowToTrainYourDragon #FilmedForIMAX
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).
Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.
Genre: Epic Action-Adventure
Cast: Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, Murray McArthur
Written and directed by: Dean DeBlois
Producers: Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois, Adam Siegel
4 attendees
Fri, Jun 6, 2025, 1:00 PM CDTFamily Outing @ Barefoot Bay Family Aquatic Center (Mundelein)
Barefoot Bay, Mundelein, IL
Escape the Heat with the kids and other Windy City Dads at Barefoot Bay Family Aquatic Center!

Looking for a fantastic way to cool off this summer and make some waves with the kids? Then mark your calendars June 5th, 2025 at Barefoot Bay Family Aquatic Center in Mundelein!

This isn't just your average pool – Barefoot Bay is a tropically-themed oasis packed with fun for all ages. Imagine a place where the little ones can splash and play safely, while the older kids (and maybe even us dads!) can enjoy some thrilling water action.
Here's a glimpse of what Barefoot Bay has to offer:

Zero-Depth Entry Pool: Perfect for toddlers and young children to wade in comfortably and build their confidence in the water.

Interactive Play Structures: Expect engaging water features like sprinklers, geysers, and maybe even a small slide designed for the younger crowd. Get ready for some serious splashing!

Larger Water Slides: For the more adventurous dads and kids, Barefoot Bay boasts exciting water slides that will get the adrenaline pumping. Who's ready for a race?

Lazy River: Need to unwind and take it easy? Hop on a tube and drift along the relaxing lazy river. It's a great way to supervise the kids while catching a breather.

Sand Play Area: When the kids need a break from the water, there's a dedicated sand play area where they can build castles and dig to their hearts' content.

Plenty of Deck Space: Room to spread out, set up your towels, and keep an eye on your crew.

Concessions: Refuel with snacks and drinks available on-site, so you don't have to pack everything but the kitchen sink.

Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Barefoot Bay is designed with families in mind, making it a comfortable and welcoming environment for our Windy City Dads group.

Why is this a great meetup spot?

Fun for all ages: Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, there's something to keep everyone entertained.

Chance to connect: It's a fantastic opportunity to meet other dads in the Windy City Dads group, share stories, and let the kids make new friends.

Beat the summer heat: What better way to spend a hot summer day than cooling off in the water?

Relatively local: Located in Mundelein, it's a convenient option for many of us in the Chicagoland area.

The entry fee is $20 per person. $15 for residents. If we get enough people to register, I may be able to get us a group rate.
Join us when you're available & RSVP with your cell # so we can make sure to send you updates of our location by the pool.

RSVP (+family) if you can come!
10 attendees+5
Sat, Jun 14, 2025, 6:45 PM CDTFather's Eve 2025 ~ BBQ @ Weber Grill (Schaumburg)
Weber Grill Restaurant, Schaumburg, IL
Fathers Eve 2025 (June 14 )! Happening the day before Father's Day, it's our exclusive time to connect, share stories, uplift each other, and celebrate the fatherhood journey together.

We invite you to come out & join us for our 11th Annual FATHERS EVE with some of your fellow WINDY CITY DADS GROUP members. This specific annual event is for DADS ONLY where we can hang out together, in a kid free zone, have adult conversations, etc.

This year we decided to go for Barbaque at the amazing Weber Grill Restaurant @ 1010 North Mecham Road, Schaumburg.

Let's plan to meetup at 6:45pm for food and drinks, everyone gets their own check so we dont have to split the bill later on. Then participate in nationwide #FathersEve Toast to Dads @ 8pm.

RSVP if you plan on joining us!

11th Annual FATHERS EVE!
2025 @ Weber Grill BBQ
2024 @ Adventure Park
2023 @ Disc Golf +BBQ
2022 @ Family Picnic
2021 @ Tap House Grill
2020 @ Backyard BBQ
2019 @ Dave & Busters
2018 @ Indoor Paintball
2017 @ WhirlyBall Lombard
2016 @ Night Golf DesPlaines

More info on FATHERS EVE nationwide organization and celebration plans plus swag shop at www.FathersEve.com

Posted 05/22/25
5 attendees

Past events (10)

Sat, May 3, 2025, 11:00 AM CDTDads+Kids Fishing Trip @ Twin Lakes Recreation center ((Palatine)
This event has passed
2 attendees

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