Free Kids & Family Events in Chicago & Suburbs

KiddoChicago tracks 4,725 upcoming kids and family events across the Chicago suburbs — 4,148 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

Chicago Air and Water Show🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM📍 North Avenue Beach🔁 2 datesFree
Chicago Air and Water Show🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM📍 North Avenue Beach🔁 2 datesFree
Lecture & Learn – Tales from the Collection🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Arlington Heights Historical MuseumPrice not listed
Little Historians – Please Touch! Museum Experience🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Arlington Heights Historical MuseumPrice not listed
"I Can Bike There!" Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 17 datesFree
Sketchbook Saturdays🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
"I Can Bike There!" Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · All day📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 17 datesFree
Storybook Cinema🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM📍 Elk Grove Village Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
Trust Your Gut: Teen Safety and Peer Pressure🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Central LibraryFree · Registration required
The Write Stuff: Dear Future Me🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM📍 Central LibraryFree · Registration required
Book Explorers: The World's Best Class Plant🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM📍 Central LibraryFree · Registration required
Experience the LEGO Train!🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · All day📍 Mount Prospect Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
Experience the LEGO Train!🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · All day📍 Mount Prospect Public Library🔁 2 datesFree
Saturday Science: Candy Science🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM📍 Rolling Meadows LibraryFree · Registration required
Summer Reading Challenge: The Pursuit of Happiness🕒 Sun, Aug 16 · All day📍 Rolling Meadows LibraryFree
“Head Over Heels” Presented by Northbrook Theatre Teen Company🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM📍 Northbrook Community CenterPrice not listed
Party on the Green🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM📍 Village Green ParkFree
Little Bear Ribfest🕒 Sat, Aug 15 · 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM📍 Century Park$5

See everything on this weekend →

Browse by what you feel like doing

Fireworks & Independence Day · Touch a Truck · 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

Seasonal guides

Free Chicago Festivals & Events · Apple Picking Near Chicago · Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago

Browse Chicago Suburb Events by City