Chicago's Best Nightlife Spots For The Under 21 Crowd

By Megan Horst-Hatch

Are you under 21 and looking for something fun to do this weekend? From dance clubs to roller skating to pool, the Chicagoland area offers a variety of fun late-night activities. Get your group together and head out to these fun venues. Remember that some of these hotspots require a valid photo I.D. to enter, so come prepared.

Foursquare Favorite: The Second City
1616 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 337-3992
Read all the tips on Foursquare

Kids 10 and older are welcome to join in on the laughs at Second City, one of the best sketch comedy venues in the country (and the top comedy club in Chicago). Get there early for a good seat, and be sure to check out the lobby-side portraits of the Second City alumni, such as John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and more.

Head to Foursquare to sort reviews by these tastes:

Energy Thursday Nite Dance Club
3815 W. Lake St.
Stone Park, IL  60160
(708) 344-8800
www.energythursdays.com

Price: $15 for ladies, $20 for men; cover may be raised for special events

Start the weekend one day early with Energy Thursday Nite Dance Club. The club, which is only open on Thursday nights, has all the ingredients for a fun night out with your friends. The venue features concert lighting and sound systems, plasma TV screens, black lights, special effect lights, dance cages, a 20-foot catwalk and multilevel dance floors. Energy Thursday also blasts CO2 from the ceiling, dropping the club's temperature from 100 degrees to 40 degrees in about four seconds and instantly cooling off everyone below. DJs, reality stars and live acts have appeared at Energy Thursday Nite, including Vinny from "Jersey Shore," Tila Tequila, and Gym Class Heroes. You must be 17 to enter and 21 to drink alcohol. A valid photo ID is required to enter the club.

K-OZ Nightclub
2501 S. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL  60623
(773) 247-2400
www.koznightclub.com

Ready for a late late night out on the town? Then head to K-OZ Nightclub. Located in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, K-OZ has three dance floors, each offering a variety of music. The main room of K-OZ offers cumbia, rock-pop and Top 40; the second floor plays bachata, house and club music; and the lower level plays rock-pop in Spanish and cumbia. The nightclub also offers live music and video mixing. Wear your trendiest outfit if you're headed to this hotspot. K-OZ offers valet parking. You must be 18 or older, and a valid photo ID is required.

Related: Best Open Mic Comedy In Chicago

Medusa's
209 E. Chicago St.
Elgin, IL  60120
(847) 868-2582
www.medusachicago.com

While this club might be called Medusa's, it doesn't have anything to do with snakes. The club's Medusa Saturdays is for the 17-and-over crowd, featuring a variety of parties and promotions every week. The club has also played host to a variety of reality TV stars, including Snooki from "Jersey Shore" and various stars from "The Hills," "Daisy of Love" and "The Biggest Loser." Fashionable club attire is a must at Medusa's, so get your best outfit ready. Medusa's is open to those who are in fact 21 and older on Friday (and Saturday) nights from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Bring your valid photo ID.

Zero Gravity Young Adult Dance Club
22 W. 613 75th St.
Naperville, IL  60565
(630) 985-1111
www.zgclub.com

Price: Cover charge is between $15 and $20

Do you think you can dance...until 4 a.m.? Zero Gravity Young Adult Dance Club, considered one of the top nightclubs in the Midwest, is a must for those under 21. The late-hour dance club has featured numerous stars, including Justin Timberlake, Baby Bash and Christina Aguilera. Zero Gravity's dress code is "dress to impress," so leave the sweats and sportswear at home. The club offers both a hot and cold buffet and does not serve any alcohol. Don't forget to bring a valid photo ID that includes your birth date.

Orbit Skate Center
615 S Consumers Ave.
Palatine, IL  60074
(847) 394-9199
www.orbitskate.net

If nightclubs aren't your scene, then get ready to lace up your skates at one of the top roller skating rinks in Illinois. Orbit Skate Center offers live music on Thursday nights where requests are taken. Friday nights are Cosmic Night Skates, where skaters can expect black lights and light shows as they skate. Starting Saturday, Sept. 8, Orbit Skate will have late skating hours for those 18 and up from 10 p.m. to midnight. Skates are available for rental, and Orbit Skate also has a snack bar.

Rack'em Up Chicago
312 McHenry Rd.
Buffalo Grove, IL  60089
(847) 541-2500
www.rackemupchicago.com

Up for a round of pool or throwing darts? Then check out Rack'em Up Chicago, which offers a variety of games in a friendly atmosphere. Try video bowling or play a round of bean bags with your friends. Challenge other players in a game of Golden Tee Golf on Rack'em Up's 42-inch HD screen. Rack'em Up also offers a full menu that includes sandwiches, pizza and wings. You must be at least 19 to enter, and a valid ID is required.

Related: A Safe Haven Bar For Soccer Fans

Megan Horst-Hatch is a mother, runner, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She loves nothing more than a great cupcake, and writes at I'm a Trader Joe's Fan. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.