Free Kids & Family Events in Chicago & Suburbs

KiddoChicago tracks 6,281 upcoming kids and family events across the Chicago suburbs — 5,443 of them free — in 134 towns. Everything here is pulled straight from the organisers themselves: public library calendars, park district programme guides, forest preserves, museums and community centres. No one pays to be listed. The whole list is rebuilt every morning, so an event that was cancelled or filled up yesterday is gone today. A few big annual events are entered by hand.

Most of it is free. Weekday mornings are storytime, baby lapsit and toddler play; after school runs to LEGO clubs, craft sessions and STEM workshops; weekends bring festivals, outdoor movies, concerts in the park and nature walks. You can browse by town below, jump to what is on this weekend, or use the interactive map to filter by your children's ages and how far you are willing to drive.

Happening this weekend in the Chicago suburbs

Pumpkin Smash: From Gourd to Garden🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM📍 Frontier ParkPrice not listed
MPCB Fall Concert: Magical Places🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM📍 Trinity United Methodist Church$5
Picture Book Month Challenge🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 14 datesFree
Word of the Week🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 29 datesFree
Sketchbook Saturdays🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM📍 Elk Grove Village Public LibraryFree
Storytime Studio🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM📍 Elk Grove Village Public LibraryFree · Registration required
Picture Book Month Challenge🕒 Sun, Nov 8 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 14 datesFree
Word of the Week🕒 Sun, Nov 8 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 29 datesFree
Storybook Cinema🕒 Sun, Nov 8 · 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
Teen Music Collective🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM📍 Central Library🔁 4 datesFree · Registration required
Local Author Fair🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Central LibraryFree
Simple Hand Sewing: Appliqué🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 Central LibraryFree · Registration required
Diwali Party🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM📍 Mount Prospect Public LibraryFree
Kindness Week in Mount Prospect Kickoff Event🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM📍 Mount Prospect Public LibraryFree
Junior Picassos🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM📍 Rolling Meadows LibraryFree
Turkey Shoot Scramble🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · All day📍 Heritage Oaks Golf Club$400
Mixed Media Madness🕒 Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM📍 Century Park PavilionPrice not listed
ACT Practice Test🕒 Sat, Nov 7 · 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM📍 Downers Grove Public LibraryFree · Registration required

See everything on this weekend →

Browse by what you feel like doing

Fireworks & Independence Day · Festivals, Fairs & Town Days · LEGO Clubs & Building · Storytime & Early Literacy · Movie Nights & Outdoor Films · Concerts & Live Music · Crafts & Making · Science & STEM · Art Workshops · Nature Walks & Outdoors · Sports & Games · Toddler & Baby Play · Animals, Farms & Zoos · Splash Pads & Water Play · Teen & Tween Events · Bilingual & World Language · Open Play & Drop-In Playtime · Board Games & Tabletop · Sensory-Friendly & Inclusive · Book Clubs · Video Games & Esports · Music & Movement

Seasonal guides

Free Chicago Festivals & Events · Apple Picking Near Chicago · Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago · Berry Picking Near Chicago · Christmas Lights Near Chicago · Halloween Events Near Chicago

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