Past Programs & Events

Tulips and Trumpets: A Mile Full of Jazz Pop-up

Thursday, April 23, 2026

​Join us for an afternoon of live jazz with the Natalie Scharf Quartet, part of the Magnificent Mile’s Tulips and Trumpets celebration.

Brendan Fernandes: In the Round Opening Celebration

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

​Members are invited to join us on April 8 to celebrate the opening of Brendan Fernandes: In the Round and be among the first to experience this dynamic new residency and performance installation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Santa Saturday

Saturday, December 14, 2024

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

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

Thursday, December 12, 2024

As the December skies darken, join us and Ghostlight Ensemble by our majestic fireplace(s) as we revive the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Yuletide. Stories include The Ghost of the Cross-Roads, 19, Great Hanover Street, and A Spirit Bride.

This event is now sold out.

Holiday Trunk Show

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Finish (or start!) your holiday shopping at the decked halls of the Driehaus Museum, featuring favorite vintage vendors.

Drie-cember Holiday Market

Saturday-Sunday, December 7-8 || December 14-15, 2024

Browse through a market curated by Refine Collective showcasing a variety of unique gifts, handmade crafts, and delicious treats from local vendors. Get into the holiday spirit with live music, hot cocoa, and activities for all ages.

A Nativity Tribute

Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 5, 2024

This tribute is derived from the timeless Langston Hughes gospel song-play, Black Nativity, and will feature your favorite artists, music, and holiday cheer from our partners at the African American Museum of Performing Arts. Tickets available now for both nights.

Open House Chicago

Saturday and Sunday, October 19-20, 2024

As part of Open House Chicago, the Driehaus Museum will open its doors to its historic 1926 City of Chicago landmark, the Murphy Auditorium.

Embracing Chicago: Chicago Exhibition Weekend Kickoff Program at the Driehaus Museum

Saturday, October 5, 2024

The Driehaus Museum is proud to partner with Gertie, a cultural agency in Chicago dedicated to making contemporary more accessible to Chicagoans, for the launch of Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW). This kickoff conversation will explore the vibrancy of the Chicago art scene, and will be moderated by the Driehaus Museum’s Executive Director, Lisa Key, with Aron Gent from DOCUMENT gallery, curator Carla Acevedo-Yates from the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and artist Luke Agada, represented by moniquemeloche gallery.

Driehaus Museum Store Trunk Show

September 14, 2024

Celebrate the final week of Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective with this Trunk Show featuring Ladybug Vintage.

Jewelry Night Out

Thursday, September 5, 2024

In honor of Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective and the Women’s Jewelry Association Jewelry Night Out, we ask the ever-important question: Why do we covet beautiful things? Find out with author Aja Raden, whose New York Times best-selling book Stoned: Jewelry Obsession and How Desire Shapes the World examines this question and delves into the stories of how eight jewels shaped the course of history.

Grand Re-Opening Program: Conversation and Concert

Friday, June 21, 2024

Presenting Executive Director Lisa M. Key in conversation with architect Joe Antunovich, Founder of Antunovich Associates, who led the restoration of both the Nickerson Mansion and the Murphy Auditorium. Followed by a special performance featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The event is free but registration is required.

Driehaus Museum Campus Celebration Weekend

Friday June 21-Sunday June 23, 2024

It’s the opening weekend of our expanded Driehaus Museum campus: The 1926 Murphy Auditorium is joining the 1883 Nickerson Mansion to become the Driehaus Museum campus. Join us for a weekend of free admission for the Museum and other special surprises to come. Tickets are not necessary but you are welcome to reserve in advance. Click below to reserve.

Baubles & Bubbles SOLD OUT!

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Grab a glass of bubbly and join Chicago jewelry designers for a fun and festive evening.

This event is now sold out.

MEMBER ONLY Opening Reception: Sif Itona Westerberg

February 15, 2024, 2024

Join us to celebrate the first solo US museum exhibition of Copenhagen-based artist Sif Itona Westerberg.

Museum Store Trunk Show

Saturday, December 16, 2023

​Our Trunk Show will feature special vendors selling vintage jewelry, clothing, and other treats and treasures.

Member Holiday Open House

Thursday, December 7, 2023

​Celebrate Drie-cember with us at this special Member only event.

