Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area · Latest check Sat, Oct 24
Things to do with kids in Lake County, IL
58 upcoming family events and 1 place and program in Lake County, IL. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it — confirm the details there before you go. Dates are in Central Time.
All of the Chicago area →This weekend in Chicago →Upcoming family events
Oct24SatSports & playSat, Oct 24 · 12:30 PM
Family Swim at FitNation — Gurnee
FitNation
From $8
Oct24SatTrick-or-treatSat, Oct 24 · 1:00 PM
Halloween Trick or Treat Trail at Bowen Park — Waukegan
Bowen Park
Free
- Community
Sat, Oct 24 · 3:00 PM
Day of the Dead Opening Celebration: Tarde de Catrinas
Jens Jensen Park
FreeAll ages
- Pumpkins and patches
Sat, Oct 24 · 1:00 PM
Pumpkin Pool Splash at Park Fitness
Park Fitness
From $15Ages 3–12
- Arts & crafts
Wed, Oct 28 · 6:30 PM
Family Art Night at West Ridge Community Center
West Ridge Community Center
From $15Ages 4+
- Outdoors
Wed, Oct 28 · 10:00 AM
Stories in the Woods at Heller Nature Center
Heller Nature Center
From $12Up to 6
Oct30FriArts & craftsFri, Oct 30 · 3:00 PM
Boo Busters Performing Arts Workshop — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
Free
Oct30FriPumpkins and patchesFri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM
Pumpkin Carving Contest — Waukegan
Belvidere Recreation Center
From $10Ages 6+
Oct31SatOutdoorsSat, Oct 31 · 1:00 PM
Family Drop-In Days at Ryerson Woods
Edward L. Ryerson Welcome Center
Free
Nov1SunArts & craftsSun, Nov 1 · 4:30 PM
Canvas Creations Workshop — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
FreeAges 5–10
Nov1SunCommunitySun, Nov 1 · 1:00 PM
Día de Muertos Community Celebration — Waukegan
Lakehurst Center
FreeAll ages
- Community
Sun, Nov 1 · 3:00 PM
Day of the Dead Closing Celebration and Community Ofrenda
Memorial Park
FreeAll ages
Nov3TueCookingTue, Nov 3 · 6:00 PM
Youth Baking Club — Waukegan
Adaptive Recreation Center
From $10
- STEM & discovery
Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM
National STEAM Day Craft at Nature's Classroom — Waukegan
Nature's Classroom at Bevier Park
Free
- Outdoors
Fri, Nov 6 · 4:30 PM
Pumpkin Smash — Highland Park
The Preserve of Highland Park
FreeAll ages
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM
Nature Play Date at Heller Nature Center
Heller Nature Center
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Sun, Nov 8 · 9:30 AM
Play in a Day! Youth Theater Workshop
West Ridge Community Center
From $45Ages 5–12
- STEM & discovery
Wed, Nov 11 · 9:00 AM
STREAM Explorers School Day Off — Veterans Day
West Ridge Community Center
From $100Ages 5–10
Nov13FriSports & playFri, Nov 13 · 6:00 PM
Family Fun Night — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
Paid
- STEM & discovery
Fri, Nov 13 · 6:30 PM
Family Lego Night — Highland Park
West Ridge Community Center
From $15Ages 5+
- Sports & play
Fri, Nov 13 · 5:00 PM
Monster Trucks Kids Night — Vernon Hills
Sullivan Community Center
Ages 3–6
- Outdoors
Fri, Nov 13 · 6:00 PM
Things That Go Bump… in the Night
Heller Nature Center
From $14Ages 6–12
Nov14SatSports & playSat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM
27th Annual Turkey Trot — Waukegan
Waukegan's Greg Petry SportsPark
Free
Nov14SatCommunitySat, Nov 14 · 5:00 PM
Saturday Night Kids Club — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
FreeAges 3–11
- Sports & play
Sat, Nov 14 · 6:00 PM
Family Tennis Night at Deer Creek Racquet Club
Deer Creek Racquet Club
From $15All ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 14 · 1:00 PM
Leaf Peeping & Pressing Workshop
Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center
From $14All ages
- Outdoors
Sun, Nov 15 · 10:00 AM
Turkey-ly Awesome at Rosewood Beach
Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center
From $14All ages
- Cooking
Mon, Nov 16 · 11:45 AM
Little Chef Makes Lunch: Thanksgiving — Vernon Hills
Sullivan Community Center
Ages 3–5
- Arts & crafts
Mon, Nov 16 · 5:15 PM
Little Turkeys Thanksgiving Night — Vernon Hills
Sullivan Community Center
Ages 2–4
- Outdoors
Wed, Nov 18 · 10:00 AM
Soaring, Storing, and Snoring
Heller Nature Center
From $12Up to 6
- Nov20FriCommunity
Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM
Family Karaoke Night — Waukegan
Belvidere Recreation Center
From $6
Nov20FriLight displaysFri, Nov 20 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Lights / Luces Festivas at Welton Plaza — Gurnee
Welton Plaza
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
Natural Dyes Tea Towel Workshop
Heller Nature Center
From $20Ages 6+
Nov22SunOutdoorsSun, Nov 22 · 1:00 PM
