Chicago–Naperville–Elgin · IL / IN

Things to do with kids in Chicago

41 family events in the next 30 days, plus 30 places and ongoing programs. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page, and shows the date we last checked it (latest check 2026-10-11). Dates are in Central Time.

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Upcoming family events

Through Oct 25 · 10:00 AMBoo! at the Zoo with Dinos 2026Brookfield Zoo Chicago · All ages; Inflate-A-Boo is for ages 3–10. · Included with zoo admission; free admission for zoo members. General admission amount not verified.
Mon, Oct 12 · 8:30 AMDCM Detective Agency Day-Off CampDuPage Children's Museum · Children currently in grades K–3. · $125 per nonmember child per day; members $100; eligible Welcome members $40 with limited opportunity.
Mon, Oct 12 · 10:00 AMFall Fest — Lincoln Park ZooLincoln Park Zoo · All ages · Free entry; attraction tickets $4.50 each, with bulk packages available
Through Nov 29 · 10:00 AMWhere Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos — Family Ofrenda VisitNational Museum of Mexican Art · All ages · Free public admission
Wed, Oct 14 · 10:00 AMNational Fossil Day — Field MuseumField Museum · All ages · Included with museum admission. Official guest general admission starts at $30; Chicago resident tickets start at $21. Illinois residents enter free on Wednesdays with residency proof. Members and children under 3 free; other eligible discounts apply. Choose the event date and visitor category for final pricing; special exhibition upgrades may cost extra.
Wed, Oct 14 · 6:30 PMNight of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns 2026Chicago Botanic Garden · All ages · Advance off-peak starting rates: nonmember child ages 3–12 $17, adult $24; member child $13, adult $20. Ages 2 and younger free. Nonmember parking $15 advance or $25 onsite.
Wed, Oct 14 · 11:00 AMPlayLab PlayDate: Diwali Storytime and CraftField Museum · Ages 2–6 with caregivers · Included with museum admission. Official guest general admission starts at $30; Chicago resident tickets start at $21. Illinois residents enter free on Wednesdays with residency proof. Members and children under 3 free; other eligible discounts apply. Choose the event date and visitor category for final pricing; special exhibition upgrades may cost extra.
Thu, Oct 15 · 5:00 PM$5 Thursday Nights at DCMDuPage Children's Museum · Families · $5 per person during the September/October 2026 offer; members free.
Thu, Oct 15 · 3:00 PMLEGO Club — Legler RegionalChicago Public Library — Legler Regional · Ages 6+; families welcome · No event-specific fee stated in reviewed event text; confirm with branch
Fri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PMHocus Pocus — Campfire Movie at RidgeRidge Park · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · Free outdoor PG-rated movie screening
Fri, Oct 16 · 5:30 PMPumpkin Night Hike for FamiliesFullersburg Woods Nature Education Center · All ages; under 18 with an adult. · $10/person ages 3+; ages 2 and younger free.
Sat, Oct 17 · 1:30 PMField Favorites in ASLField Museum · Visitors interested in an American Sign Language tour; numeric age limits not published · Included with museum admission. Official guest general admission starts at $30; Chicago resident tickets start at $21. Illinois residents enter free on Wednesdays with residency proof. Members and children under 3 free; other eligible discounts apply. Choose the event date and visitor category for final pricing; special exhibition upgrades may cost extra.
Sat, Oct 17 · 9:30 AMItty Bitty Explorers: T. rex Teeth & TailsField Museum · Ages 3–5 with an adult caregiver · $40 nonmember / $35 member registration, including general admission for one child and caregiver
Sat, Oct 17 · 10:00 AMNorth Park Village Fall FestivalNorth Park Village Nature Center · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · Free; no registration needed
Sat, Oct 17Open House Chicago — Family-Friendly Architecture WeekendParticipating Chicago buildings and community sites · All ages · Free public festival; separate optional experiences may have their own terms
Sat, Oct 17 · 11:00 AMShabbona Trunk or TreatShabbona Park · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · Free community event
Sat, Oct 17Spooky Zoo — Lincoln Park ZooLincoln Park Zoo · All ages · Free event; check separately ticketed Fall Fest attractions
Sat, Oct 17 · 11:00 AMTeen Saturday Studio: Architectural PhotographyHarold Washington College · High school students in grades 9–12 · Free; advance registration required