Santa Saturday

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Drie-cember is here with Santa’s annual visit to the Driehaus Museum!

Drie-cember Pop-Up Events

Throughout December, 2023

Join our month-long celebration with family-friendly weekend programs and holiday concerts for Christmas, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, and Kwanzaa. The concerts are free with admission. All events are from 4:00-4:45 pm.

Saturday, December 2 Caroling with the St. James Youth Choir

Saturday, December 9 Hanukkah Songs with the Music Institute of Chicago

Saturday, December 16 St. Lucia Day Songs with the Swedish American Museum

Thursday, December 21 Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum of Performing Arts

Fall Member Reception: Meet the Executive Director

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Be the first to meet our new Executive Director Lisa Key at this exclusive Member reception. Raise a glass with us to toast the museum’s bright future.

No registration is necessary.

Spring Break at the Driehaus Museum

Wednesday, April 5 - Friday, April 7, 2023

Bring your kids ages 8-12 to the Driehaus Museum from April 5-April 7, as part of Chicago Architecture Center’s (CAC) Architecture Adventure Passport. It’s free for participating families with up to 6 people.

Tea Time Featuring the Stories of Edith Rockefeller McCormick SOLD OUT

November 19 at the Murphy Auditorium, 2022

It’s Tea Time again at the Driehaus Museum! Your full-service tea will include several courses and is accompanied by a program about early preservationist, Edith Rockefeller McCormick, one of the 100 people who saved the Nickerson Mansion back in 1919.

Driehaus Museum Member Holiday Open House

Thursday, December 1, 2022

It’s that most wonderful time of year for Driehaus Museum Members!

Santa and Aunt Holly Are Coming To Town

Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, 2022

Tell Santa if you’ve been naughty or nice, share with him your wish list, and take a selfie with the bearded man.

Holiday Caroling

Thursday, December 22 ***RESCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28*** , 2022

Ring in the season with our jolly band of carolers!

The Driehaus Museum First 14 Birthday Party SOLD OUT!

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Please note, this program is now sold out.

​Join us to celebrate our 14^th birthday! Reginald Robinson, a 2004 winner of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Award for his innovative ragtime piano works and music research, will play a program that will include selections from his critically renowned album of piano solos, “Man Out of Time.” After a brief intermission, the Museum will show the 1916 Charlie Chaplin silent comedic short film, The Rink, with Robinson accompanying on piano.

Theodora Allen: Saturnine Member Morning

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Start your day with us! As a way to say thank you to our members, we invite you to a members-only hour of Theodora Allen: Saturnine. You won’t want to miss it or a visit to the Driehaus Museum Store, where you’ll see a newly curated collection of Theodora Allen-inspired gifts and get a 10% discount.

Exhibition Vernissage Theodora Allen: Saturnine

Friday, March 25, 2022

Return to the Driehaus Museum for the opening night of our new exhibition, Theodora Allen: Saturnine. This event is free to the public.

Santa and Aunt Holly Are Coming to Town

Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2021

Tea is Served! with Leslie Goddard, Ph.D.

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Please join us this Mother’s Day Weekend as we discuss a wonderful tradition that dates back to 1840 British royalty and quickly began to take root with people of all social classes - the afternoon tea.

Virtual Holiday Story Time and Sing-a-long with Aunt Holly

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Let’s get jolly with our dear Aunt Holly! Aunt Holly is a Driehaus Museum holiday favorite, and she is so excited to lead us in festive songs and a story.

A Virtual Visit with Santa at the Driehaus Museum

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Experience a virtual hangout with Santa, live from the Front Parlor of the Driehaus Museum. First, Santa will tell a festive story and then he will engage with the children and answer their questions.

Remembering Marshall Field’s at Christmas with Leslie Goddard

Friday, December 11, 2020

This illustrated talk traces Marshall Field’s beloved holiday traditions, including the Walnut Room Christmas tree, the holiday window displays, the toy department, and more.

WATCH | Virtual Story Time at the Museum: Art Museum Etiquette and Origami

Originally Presented on
Thursday, June 25, 2020, 2020

Miss Valerie reads a book about visiting an art museum and the rules we all have to follow in order to enjoy the art. Miss Abby tells us a little bit about origami and shows us how to make some folded paper creations.

