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    Balloon Museum

    4.2 (32 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Genna G.

    A multi- sensory immersive experience. Great choice for anyone with kids and even my teen enjoyed it. Ball pit, swing room , and playground ball room were highlights. A little pricy for admission but if you take your time in each of the 19 exhibit rooms it's worth it

    Kassilynn T.

    "It might seem crazy what I am 'bout to say Sunshine, she's here you can take a break I'ma hot air balloon that could go to space, huh With the air, like I don't care, baby, by the way, huh Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I'm happy)" This place reminds made me SO HAPPY!! We had a blast and it is very accessible. We went to the Chicago location and enjoyed every room. This has to be the first museum that was actually worth the price for the amount of exhibits/rooms and the duration we stayed. This is also enjoyable for all ages. I'm a big kid so the ball pit was amazing and so big. I didn't expect it to be that large. FYI do NOT jump in with anything that can fall off or in your pockets PLEASE follow the rules. I also enjoyed that the gift shop was reasonably priced. Most gift shops charge overpriced for simple items but I appreciated that things like magnets, pencils, keychains were not expensive. This was an adventure we will never forget and now I'm wanting to try another location.

    Cady D.

    The Balloon Museum has a few locations throughout the world with different art exhibitions. The one in Chicago is themed around emotions and feeling, and it will be open until April 6th. My boyfriend and I showed up here around 3pm on Valentine's Day. You can purchase tickets ahead of time, but we were able to buy them at the ticket office. The wait in line took about 30 minutes, and then they told us the next available time slot was 4pm, even though we were able to go in immediately. It seemed like the lines to get into the museum were pretty disorganized. They were placing earlier times into the longer lines, but once you got up to the person scanning you in, they didn't check what your ticket time was, so we were able to get in before the people who had the 3:30 and 3:45 time slot. Overall, I think there was just a lack of communication among staff, or they didn't really care about controlling how many people were let in. It was pretty crowded inside, which I expected and it wasn't a problem to me. Walking through took about an hour. Almost everything was interactive, and they even had a giant room with a ball pit that you could go in. I thought it was fun, and it's definitely something that kids would love, but I don't think it was worth the price of $50 per person. At the end of the museum, there was an area to buy souvenirs and small snacks like popcorn. They also had pre-made balloon animals you could purchase in shapes like flowers, butterflies, and dogs.

    Ciara W.

    Kind of pricey for the experience. It was only about 45 mins - an hour to get through. I did like how interactive each exhibit was. The exhibits with lights were my favorite. It's cute for pictures and definitely a kid-friendly attraction!

    Jenna C.

    Fun and unique experience, but I would 100% avoid going on a weekend. Despite showing "green" availability online for a Saturday, it was crazy busy when we arrived, which tells me they're overselling for timeslots at the guest's expense. The experience is much better when you're not packed in like sardines... plus tickets are ~$55, which are a little overpriced to begin with. Parking is extra but we were able to find free street parking and walk down the long alley to the entrance. We were also glad we did the coat check for $5. Onto the "museum" itself - I really liked the variety of the exhibits and the artist's descriptions before entering each one, just like in a traditional museum but much more interactive. My favorite room was probably the last one because it was the most sensory immersive when laying in the center. But the giant ball pit was also really fun, and the room with the silver balloons felt like you were at a magical rave! For the ball pit room - there is a "show" that goes on and right after they ask everyone to leave, so if possible, before entering I'd ask when the next show is starting and wait to go in right after so you have as much time as possible to enjoy the experience until the next show starts. At the end of the exhibits, there is a cute gift shop and small food counter with some tables and chairs. For kids and adults alike, this museum is something different and delightful to do this winter in Chicago. Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

    Ali B.

    Always looking for new fun things to check out during our Chicago visits! Had so many ads pop up for this place so I had to check it out! It is a fun interactive museum with lots of cool visuals and sounds! Loved the giant ball pit and the swings in a circle facing an awesome light show. Some of the rooms scared my almost 2 year old a tiny bit but for the most part he loved it! Tickets are pretty pricey but worth it for a one time thing, really glad we checked it out!

    Entrance
    Lili H.

