Chicago Birthday Ideas: Group Activities to Book

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Chicago birthday ideas

For a group birthday, Chicago has activities for every season and every kind of group. These are the reliable picks.

7 group picksGroup tips on every card

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Group activities for a Chicago group birthday

Each card has a group tip and a link to live prices.

1
Group pick

Architecture river cruise

Boat tours on the Chicago River pass the city's famous skyline with a guide explaining the buildings. Probably the single best group activity in the city.

BirthdayTeam Outing
Group tipThe Chicago Architecture Center tours are the best known. Book ahead for summer weekends.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
2
Group pick

Second City show or improv workshop

Second City is one of the most famous improv theaters in the country. Groups can catch a show or book a private improv workshop, which works especially well for teams.

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Group tipWorkshops are a good team-building option that doesn't require anyone to be funny.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
3
Group pick

Cubs game at Wrigley Field

A day game at Wrigley is a Chicago group classic. Rooftop venues across the street sell group packages with food and drinks.

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Group tipRooftop packages are often easier to book for a big group than getting seats together in the park.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
4
Group pick

Deep-dish pizza tour

A walking tour that hits several pizza spots and covers why Chicago pizza turned out the way it did. A good group lunch that settles the which-place argument.

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Group tipDeep-dish takes a while to bake. Tours with pre-ordered stops skip the wait.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
5
Group pick

Prohibition and speakeasy tour

Tours covering Chicago's gangster history, some ending in a speakeasy-style bar. A fun way to start a night out.

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Group tipEvening tours with a drink stop fill fastest. Book a private tour for bigger groups.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
6
Group pick

Blues club night

Chicago is a blues city, and long-running clubs like Kingston Mines and Buddy Guy's Legends have live music most nights.

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Group tipArrive early on weekends to get a table for the whole group.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide
7
Group pick

Skyscraper observation decks

Skydeck at Willis Tower has glass ledges sticking out from the building; 360 Chicago has TILT, which tips you toward the street. Quick, memorable, and easy to book.

BirthdayTeam Outing
Group tipTimed tickets avoid long lines, especially in summer.
Check group prices →Compare on GetYourGuide

Planning tips for a group birthday

How organizers keep it cheaper and calmer.

1

Mention it's a birthday when you book. Plenty of operators will add something small, and some have birthday packages that aren't listed online.

2

Pick activities everyone can do. Mixed-fitness groups do better with a cruise or a food tour than a long hike.

3

Book a private time slot if the group is 10 or more. It's often the same price per person and you get the place to yourselves.

4

Split payment early with an app or a shared link so the birthday person isn't the one collecting.

Keep planning

More ideas in Chicago and other cities.

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