Winterland At Gallagher Way: Event Schedule, Activities

CHICAGO — Gallagher Way has transformed into a winter wonderland again, offering people of all ages a range of holiday events. Winterland features an ice rink outside Wrigley Field, an interactive art display and many activities. Winterland will be open until Jan. 27.

Here's a list of activities and events:

The Rink at Gallagher Way:

The rink welcomes people of all skill levels to participate in skating lessons, glides with Santa and curling sessions. Figure skating exhibitions will also be held at Gallagher Way.

Admission is $5 for skaters 13 years and older and free for skaters 12 years and under. Guests can bring their own skates or rent skates on site for $10. Skate aid is available for $10 per hour. Bags can be checked at the skate rental for $2.

The rink is open Monday through Thursday from 3 – 9 p.m.; and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Special holiday hours:
  • Dec. 24 and 25: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 26 through Jan. 4: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Jan. 14: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Santa on ice:
Visitors can skate with Santa on Thursday nights through Dec. 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Skating lessons:
Starting Saturday, Dec. 8, people three years of age and older can learn to ice skate like a professional with small private group lessons. The hour-long, six-week course will run through Sunday, Jan. 13. Ice skaters can select either Saturday or Sunday lessons from 9 – 10 a.m. or 10 – 11 a.m. Participants can learn basic skills like two-foot turns and skating forward, while more advanced skaters will learn forward and backward cross overs and edge work. Make-up classes will be offered Jan. 19-20 and Jan. 26-27, weather permitted.

Lessons cost $95 for six weeks. Participants will receive discounted skate rentals at $5 per lesson. Space is limited.

Figure skating exhibition:
A figure skating exhibition by performers from Figure Skate Chicago will be on Wednesdays through December 19, from 6 – 6:15 p.m.

Curling lessons:
People can learn how to curl by signing up for hour-long classes taught by the Chicago Curling Club, Windy City Curling Club, Second City Curling Club and the Exmoor Curling Club from Jan. 8-10 and Jan. 21-24 from 6 – 9 p.m. Participants will learn the rules and etiquette of the sport before "sweeping" to a victory, organizers said. The cost is $50 per participant, which includes one complimentary beverage to be redeemed at the Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern. Learn to Curl classes will be offered for guests ages eight and older.

Chimes at Gallagher Way:

New this winter season, the festive interactive art display, "Chimes at Gallagher Way,'" has been designed to demonstrate the chaos theory, in which a very small change in the system results in a large difference in time. A random disorder of 30 lights and eight speakers springs to life with the slightest sway of the chimes in Gallagher Way. A simple gust of wind or interaction from guests will transform the entire ambiance and create a distinctly-unique light show and aural motif. Every chock between the chimes' bells disturbs the audiovisual environment and will generate divergent evolutions. This is the first U.S. chimes installation, co-produced by Illuminart (Montreal, Canada), Quartier des Spectacles Partnership (Montreal, Canada), Fête des Lumières (Lyon, France) and Collectif Blackbox (artist).

The "Chimes at Gallagher Way" operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 3 – 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Special Holiday Hours:
  • Dec. 24 and 25 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 26 through Jan. 4 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Santa's workshop:

Good boys and girls, and the young at heart, can stop by Santa's Workshop at Gallagher Way to share holiday wishes Fridays from 3 – 8 p.m. and Saturdays - Sundays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Dec. 23, to tell Santa their holiday wishes and snap a keepsake photo. Visitors are encouraged to bring their dogs on Sundays for "Santa Paws." Santa will depart from the workshop Sunday, Dec. 23. Professional photos will be available for purchase.

Wreath decorating:

Join Chicago Flower & Garden and nonprofits Get Out & Grow and Get Growing Foundation this winter for wreath decorating classes at Gallagher Way. Classes will be hosted at the American Airlines Conference Center. Guests will have the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind home décor piece or a holiday gift for someone special.

Classes will be held through Dec. 16, from noon – 1:30 p.m. and start at $25 per person. During each class, participants will receive materials to make a wreath and a variety of accessories to use. Children under 18 have the option to make a smaller wreath for $15. Space is limited, and reservations are required.

Holiday movies:

Visitors can watch classic holiday movies at Gallagher Way on select Fridays at 6 p.m. through Jan. 4:

• Dec. 7: Love Actually
• Dec. 14: A Christmas Story
• Dec. 21: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• Dec. 28: The Holiday
• Jan. 4: Miracle

For more details on Gallagher Way Winterland events, click here.

Images courtesy of Gallagher Way.