    What a fun experience! When you arrive at the museum, you can either line up to purchase tickets on-site or walk right in if you bought yours online. Parking is available directly in front of the building for $10, or you can opt for free street parking a bit farther away if you don't mind the walk. Each section of the museum is highly interactive with plenty of photo opportunities, making it enjoyable for all ages. The space is also wheelchair accessible. Most areas had staff present for crowd control, though there were a few sections where it felt like someone should've been monitoring the timing. Restrooms are located outside the building near the entrance, so I'd recommend using them before you go in. At the exit, there's a gift shop that also serves food and has a nice selection of souvenirs.We found out that the museum will only be open until April of 2026, so if you are looking for something fun to do , this is the spot for it . Overall, I had a great time--just wish the experience was a bit more organized.

    Lily B.

    Pros: It is a great art installation museum. Great for people to experience art together. Exhibition was interactive. Feel like a giant for both adults and kids. My kid and I had a lot of fun there and he was wishing there are more rooms. Cons: Not the easiest to find and website is not very clear about certain information. Quite pricey. Can be quite loud and dark in certain rooms, not suitable for very young kids like under 2. Felt like some staff can be more friendly.

    Entrance and 13$ parking
    Lisa P.

    One of my grandbabies had an early dismissal from school. Being the cool grandma (Mimi) that I am, I surprised her with a day at the new Balloon Museum. There are timed entry tickets and parking is available for 13$. What a beautiful space! So many rooms to explore; vibrant colors, or NO color, live music, moving parts and it's very interactive. There is a black and white room with a clear balloon that has charcoal points. You are allowed to gently push the balloon and watch it make art on the ceiling and the walls. The balloon has charcoal all over it, once you exit there is a sanitation station to clean little hands, as well as your own if you participated. Of course, I did. There is a room where you crawl through a balloon maze. So fun. I don't want to give away too many details as there was something different and unique to each room. The experience lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes, give or take. LOTS to do and see, totally worth it! Wear comfortable shoes and have your camera or phone ready for pictures. Once the experience is over, the tour ends in the cafe where there is merch for sale. There is also a balloon bar where you can buy small sandwiches, sweet treats, popcorn and drinks. You are even gifted a little surprise when you leave. The balloon museum is a traveling pop up and will only be in Chicago till April 2026. They have other cities to visit. Hope you get a chance to check it out before it leaves.

    Big Balloon
    Jonathan S.

    Checked out the Balloon Museum in Chicago and it was cool, but definitely better for teens and adults than little kids. A lot of the early rooms are really dark, which made it hard to take photos and also scared the toddler...Some of the artwork/themes also felt a bit too "adult" for a family spot haha The lighter rooms toward the end were more fun, but the big ball pit wasn't as kid-friendly. The balloons came up almost to my waist (I'm 6'1"), so my kiddo basically disappeared under them and couldn't move...which was funny but he couldn't fully enjoy it...also the ai slop video had some creepy dark shadow that idk if it's for every kiddo...on the other hand the ballon room with the airflow was amazing he was able to run around and smack the balloons! It's definitely a unique experience and older kids/teens would love it, but for families with toddlers it's just okay, especially considering the price (around $100+ for two adults on the weekend ) kids under 3 are free so that's a plus, parking is reasonable at $13.50.

    Aanchal B.

    My friend and I went and we had the best time! We got tickets before hand and had to pay for parking. They do have a coat check in for $5 per coat too. It is a really interactive colorful, vibrant museum which is very creative. A couple of the rooms we zipped through because we felt over simulated and nauseous. Our favorite part was the ball pit and didn't realize how hard it can be to get out of it- looks easier said than done! The description on all of them were very detailed and educational. I highly recommend for everyone to go as the pop up exhibit is until April 6th! I would go again. It takes you to another world for sometime and great opportunity to disconnect which is nice.

    Maria B.

    After all the photos and videos I saw of this spot, I couldn't resist. It was a great combo of art, interaction and philosophy. The exhibits felt endless and were so fun to hang out in. Definitely worth it, and take your time. [hosted]

    Russell G.

    Good experience. Very quick and easy to enter the museum. Parking was a little difficult to find but as soon as we found it was easy to park. It was close to the building not a far walk. Every exhibit was colorful and interactive. The tour took about hour and half. There is a show in ball pit which was very fun.

