Things to do with kids this weekend in Chicago

BOO! at the Zoo (Brookfield Zoo)

Brookfield Zoo Chicago · Brookfield · Included with admission · All ages

BOO! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo: month-long family Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating at select retail locations, Halloween…

Fall Fest

Lincoln Park Zoo · Chicago · Ages 5–12

Balloon Museum | EmotionAir - Art You Can Feel - Chicago

The Fields Studios · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Mushroom Walk

Eggers Grove · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Join us for a fun fungal walk as we search for mushrooms and learn about these fascinating organisms.

Rust at Dusk

Crabtree Nature Center · Barrington Hills · Ages 5–13

Explore an old farm trail surrounded by tallgrass prairie and relics of the past.

Friendship Bracelet Workshop

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Kids Korner A/B · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Grades 4-8 Thread together some fun with your friends at this workshop to make classic knotted bracelets.

Research Games

Central Library - Craft Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

Grades 4-6 Grades: 4-6 Develop your research skills through various games and activities.

Purple Crayon Players Storytime

Main Library · Evanston · Ages 1–12

STEM Out of School: Coding and Play

Main Library · Evanston · $ · Ages 5–12

Minecraft Club (Session A)

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Darlene Greaves Conference Room · Elk Grove Village · $ · Ages 5–12

Grades 2-5 without parent/caregiver Play and create with friends during Minecraft Club.

Baby Play

Hanover Park Branch - Meeting Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

0-18 months with caregiver Ages:0-18 months with caregiver Come play with your baby and chat with other caregivers.

Family Storytime

Central Library - Youth Program Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

0-5 years with caregiver Ages: 0-5 years with caregiver.

Trickster DaWaag (Fall) Camp

Rolling Knolls · Elgin · Ages 5–12

Two-day camp for all ages featuring cultural teachings, storytelling, games, artmaking and more!

Hispanic Heritage Month Seek & Find

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Children of all ages | Niños de todas las edades Swing by Youth Services Desk to grab a scavenger list.

Community Ofrenda | Ofrenda Comunitaria

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Families With Children Of All Ages Pick up a photo frame to personalize and add a photo of a loved one you wish to remember.

Word of the Week

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Become a dictionary detective with our new Word of the Week challenge!

BOO! at the Zoo (Brookfield Zoo)

Brookfield Zoo Chicago · Brookfield · Included with admission · All ages

BOO! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo weekends: extra trick-or-treating locations, free inflatables (Inflate-a-BOO!), costume parades, pumpkin…

Early Morning: The Pokémon Fossil Museum

Field Museum · Chicago · Ages 5–12

children family kids museum science art workshop

Fall Fest

Lincoln Park Zoo · Chicago · Ages 5–12

What’s On The Menu?

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

Join us at feeding time to learn about our outdoor ambassador animals and their habits.

Balloon Museum | EmotionAir - Art You Can Feel - Chicago

The Fields Studios · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Underground Railroad Tour

John Husar I&M Canal Bicycle Trail Parking Lot · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Tour includes info about the historical significance of this corridor.

Fall Tree Walk

Deer Grove-West · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Enjoy a guided walk and learn how to identify trees in the fall.

Fall Colors Paddle

Tower Road Boat Launch · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Enjoy fall color while paddling Skokie Lagoons.

Hispanic Heritage Paddle

Powderhorn Lake · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Join Friends of the Chicago River for bilingual bird paddling and storytelling on the water.

Nature Wellness Walk

Sauk Trail Woods-Central · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Immerse yourself and reconnect with nature and all the beauty it has to offer!

Wellness in the Woods: Yoga

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Join us for a free 60-minute class focused on building stability, flexibility, and relaxation through the practices of breath-work, mindful movement, and meditation.

Forest Therapy Walk

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

Reconnect with nature. Relaxing meditative practices and mindfulness led by the University of Illinois Extension.

Eco-Print Dyeing Workshop

Evans Field · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Create an eco-print with fall leaves and learn how to make your own mini plant press.

Invertebrate Investigation

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center · Lemont · Ages 3–12

Search for insects and arthropods who call tallgrass prairies home.

“Bone” Appetit

Trailside Museum of Natural History · River Forest · Ages 3–12

Join us during feeding time to learn about Trailside’s ambassador animals.

Owl Prowl

Sand Ridge Nature Center · South Holland · Ages 3–12

Introduction to owls followed by a relaxing walk to search for owls.

R.I.P. Stewardship

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center · Willow Springs · Ages 5–12

Help us restore native habitats – R emove I nvasive P lants with bow saws or loppers.

Saturday Repair Cafe

Robert Crown Branch Library · Evanston · Ages 3–12

Tea-time

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center · Willow Springs · Ages 5–13

Sample a variety of herbal tea blends paired with local honeys.

Sounds Natural Creative Retreat

Camp Shabbona Woods · South Holland · Ages 5–12

Enjoy art, wellness workshops, food and music.

Freedom to Read: Sublimation T-Shirts

Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room · Downers Grove · Ages 5–12

Grades 2-6: Design your own custom T-shirt.

Virtual Field Trip: The Philippines

Central Library - Craft Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

Grades K-3 Grades: K-3 Explore the vast islands of The Philippines through facts, photos, and videos.