Thanksgiving for Nature Scavenger Hunt at Hastings Lake
Hastings Lake Forest Preserve — Shelter A
From $5
- Sports & play
Thu, Nov 26 · 7:30 AM
Long Grove Turkey Trot & Kids Dash
Historic Downtown Long Grove
PaidAll ages
- Sports & play
Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM
Palatine Turkey Trot & Sammy Scurry Kids' Run
Harper College
From $10
- Tree lightings
Fri, Nov 27 · 6:30 PM
Libertyville Cook Park Tree Lighting
Cook Park
All ages
- Sports & play
Sat, Nov 28 · 2:00 PM
Family Archery at Heller Nature Center
Heller Nature Center
From $14Ages 8+
- Community
Wed, Dec 2 · 4:30 PM
Just For Kids Holiday Shop — Buffalo Grove
Alcott Center
From $3
Dec5SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 5 · 8:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa — Gurnee
Viking Park Community Center
PaidAll ages
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM
Winter Wonderland — Highland Park
West Ridge Community Center
From $15All ages
Dec6SunNutcracker and showsSun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM
Dazzle Dance Party: Nutcracker Remix — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
Free
Dec6SunNutcracker and showsSun, Dec 6
Do It Yourself Messiah & Carol Sing-Along — Waukegan
Orlin Trapp Auditorium, Waukegan High School Brookside Campus
With admissionAll ages
- Dec8TueCrafts and cookies
Tue, Dec 8 · 4:30 PM
Holiday Gift Workshop for Kids — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
Free
- Arts & crafts
Wed, Dec 9 · 10:00 AM
Arctic Adventure: Stories & Crafts
Heller Nature Center
From $10Up to 3
Dec11FriArts & craftsFri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM
It's a Wonderful Life — The Radio Play (Gurnee)
Viking Park Community Center — Dance Hall
From $15
Dec11FriSanta visitsFri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. — Bowen Park Youth Theatre
Jack Benny Center for the Arts — Dr. Lynn Schornick Theatre
From $15
Dec12SatTrain ridesSat, Dec 12 · 11:52 AM
Arctic Express Holiday Train — Gurnee Park District
Grayslake Train Station
Paid
Dec12SatMarkets and festivalsSat, Dec 12 · 3:00 PM
Family Swim Night: Splashing in a Winter Wonderland — Waukegan
Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center
From $10
Dec12SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Photos with Santa at the Jane Addams Center — Waukegan
Jane Addams Center
Free
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Libertyville Santa Parade
Libertyville village streets (route posted the week of the parade)
All ages
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 9:00 AM
Donuts with Santa at the Crawford House — Libertyville
Crawford House
- Santa visits
Wed, Dec 16 · 6:00 PM
Silent Night with Santa — Sensory-Friendly Visit in Mundelein
Kracklauer Studio
From $19
Dec19SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 19 · 10:00 AM
Go Waukegan: Santa Shuffle Walk
Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center
Free
Dec19SatCommunitySat, Dec 19 · 11:00 AM
Holiday Open House at the Waukegan History Museum
Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie
FreeAll ages
Dec20SunCommunitySun, Dec 20 · 11:00 AM
North Pole Express — Mundelein Park & Recreation
Prairie Crossing Metra Station
- Santa visits
Mon, Dec 21 · 6:30 AM
School's Out Kids Club: Reindeer Games — Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Community Center
Paid
- STEM & discovery
Mon, Dec 21 · 9:00 AM
STREAM Explorers Winter Break Camp
West Ridge Community Center
From $200Ages 5–9
Places and ongoing programs
Recently ended
- Sports & play
EndedPast · Oct 23 · 5:00 PM
Fall Skating Exhibition at Centennial Ice Arena
Centennial Ice Arena
FreeAll ages
- Sports & play
EndedPast · Oct 23 · 7:00 PM
Scary Skate at Centennial Ice Arena
Centennial Ice Arena
From $10All ages
Oct22ThuArts & craftsEndedPast · Oct 22 · 6:00 PM
Miss Jamie Concert at the Dunn Museum
Dunn Museum
Free
- Not-so-scary
EndedPast · Oct 21 · 10:00 AM
Not So Spooky Spider Party
West Ridge Community Center
From $10Ages 2+
- Outdoors
EndedPast · Oct 21 · 10:00 AM
Stories in the Sand at Rosewood Beach
Rosewood Beach
From $12Up to 6
- Festivals and parties
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 3:00 PM
Boo Bash! at West Ridge Community Center
West Ridge Community Center
From $10Ages 2–13
- Pumpkins and patches
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 6:00 PM
Kids Night Out: The Great Pumpkin
Heller Nature Center
From $28Ages 5–12
A county page lists the county’s own addresses (by ZIP code, from the Census Bureau’s ZIP-to-county file); pages appear in our sitemap once a county has 10 or more current listings.