    Ball pit with entertainment

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    Best day in a while! I'm over 60 and I absolutely loved it! Should add indoor bathrooms instead of out buildings.

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    Lot of fun, for adults and kids alike. Many interactive displays. Even the older people were jumping in the ball room!

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    Review Highlights - Balloon Museum

    the time it takes varies on how many pictures you want (excluding the ball pit room where it was with groups).

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    Museum of Contemporary Art - Chicago - Restaurant

    Museum of Contemporary Art - Chicago

    (624 reviews)

    $$

    Streeterville, Near North Side

    Finally visited this River North museum during my return to Chicago. Since I wasn't a CHI/IL…read moreresident, the adult ticket price was $22, however you can also opt for the Pay As You Wish option, which is essentially Suggested Donation. While the museum is 4 floors, the exhibits weren't as plentiful. The 1st floor is basically their cafe. The 2nd and 4th floors are prob the floors with more artwork. The 3rd fl felt like an "in-between" floor. Thankfully, the Yoko Ono exhibit was on display, which featured several interactive activations, like a Wish Tree or writing on a wall, which were fun. Their Museum Shop also spans from floors 1-2. I wouldn't say that this museum has the popular artists. The overall artworks are a mix of abstract, photography, and mixed media. I wouldn't recommend it as a "Must See" for tourists, personally. However, I'm an art enthusiast and still thought it was a decent museum to walk through. Perhaps opt for the Suggested Donation for this one.

    I loved my experience! I really appreciate the free Tuesday nights for Illinois residents. That's…read moresuch a treat! Beautiful museum with multiple floors, excellent customer service, plenty of comfortable seating, cool gift shop, and a cafe and restaurant too. It has everything I need! The vibes are good here. I enjoyed all the floors and saw an impressive variety of art. I also wanted to see the Yoko Ono exhibit and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how interactive it was. There were a few writing stations with activities, such as writing about your mom and taping it to the wall, and writing a wish on a tag and tying it to the wish tree. One room was blue and there were blue markers available and people were encouraged to add to it. Fabulous venue!

    Color Factory - Confetti room

    Color Factory

    (112 reviews)

    The Loop

    This was the most wonderful experience! I highly recommend it if you're in Chicago. It's located in…read morethe Willis Tower, so if you're going to the Skydeck it's a quick little jaunt over before or after. I wasn't sure what to expect, and it ended up being so much better than I imagined! All the people working were friendly, knew what they were doing, and helped us have the best experience we could have. I loved every part of it, and it was awesome tying in all the senses to color! The tasting one was so fun, I ended up guessing mine right! I think my husband and I had the most fun with the partner drawing activity, that's a keepsake for sure, haha! Other faves were the poem and balloon exhibit and of course, the ball pit. We came with our 6 year old nephew but I think the adults had more fun than he even did! It was fun to let loose and be a kid again. I was thankful for all the fun photo ops, it made it easier to get great pics without having our phones out the whole time. The only bummer was the ice cream. We paid $1 per person for it and it was just one tiny little ball with a wooden spoon, and I could taste the spoon more than the ice cream.

    The Woman in the photo is a current employee at the Color Factory in Chicago…read more She made our experience TERRIBLE As soon as we walked into her location inside the ball area she greeted us rudely and spoke to our kids as if she didn't want to even be there. She does NOT like this job and does NOT know how to speak to children or treat them. It was our child's birthday with all her friends from school and kept rolling her eyes at them to the point where I finally approached her and told her the way she is talking and behaving in front of children is unacceptable Please get this girl proper training She is NOT cut for a job around kids Rudest employee I've ever met

    Ed Paschke Art Center - Mural

    Ed Paschke Art Center

    (19 reviews)