Mon, Oct 19 · 3:00 PMLEGO Club — Douglass BranchChicago Public Library — Douglass · Ages 6+; families welcome · No event-specific fee stated in reviewed event text; confirm with branch
Tue, Oct 20 · 3:00 PMSTEAM Tuesdays — Little Italy BranchChicago Public Library — Little Italy · Ages 5–10 · No event-specific fee stated in reviewed event text; confirm with branch
Wed, Oct 21 · 11:00 AMObservational Drawing Using Unusual SpecimensField Museum · All ages · Included with museum admission. Official guest general admission starts at $30; Chicago resident tickets start at $21. Illinois residents enter free on Wednesdays with residency proof. Members and children under 3 free; other eligible discounts apply. Choose the event date and visitor category for final pricing; special exhibition upgrades may cost extra.
Thu, Oct 22 · 3:30 PMSolar Punk Pizza Party — Grades 6–8North Park Village Nature Center · Students in grades 6–8; numeric ages not substituted for grades · Free; registration encouraged, drop-ins welcome
Fri, Oct 23 · 5:30 PMCantigny Family Night Trick-or-TreatingCantigny · Families · Admission and parking vary by event; select the official admission calendar. No numerical fee was verified.
Fri, Oct 23 · 5:30 PMEugene Field Monster BashEugene Field Park · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · $3 per person; advance registration required
Fri, Oct 23 · 3:00 PMKelvyn Halloween Monster Mash PartyKelvyn Park · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · Free event; confirm any registration requirement on the official page
Sat, Oct 24 · 6:00 PMArts in the Dark Halloween Parade 2026Columbus Drive parade route · All ages · Free public viewing; parking and vendor purchases separate
Sat, Oct 24 · 9:00 AMDCM Pumpkin PaloozaDuPage Children's Museum · Families · Included with museum admission or membership; admission price not verified.
Sat, Oct 24 · 3:00 PMDía de los Muertos Xicágo 2026Harrison Park and the National Museum of Mexican Art surroundings · All ages · Free public admission
Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AMDvorak Pumpkin PatchDvorak Park · All ages; choose child suitability for optional scary attractions · Free; one pumpkin per person while supplies last
Sat, Oct 24 · 2:00 PMGhoulfest at GompersGompers Park · Youth/families; numeric age range not published · $10 suggested donation per family; header shows event fee $10 without this qualifier
Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AMGirls Build! Public Art & Architecture — Fall 2026Chicago Center for Arts & Technology · Girl-identifying students in grades 6–8 · Free; advance registration required
Sat, Oct 24Naper Settlement Family SpooktacularNaper Settlement · Designed for families with children ages 3–12. · Adult $15; child ages 4–12 $10; under 4 free; members included.
Sat, Oct 24 · 11:00 AMTeen Saturday Studio: Concrete CreationsRevolution Workshop · High school students in grades 9–12 · Free; advance registration required
Sun, Oct 25 · 1:00 PMNaperville Halloween HappeningRiverwalk Grand Pavilion · Designed for children ages 10 and younger with family. · Free admission.
Wed, Oct 28 · 5:00 PMDark Matter Day at Adler PlanetariumAdler Planetarium · All ages · Check the organizer for current fees
Thu, Oct 29 · 5:30 PMOriole Children’s Halloween Dinner and Reptile PartyOriole Park · Children with a parent/guardian; numeric youth age range not published · Posted event fee $10; participant unit and caregiver fees not explicitly stated
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PMFamily Field Nights: Boo with SUEField Museum · All ages · $40 nonmember / $36 member standard ticket; optional Nocturnal Garden Walk ticket $55 / $50
Fri, Oct 30 · 5:00 PMLanterns and Legends: Historic Jack-O’-LanternsFullersburg Woods Nature Education Center · All ages; under 18 with an adult. · $15 per pumpkin; supplies included.
Fri, Oct 30 · 11:00 AMMeet a Scientist: Spooky Spider WebsField Museum · All ages · Included with museum admission. Official guest general admission starts at $30; Chicago resident tickets start at $21. Illinois residents enter free on Wednesdays with residency proof. Members and children under 3 free; other eligible discounts apply. Choose the event date and visitor category for final pricing; special exhibition upgrades may cost extra.
Sat, Oct 31 · 12:00 PMHorsin’ Around Day: Trick-or-Treat at DanadaDanada Equestrian Center · All ages. · Free entry; optional wagon ride $5/person ages 5+; under 5 free.
Mon, Nov 2 · 9:00 AMCircEsteem Day at the Circus — November School Days OffCircEsteem · Ages 6–16 · $115 per child per day; financial aid available; aid participants owe a one-time $25 registration fee

Upcoming family events

Places and ongoing programs