Past Programs & Events

Stained Glass Workshop (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, March 28, 2026

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the stained glass-making process and try out techniques including cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering.

Valentine Cards Printmaking Workshop Session 2 (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Second session added by popular demand! Carve a printing block and print your own Valentine’s Day cards in this hands-on workshop.

Valentine Cards Printmaking Workshop (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Carve a printing block and print your own Valentine’s Day cards in this hands-on workshop.

Chicago Museum Member Swap

Thursday, January 29-Sunday February 1, 2026

​Celebrate Chicago art and culture with the city’s first-ever Museum Member Swap! From January 29–February 1, show your Driehaus Museum membership card at 11 participating museums for free admission.

Third Wednesday: Hygge Silent Book Club (SOLD OUT)

Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 2025

Bring your book of choice and get hygge with us in this silent book club inspired by Scandinavia’s cozy yule traditions.

This event is now sold out.

Santa Saturday (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, December 13, 2025, 2025

Drie-cember is here with Santa’s annual visit to the Museum! Join him in our Front Parlor to share your Christmas wish list and have your picture taken with jolly old St. Nick.

Holiday Spirits: A Collection of Victorian Yuletide Ghost Stories (SOLD OUT)

Thursday, December 11 & Friday, December 12, 2025, 2025

As the December skies darken, join Ghostlight Ensemble by our majestic fireplace(s) as we revive the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Yuletide with a multi-story (and multi-storied) immersive twist.

Drie-cember Market

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2025

Celebrate Drie-cember with our Holiday Market, a one-day, family-friendly shopping event in the historic Murphy Auditorium. Browse vintage jewelry, handcrafted goods, and unique gifts for everyone on your list.

Stained Glass Workshop (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2025

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the stained glass-making process and try out techniques including cutting, foiling, and soldering.

Ticket cost includes the production of three charms; make jewelry, keychains, small hanging pieces and more!

Bowties, Bustles & Ballroom Basics Dance Class

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 2025

Learn how to dance like it’s 1883 in this ballroom dance class. Participants will learn how to Two Step and Waltz, and will play Gilded Age games during breaks. Historical costumes are admired, not required. No partner or previous dance experience necessary.

Open House Chicago

Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19, 2025, 2025

As part of Open House Chicago, we will open our doors to our historic 1926 City of Chicago landmark, the Murphy Auditorium.

Brick of Chicago Walking Tour

Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 2025

Legendary brick expert Will Quam will guide you around the Driehaus Museum neighborhood to see artful examples of brick and terra cotta.

Fall Market

Saturday, September 27, 2025, 2025

Kick off the season with our Fall Market, a one-day shopping event in the historic Murphy Auditorium. Browse vintage jewelry, handcrafted goods, and other local treasures and get a head-start on your holiday shopping.

Botanical Study Watercolor Workshop with Jean Cate of Martha Mae (SOLD OUT)

Thursday, August 7, 2025, 2025

Inspired by Rory McEwen’s: A New Perspective on Nature, artist Jean Cate will be leading a botanical study watercolor workshop at the Driehaus Museum.

Tea Blending Workshop (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, August 2, 2025, 2025

Join Danielle Chutinthranond of Monsoon Pottery and Melanie Molnar of Third Season by The Roof Crop for an inspiring tea tasting and blending workshop.

Community Day: Family Story Time and Activities

Saturday, July 12, 2025, 2025

The Driehaus Museum invites families to a joyful celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community featuring author and artist Laura Smetana for a series of three hands-on demonstrations based on her book, My Love for You is Like a Garden.

Celebrate our 17th Birthday

Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2025

​Celebrate our 17th birthday with discounted admission, dance performances by the Chicago dance company, The Seldoms, a book signing by Dr. Giovanni Aloi, 17% discounts in the Driehaus Museum Store and in Membership.

Botanical Art Watercolor Workshop SOLD OUT

Saturday, May 31, 2025, 2025

This program is now sold out.

In this workshop led by award-winning watercolorist Heeyoung Kim, participants will be guided through essential techniques to create their own unique watercolor artwork inspired by the Driehaus Museum and our exhibition, Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature.

Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature Partner Programs

Throughout the Summer, 2025, 2025

The Driehaus Museum is proud to announce its partnership with cultural institutions across Chicago to celebrate Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature. Click Learn More to learn about the range and breadth of programs, festivities, and exhibitions centered around the 20th century’s greatest botanical artist. Thank you to our partners: Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Scots, the Magnificent Mile Association, The Morton Arboretum, Old Town School of Folk Music, and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

May Market

Saturday-Sunday May 3-4, 2025

Kick off the spring shopping season with our May Market, a weekend-long experience in our Murphy Auditorium. Shop vintage jewelry, local artisans, and other goodies sure to put a spring in your step!

Materialities Workshop SOLD OUT

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

This event is now sold out.

In this workshop directed by Materialities exhibiting artist, Bobbi Meier, you’ll visit the artist’s work in the Driehaus Museum and then move to our studio for a hands-on workshop to Create Your Own Plushie.

Materialities Workshop SOLD OUT

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

In this workshop directed by Materialities exhibiting artist, Barbara Cooper, you’ll visit the artist’s work in the Driehaus Museum and then move to our artist studio for a hands-on workshop.

This tour is now sold out.

Third Wednesday Nights: Hygge Silent Book Club

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Bring a book of your choice to the Driehaus Museum’s first-ever Silent Book Club! Get hygge with us in this book club -inspired by Scandinavia’s cozy yule traditions. Cookies and warm beverages will be served!

Photography Workshop

Saturday, November 16 SOLD OUT, 2024

Using the exhibition Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright as inspiration, guests will learn what it takes to compose great architectural photos from a practicing photographer in this workshop co-hosted by the Driehaus Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.

This program is now sold out.

Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright: An Evening for Educators

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright: An Evening for Educators, hosted by the Driehaus Museum and the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, is a two-hour ISBE accredited educator program.

Poetry and Architecture: A Workshop with Toby Altman

Saturday, November 9, 2024

This workshop brings together two arts that rarely find themselves in conversation: poetry and architecture. What can poetry teach us about architecture—how it feels, tastes, and shapes our bodies and lives? And what can architecture teach us about poetry—how it engages with and reshapes the built environment in which we live?

Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Inspired by our current exhibition, Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective, this Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show will feature a range of baubles from several well-respected vintage vendors.

For Your Eyes Only — Vintage Valentines with a Secret! SOLD OUT

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create a very special homemade valentine (or galentine—or palentine!) with secret messages hidden inside!

This event is now sold out.

The Art and Craft of Bookbinding Workshop SOLD OUT!

Thursday, April 13, 2023

In this beginner’s workshop, you’ll learn how to create your own stunning single signature (section) book. With a beautiful selection of papers at your disposal, artist Lesa Dowd will show you both the mechanics and the artistry of bookbinding.