Best January Festivals in Chicago

Spring, summer, and fall leave winter in the dust when it comes to the number of options for festivals, but January boasts some exceptional options that are sure to become annual traditions. Brave the cold, they’re worth it.

Sketch Comedy Festival

A local staple of the Chicago comedy scene, Stage 773 has been hosting the country’s largest and premier sketch fest, with almost 200 shows. When you consistently deliver for over ten years, you know we’ll be in attendance at least one of the ten nights ready to laugh.

When: January 7 – January 17
Where: Stage 773
More Info: www.chicagosketchfest.com

MLK Day Celebration

At the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, a tribute to Martin Luther King on his day of memory features eclectic entertainment, from song and dance to poetry and music, as well as a reception with mingling, snacks, and refreshments.

When: Monday, January 18
Where: Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center
More Info: www.blackensembletheater.org

German Party and Winter Beer Festival

Lincoln Square, also known as Germantown, houses DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, and they have two back-to-back nights of fun. The first is a dance party and burlesque show, and the second is Winter Beer Fest, and you drink and eat delicious German beer and food at both.

When: Friday, January 29 & Saturday, January 30
Where: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
More Info: www.dankhaus.com

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Atlanta’s Best Beer Bars

When you’re craving the sweet, sweet taste of beer, why not go to the places that offer the most variety and uniqueness to their selection? These bars are the best three spots if you’re a beer obsessed suds guzzler like I very proudly claim to be, and you definitely do not have to detect back notes to fit right into these unpretentious watering holes.

Wrecking Bar Brewpub

via Flickr user Thomas Cizaukas

From the chic meets old-school lounge-like interior complete with overstuffed furnishings, to the excellent selection of personally brewed and locally brewed beers, Wrecking Bar Brewpub is an Atlanta staple for a reason. You don’t want to miss their exceptional food menu either.

Find more info here.

Brick Store Pub

via Flickr user Daniel Lobo

This place has a massive selection of beers sourced from around the globe, and one of their multiple bars is strictly serving up Belgian brews, which are notoriously strong while being dangerously smooth. They also have great European pub food.

Find more info here.

Taco Mac

via Flickr user Yelp Inc.

The beer selection at Taco Mac is absurd. We mean that in a good way, but you’re dealing with hundreds here. In fact, they have a customer rewards program called Brewniversity, with different ranks for the number of different beers you drink. The highest honor is Chancellor, which is given to people that have tried one… thousand… different… beers… Sign us up. Sign us all up.

Find more info here.