During the winter months, the City of Evanston offers many options for residents to get involved. Students at home during winter break–or anyone with free time–can use these options to stay occupied during the winter.
A popular attraction, public ice skating is offered most days at Evanston’s Robert Crown Community Center at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Skating is affordable, costing only $6 for people under 18. In addition to Robert Crown, the City of Evanston also sets up ice rinks open to the public at various local parks.
“I love to go ice skating with friends,” said senior Annika Wartowski. “My friends and I aren’t actually that good, so it’s fun to struggle together.”
Robert Crown also offers open gym hours, drop-in pottery classes and other activities. These programs are open to everyone and are often free or cost-friendly.
“We offer a large variety of programming to everyone, whether they are on the ice rink for All-Ages Drop-In Hockey or in the Art Room for Family Pottery,” said Seth Kendall, a program coordinator at Robert Crown. “There is always something for anyone in the community to do.”
Another way Evanston has provided opportunities for residents is through the Indoor Farmers’ Market. The market is held every Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon at the Evanston Ecology Center. According to some, the indoor market has some perks compared to the outdoor summer market.
“The summer market is so busy, [but] now you can actually spend time talking with people,” said Kyle Jacobson, owner of Jacobson Family Farms, which has a stand at the Indoor Farmers’ Market.
Jacobson Family Farms also does restorative work, which depends on their ability to sell produce and maintain their employees throughout the winter.
“[The Indoor Farmers’ Market] lets us keep our workers going, so this can be a long term job for them as opposed to a summer gig,” said Jacobson.
Students can also take advantage of The Evanston Public Library, offering workshops, craft nights, game nights and study spaces.
“The library is good for finding books, but it’s also great for studying with friends,” said Wartowski. “It provides a quiet space to get out of your house in the winter.”
For some, these activities provide a chance to foster community despite the cold.
“Students need places to feel safe and have fun during the winter,” said Wartowski. “The beach is a really big spot to hangout in the summer, and it’s important to have something similar in the winter.”
Although winter can make it harder for many residents to get involved in the community, the staff behind these opportunities appreciate their participation.
“Registration plays a key role in keeping these programs alive, so we are always looking at ways to bring in more people. We try to keep prices as low as possible while covering the programs’ operating costs,” said Kendall. “It all circles back–people come in, enjoy their time and then spread the word.”
