Free Kids & Family Events in Chicago & Suburbs

KiddoChicago tracks 7,097 upcoming kids and family events across the Chicago suburbs — 6,302 of them free — in 135 towns. Everything here is pulled straight from the organisers themselves: public library calendars, park district programme guides, forest preserves, museums and community centres. Nothing is submitted or paid for, and the whole list is rebuilt every morning, so an event that was cancelled or filled up yesterday is gone today.

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 Splash🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 Arlington Ridge Center (ARC)Price not listed
Word of the Week🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 30 datesFree
OneInMath🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM📍 Glen Ellyn Public Library🔁 5 datesFree
High School Peer Tutoring - With P.A.S.S. Peer Tutors🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM📍 Hinsdale Public Library🔁 6 datesFree · Registration required
Honor Our Veterans🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM📍 Tinley Park Public LibraryFree · Registration required
Ghost Family Portrait🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Orland Park Public LibraryFree · Registration required
Game Play Sunday🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM📍 Main Library🔁 2 datesFree
The Mighty Pawns Chess Club🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM📍 Wilmette Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
Northern Illinois Lego Train Club Exhibit🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM📍 Northbrook Public LibraryFree
Music Teachers of Hyde Park Artists Series: Phyllis Calderon🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 BlackstoneFree
Learn Chess with Dave🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 Walker🔁 2 datesFree
Celebrating Polish Folktales with Master Storyteller Megan Wells🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM📍 Oriole ParkFree
Film Screening: Goosebumps (2015)🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM📍 ScottsdaleFree
Developmental Playgroup with The Little Duck Collective🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 Harold Washington Library Center🔁 2 datesFree · Registration required
Film Screening: M3GAN 2.0 (2025)🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM📍 KingFree
Dungeons & Dragons Club🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM📍 Lincoln Belmont🔁 2 datesFree · Registration required
Family Film Screening: Corpse Bride (2005)🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Back of the YardsFree
Family Film Screening: Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo (2020)🕒 Sun, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM📍 West LawnFree

See everything on this weekend →

Browse by what you feel like doing

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 · Halloween Events Near Chicago

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