One of the greatest gifts the City of Chicago has ever given to its residents is beautiful Millennium Park. During the warm summer months, the park is a playground for art lovers and concertgoers, and during the chilly winter months, ice skaters show up in droves to circle the famous McCormick Tribune Ice Rink for free.
Five million visitors pass through the park annually, which is great for the city, but it can get super crowded, especially on weekends. Not to worry. Visitors can still enjoy excellent entertainment, shopping, and ice skating in nearby Rosemont.
This up and coming city is located just 16 short miles from downtown Chicago and just a few minutes from O'Hare International Airport. It is home to Allstate Arena, Akoo Theatre (formerly Rosemont Theatre), hotel brands such as Marriott and Hilton, and the new MB Financial Park at Rosemont.
MB Financial Park is where all the action is these days, and it just opened in 2012. While the park features the usual suspects -- bars, restaurants, and bowling -- one of the biggest coming attractions is the new ice skating rink. You probably haven't heard about it yet, but on November 23, 2012, MB Financial Park plans to open the area's only ice skating rink. Also on November 23, the park plans to host a tree lighting/holiday celebration.
Getting to the park is easy. If you're already in the city, the CTA Blue Line will drop you off right at the park, and so will the Metra. If you're driving north on I-90 or I-294, simply exit at O'Hare. Heading from the south side or beyond? Take I-294 and exit at Balmoral Avenue.
MB Financial Park Ice Skating Rink Hours
Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The rink is open on holidays, and from December 21 to January 6, visitors can skate from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information about upcoming events, activities, and more, visit the official MB Financial Park website at www.mbparkatrosemont.com.