Sketchbook Saturdays

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Grades 5-8 Drop in to Youth Services and spend some time this Saturday creating art!

Saturday Storytime

Central Library - Youth Program Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

0-5 years with caregiver Ages: 0-5 years with caregiver Join us once a month for a Saturday morning of stories, songs, flannels, and fun.

Fun Factory Saturday

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 1–12

Children of all ages Drop by the library to make a simple craft on your own or with the help of a parent/caregiver.

Bling Your Things Bedazzling

Downers Grove Public Library - Teen Central · Downers Grove · Ages 10–13

Grades 6-12 Bring your own item or grab one from us, then bedazzle it with gems.

Minecraft Club (Session B)

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Darlene Greaves Conference Room · Elk Grove Village · $ · Ages 5–12

Grades 2-5 without parent/caregiver Play and create with friends during Minecraft Club.

Minecraft Club (Session C)

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Darlene Greaves Conference Room · Elk Grove Village · $ · Ages 5–12

Grades 2-5 without parent/caregiver Play and create with friends during Minecraft Club.

Teen Music Collective

Central Library - Digital Recording,Editing,Program Room · Schaumburg · Ages 10–13

Grades 7-12 Grades 7-12 Learn how to produce music with instruction from industry professional Jalen Little.

Weekend Storytime

Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room · Downers Grove · Ages 1–12

Join us every weekend for picture books, songs, and activities designed for preschoolers to promote early literacy and vocabulary skills.

After Hours Paranormal Investigation

Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100) · Downers Grove · Ages 10–13

Interested in the paranormal? Join us for an after hours night of paranormal investigation using a variety of equipment from the library's…

Pop-Up Program: Explore Banned Books Week

Central Library · Schaumburg · Ages 3–13

Explore Banned Books Week Celebrate Banned Books Week (October 4–10) by visiting any Schaumburg Library location to explore our Periodic…

Hispanic Heritage Month Seek & Find

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Children of all ages | Niños de todas las edades Swing by Youth Services Desk to grab a scavenger list.

Community Ofrenda | Ofrenda Comunitaria

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Families With Children Of All Ages Pick up a photo frame to personalize and add a photo of a loved one you wish to remember.

Word of the Week

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Become a dictionary detective with our new Word of the Week challenge!

BOO! at the Zoo (Brookfield Zoo)

Brookfield Zoo Chicago · Brookfield · Included with admission · All ages

BOO! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo weekends: extra trick-or-treating locations, free inflatables (Inflate-a-BOO!), costume parades, pumpkin…

Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center · Willow Springs · Ages 3–12

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by making decorative sugar skulls.

Sunday Market at Jefferson

Jefferson · Chicago · Ages 5–12

Fall Fest

Lincoln Park Zoo · Chicago · Ages 5–12

What’s On The Menu?

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

Join us at feeding time to learn about our outdoor ambassador animals and their habits.

Balloon Museum | EmotionAir - Art You Can Feel - Chicago

The Fields Studios · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Sunrise Hike

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center · Willow Springs · Ages 3–12

Step into the quiet stillness of early morning and join us for a before-hours hike to witness the beauty of a new day.

Sacred Wanderings in Thatcher Woods

Thatcher Woods Pavilion · River Forest · Ages 3–12

Join Unity Temple of Oak Park as we practice connecting with nature.

Fall Color Walk

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

View the spectacular fall colors while enjoying a casual walk in the woods.

Eco-Print Dyeing Workshop

Palos Park Woods-North · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Create an eco-print with fall leaves and learn how to make your own mini plant press.

Bird Banding

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center · Lemont · Ages 3–12

Observe bird banding and talk with banders.

Restoration Workday

Crabtree Nature Center · Barrington Hills · Ages 5–12

Help us restore healthy habitats. Ages 8 & up. Children under 15 w/ adult. High schoolers may earn service hours.

Pumpkin Candles

Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room · Downers Grove · Ages 5–13

Make pumpkin candles with vacuum forming!

Storybook Cinema

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Kids Korner A/B · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Families with children of all ages No registration required—just drop in and watch classic storybooks come to life on screen!

Passport to Germany: Celebrating Schaumburg, Germany

Central Library · Schaumburg · Ages 3–13

Schaumburg Sister Cities Commission Celebrate German culture with an afternoon of activities, entertainment, and family fun.

Art Studio For Fun Reception

Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100) · Downers Grove · Ages 3–12

Join the student artists of Art Studio for Fun and enjoy their works on display during this reception.

Cardboard and String Spinners

Central Library - STEM Lab · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

Grades 4-6 Grades:4-6 Create your own cardboard spinning disc toy with string and common materials.

Crochet Corner

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Drop in to the Sunday Crochet Corner where you can work on personal projects with your own supplies, or work with provided yarn and hooks.

Pop Up Program: Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Central Library · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

Drop off your favorite stuffed animal for an overnight adventure at the library.

Hispanic Heritage Month Seek & Find

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Children of all ages | Niños de todas las edades Swing by Youth Services Desk to grab a scavenger list.

Community Ofrenda | Ofrenda Comunitaria

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Families With Children Of All Ages Pick up a photo frame to personalize and add a photo of a loved one you wish to remember.

Word of the Week

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Become a dictionary detective with our new Word of the Week challenge!