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If you're searching for an exciting day trip near Chicago, look no further than Raging Waves Waterpark. With nine waterslides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a giant sandbox, kids and adults alike will have a great time. Since opening to the public in 2008, Raging Waves has expanded to cover 58 acres, adding 15 more waterslides, 43 private cabanas, and 11 dining options. It's hard to believe that it all began with only 17 waterslides, a ¼ mile-long lazy river, a 350,000-gallon wave pool, a sand area, a leisure pool, and two restaurants.

Chicago Jazz Festival invites you to a four-day celebration of jazz featuring world-class artists. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place at Millennium Park, downtown Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, and various venues across the city. The Labor Day weekend festival aims to promote all forms of jazz and showcase Chicago's local talent alongside national and international artists. The event seeks to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city's most beloved art forms. As the only jazz organization in Chicago that offers a wide range of opportunities for artists, both old and new, they provide high-visibility venues for creating and performing new work. They collaborate directly with Chicago Public School teachers to develop programs for their students and professional development for themselves. Additionally, they present the city's most significant artists in their communities, building an audience that crosses racial and geographic boundaries to break through historical barriers that have been obstacles to the evolution of music.

If you're a Latino art and culture fan, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago's Harrison Park is a must-visit attraction. The museum boasts an impressive collection of artworks from various fields, including Ephemera, textiles, folk art, prints and drawings, photography, and sculptures. The National Museum of Mexican Art is home to a remarkable collection of art and artifacts that showcase Mexico's rich history and cultural heritage. The permanent exhibit takes visitors through the five stages of Mexico's history, from pre-Cuauhtemoc Mexico to the present. The museum offers a comprehensive insight into Mexico's cultural legacy, with over 6,000 art pieces on display. In addition, the museum hosts traveling exhibitions that tour other museums across the United States and Mexico. The National Museum of Mexican Art's Education Department provides various programs and classes for interested patrons, including bilingual tours, lectures, and workshops. These programs are taught by experienced in-house or independent artists and are available in English and Spanish, deepening your understanding of Mexican art, history, and culture.

The Adler Planetarium is a must-visit spot for astronomy enthusiasts and those interested in space exploration. Founded by philanthropist Max Adler in 1930, it was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and remains the oldest. The planetarium boasts three full-size theaters, including the Sky Theater planetarium, where visitors can enjoy various shows and presentations about the night sky. The Sky Theater projector can recreate every aspect and movement of the night sky, giving visitors an incredibly realistic experience. The Definiti Space Theater, an addition made in 1999, comes equipped with a digital full-dome video environment for an immersive experience. Visitors can also enjoy sculptures outside the planetarium, such as the "Man Enters the Cosmos" sundial and a statue of renowned astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. The lobby's dedication plaque is also a work of art, depicting the gods and goddesses that represent each planet, except for Pluto, which had yet to be discovered at the time of the plaque's creation.