WATCH | Live From the Drawing Room: The Language of Flowers

Originally Presented on
Thursday, June 18, 2020, 2020

Patrick Donley is back in the house for another episode of “Live From the Drawing Room,” our virtual events inspired by the variety shows of the 1940s and 50s.

Gilded Age Traditions and Holiday Tea - SOLD OUT

Sundays, December 8 and 15, 2019

Explore the Christmas traditions of Gilded Age Chicago, delight in the Driehaus bedecked for the Holidays and enjoy afternoon tea – a quintessential Chicago tradition!

Santa at the Driehaus Museum

Saturdays and Sundays, December 7 - 15, 2019

Live music, holiday games, and live performances provide beloved holiday memories and fun for the entire family. Don’t forget to get your picture taken with Santa!

Sounds of the Season

Fridays and Saturdays, December 6 - 14, 2019

The marble halls of the Driehaus Museum’s 19th-century home will be decked for the holiday season! Join us on Friday and Saturday afternoons for musical performances that will add to the festive atmosphere.

Holiday Shopping Open House

Monday, December 9, 2019

We are opening the store on a Monday for Driehaus Museum Store lovers to help you check some names off your holiday shopping list!

2019 Member Holiday Open House

Monday, December 9, 2019

Members and their guests are invited to celebrate the season while enjoying the warm atmosphere of the Museum’s festive décor.

SOLD OUT - Chicago's Oldest Cemetery: A Spooky Lincoln Park Walking Tour

October, 25 and 26, 2019

Historian Sally Kalmbach will lead the way as you discover Lincoln Park’s macabre history as a vast, windswept burial site.

Oscar Wilde Salon Series: Examining Wilde Through the Queer Lens

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Dramatic readings and a discussion with experts, Michael Halberstam and Dr. Jeffrey Kessler will illuminate the controversial life and literature of Oscar Wilde.

Holiday Cabaret: The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Friday December 14 - SOLD OUT, 2018

Chicago favorites Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael celebrate the season with innovative and fun twists on beloved holiday tunes. Tickets include drinks and nibbles.

Santa at the Museum

Saturdays and Sundays, December 8 - 16, 2018

Due to popular demand, we’ve added Sundays to our annual Santa event! Art projects, lively story time, and sing-a-longs provide fun for the entire family.

Gilded Age Traditions and Holiday Tea at The Drake

Fridays and Saturdays November 30 – December 15, 2018

Explore the Christmas traditions of Gilded Age Chicago, visit historic landmarks, and enjoy afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel – a quintessential Chicago tradition.

Front Porch Concert Featuring the Festive Singers

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Stop by the Museum on your way to claim the perfect viewing spot at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and enjoy a free live concert on the porch.

Death, Disease & Bones: A Lincoln Park Walking Tour

Fridays and Saturdays, October 19 - 27, 2018

Historian Sally Sexton Kalmbach will lead the way as you discover Lincoln Park’s macabre history as a vast, windswept burial site.

A Toast to the Gilded Age: American Craft Whiskey

Friday, October 5, 2018 , 2018

Enjoy live music and unearth quirky, fun facts about the origins of American whiskey culture as you sip and sample food and drink pairings.

Tenth Anniversary Celebration!

Saturday, June 9, 2018

In celebration of this landmark anniversary, regular priced adult admission will be reduced to $10, from $20. In addition, a day of festivities has been planned for Saturday, June 9. Click to see schedule.

Flowers for Mom! Make a Mother’s Day Centerpiece

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Don’t just buy Mom a bouquet this Mother’s Day - make it! World renowned designer Michael Gaffney teaches the art of creating incredible arrangements.

A Toast to the Gilded Age: Bourbon, Bowties, & Bonnets

Friday, May 4, 2018

Explore the history of bourbon within the context of America’s longest running sporting event, The Kentucky Derby, first held in 1875.

A Toast to the Gilded Age: The Speakeasy - SOLD OUT

Friday, March 9, 2018

Our popular cocktail series is back with this exploration of the Speakeasy and Prohibition-era cocktails set against the Museum’s historical backdrop.

Front Porch Concert featuring the Festive Singers - FREE

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Stop by the Museum on your way to claim the perfect viewing spot at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and enjoy a free live concert on the porch