    $

    Jefferson Park

    Had a good time at this art museum and gallery. It certainly is a way to know about a local artist…read morewho had a big impact. The Ed Paschke Art Center is the biggest collection of his work. Also it's free. There's a lot of permanent collections, and you can find exhibits by other local artists who come here for training. A few things about him. In 1939 he was born on the North Side. There was early influence by his father who made Disney animation and sketches among other things. After graduating from The School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, he got a travel scholarship to Mexico. There he was influenced by the art colors and patterns. He was in the army, making drawings for weapons manuals. Then he started making collages using images from newspapers. He would enlarge and reproduce these using oil on canvas. Then getting his MFA at SAIC, he was influenced by the first museum exhibition held by Andy Warhol. He was getting popular as an artist. Then he also began teaching classes at several universities. Often he would invite students over to his studio, and tell them to grab a brush and start painting on a canvas. The Art Institute Of Chicago had a traveling career retrospective in 1989 that was one of his career highlights. In 2004 he passed away. The city honored him by naming a street after him. A few years later this art center was created by his children and the Rabb Family Foundation. This opened in 2014 and increased the awareness of his work and life. Admission is free. This is because of their commitment to accessibility to the public. In the permanent collection is the Howard Street Studio installation. This reimagines his art studio with unfinished art works, source material, and souvenirs. Basically it's like giving you an idea of how he made art. One can get a sense of his painting techniques, like how he used sponges to get the color and volume. A lot of other stuff in the permanent collection. Vaca Victoria was a part of the 1999 public art project "Cows On Parade." It was one of hundreds of fiberglass cows created by Chicago artists. This used to be on Superior in River North. It was only there a few days. There was controversy about some local gang symbols. It has a head painted like the Bulls logo. The six stars represent the NBA Championship wins. Also there's stuff by other local artists. This has a residency program where they can learn. Getting here is pretty easy without a car. It's located on Higgins by Milwaukee Avenue and the Jefferson Park Metra station. This is easy to get to with public transportation.

    I'd love to see more of his exhibits or his artworks. I was awestruck when I come across his art…read moreexhibits at art institute I begged my dad to take me there when I was in high school. There I met Ed Paschke after I grabbed bought art book about him, got his autograph. I treasure this art book with his signature when I greeted him politely and told him my name. ( I wrote it down on note because I'm deaf and too shy to talk. Thank you Ed Paschke. May your colorful spirit in arts live on! I hope or wish to have one of your masterpieces. They are so beautiful and vibrant! I'll post pic once I find my art book.

    Intuit Art Museum - "Henry Darger: The Room Revealed,"
Duchossois Family Darger Exhibition Gallery. Photo by by Cheri Eisenberg

    Intuit Art Museum

    (52 reviews)

    River West, Noble Square, West Town

    Intuit Art Museum is a cultural experience not to be missed -- for Chicago buffs and newcomers…read morealike. It champions self-taught and outsider artists with sincerity and respect, giving voice to those who have forged their own artistic paths. The works presented here lack nothing in skill, beauty, ingenuity, or eloquence. The exhibition Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago deepened my understanding of the city's history and connects meaningfully to conversations about immigration today. Barberena's linocuts are especially striking, emotional, and deeply resonant. Other highlights from my visit included a beautiful commissioned work by Della Wells, stunning fiber art by Pooja Pittie, and the dazzling portraits of Drossos Skyllas, shimmering with character and skill. Henry Darger's story -- and the work itself -- is haunting in the best, most imaginative way. Our tour with Claire was outstanding: passionate, informed, and clearly invested in the artists' lives and contexts. I highly recommend getting a tour! I left inspired and grateful that a museum like this exists. Strongly recommend.

    Intuit Art Museum has recently completed a massive renovation that expanded the facility threefold…read moreor so. Intuit features self-taught art by artists many of whom have a Chicagoland connection. My lovely wife and I have been to the "old" museum before, and it was an eye-opener to visit yesterday (Memorial Day) during a special free admission Grand Re-Opening weekend (the regular admission fee has also tripled to $15 from its former $5 ticket price). The star attraction is the recreation of Henry Darger's apartment and studio, along with a celebration of his works and methodologies. There are also spaces for the interesting and diverse Permanent Collection, as well as Special Exhibitions. Also interesting is the fact that the museum featuring self-taught art has bathrooms with fairly posh fixtures. Intuit Art Museum is not far from the Chicago Blue Line station. Check out the compact but cute gift shop before you leave.

    Balloon Museum - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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