# Winter Wonderland

> Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time.

- When: Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Where: Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E Thacker Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016
- Ages: Check age guidance
- Price: Free
- Organizer: Des Plaines Park District
- Official page: https://www.dpparks.org/event/winter-wonderland-2/
- Last checked: Mon, Nov 9

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/winter-wonderland--listing-1acf8deded1ab865bb6a68f8

## About

Visit Santa and take a holiday train ride. Families can make holiday crafts and enjoy hot cocoa.

## Similar picks in Chicago

- [Winter Wonderland — Highland Park](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/winter-wonderland-highland-park--listing-60dcaca68a5cd6c881db6bd8) — Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · West Ridge Community Center, Highland Park · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 16. Highland Park's family holiday party at West Ridge Community Center on Saturday, December 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. Activities are included: elf training, making a plush toy and…
- [2026 Mundelein Winter Tree Lighting Festival](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/2026-mundelein-winter-tree-lighting-festival--listing-405e5e98a3e559576e668fe9) — Sat, Dec 5 · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Courtland Commons, Mundelein · checked Nov 9. Mundelein's festival fills Courtland Commons with live entertainment, train rides for kids, ice carving displays, Santa's Cottage, a Kris Kringle market, crafts and character…
- [Parents' Night Out: Winter Wonderland — Northbrook](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/parents-night-out-winter-wonderland-northbrook--listing-a125401a754ffa6980ba7083) — Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM · Techny Prairie Activity Center, Northbrook · Ages 4–11 · From $35 · checked Oct 20. Children ages 4 to 11 spend a Saturday evening at the Techny Prairie Activity Center while parents, grandparents or guardians get a date night or a few hours of holiday shopping…
- [Winter Fest & Tree Lighting — Valparaiso](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/winter-fest-and-tree-lighting-valparaiso--listing-2d61e57bd6d019ea915cf4c8) — Sat, Nov 28 · 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Central Park Plaza, Valparaiso · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. Valparaiso Parks lights the giant Christmas tree at Central Park Plaza downtown on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. The free evening includes musical performances…
- [Family Swim Night: Splashing in a Winter Wonderland — Waukegan](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/family-swim-night-splashing-in-a-winter-wonderland-waukegan--listing-75a75b4c07e41bc823e1423d) — Sat, Dec 12 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM · Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center, Waukegan · From $10 · checked Oct 20. The Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center hosts a winter-themed family swim on Saturday, December 12 from 3 to 5 pm, with holiday crafts, snacks, swimming and games. The…
- [Photos with Santa at Bird Haven Greenhouse](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/photos-with-santa-at-bird-haven-greenhouse--listing-e27592c0b440d5d86f56796d) — Sat, Dec 5 (+1 more date) · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Bird Haven Greenhouse, Joliet · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. Santa visits Bird Haven Greenhouse in Joliet, a historic glass conservatory filled with holiday plants, on Saturday, December 5, and Saturday, December 12, from noon to 3 p.m…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids at Prairie Lakes Community Center](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/venues/prairie-lakes-community-center) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/venues/prairie-lakes-community-center.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Des Plaines, IL](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/des-plaines-il) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/des-plaines-il.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Cook County, IL](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/counties/cook-county-il) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/counties/cook-county-il.md)
- [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Chicago — December 2026](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/events/2026-12) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/events/2026-12.md)
- [This weekend in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago.md)
