Things to do with kids in Chicago — November 2026

Through Dec 13

'The Stick' Traveling Exhibition by Clay Rice

Isle a la Cache Museum

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 1 · 4:30 PM

Canvas Creations Workshop — Gurnee

Hunt Club Park Community Center

Ages 5–10

Sun, Nov 1 · 3:00 PM

Day of the Dead Closing Celebration and Community Ofrenda

Memorial Park

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 1 · 1:00 PM

Día de los Muertos Sugar Skull Craft at Crabtree

Crabtree Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 1 · 1:00 PM

Día de Muertos Community Celebration — Waukegan

Lakehurst Center

FreeAll ages

Fri, Oct 23 · 10:00 AM

Fall Fest — Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 1 · 4:30 PM

Hasta La Muerte — Las Cafeteras Day of the Dead Show

Hemmens Cultural Center

Paid

Through Nov 29

LEGO Brick Nature Creations at Hidden Oaks

Hidden Oaks Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Thu, Oct 22 · 10:30 AM

Medieval Monsters Painting Workshop

Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier

With admission

Through Nov 30

Nation of Nations Exhibit at Trailside Museum

Trailside Museum of Natural History

Free

Sun, Nov 1 · 8:00 AM

Tinley Park Turkey Trot

Vogt Woods

From $22

Through Nov 29

Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos — Family Ofrenda Visit

National Museum of Mexican Art

FreeAll ages

Mon, Nov 2 · 9:00 AM

CircEsteem Day at the Circus — November School Days Off

CircEsteem

From $115Ages 6–16

Mon, Nov 2 · 9:00 AM

Day Off & Winter Break Nature Camp — Bartlett Nature Center

Bartlett Nature Center

Paid

Mon, Nov 2 · 9:00 AM

Griffin MSI Curiosity Day Camps (School Days Off)

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

From $100

Tue, Nov 3 · 6:00 PM

Youth Baking Club — Waukegan

Adaptive Recreation Center

From $10

Wed, Nov 4 · 5:30 PM

Boys Night Out with Mom — Wheaton

Ray Morrill Community Center

From $40

Wed, Nov 4 · 10:30 AM

Build A Game in the Tinkering Lab

Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier

With admissionAges 4+

Wed, Nov 4 · 10:00 AM

Wee Wandering Wednesdays at Crabtree Nature Center

Crabtree Nature Center

FreeAges 2–6

Thu, Oct 22 · 3:00 PM

LEGO Club — Legler Regional

Chicago Public Library — Legler Regional

Ages 6+

Thu, Nov 5 · 10:00 AM

WonderKids: Squirrel! at Isle a la Cache

Isle a la Cache Museum

FreeAges 2–7

Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM

Cosmic Skating at Northbrook Sports Center

Northbrook Sports Center

From $8All ages

Fri, Nov 6 · 5:00 PM

Día de los Muertos at Marquette Park

Marquette (Jacques) Park — Cultural Center

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 6 · 6:30 PM

Ghost of Nature's Past: The Barn Owl

Plum Creek Nature Center

From $5Ages 6–12

Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM

Middle School Gym & Swim Night — Carol Stream

Fountain View Recreation Center

Paid

Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM

National STEAM Day Craft at Nature's Classroom — Waukegan

Nature's Classroom at Bevier Park

Free

Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM

Parents Night Out — Geneva Park District

Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center

PaidAges 3–11

Fri, Nov 6 · 4:30 PM

Pumpkin Smash — Highland Park

The Preserve of Highland Park

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM

Stars, Stories & S'mores at LaBagh Woods

LaBagh Woods — Grove 2

Free

Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM

Calumet Heritage Day at Sand Ridge Nature Center

Sand Ridge Nature Center

Free

Through Jan 3

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light 2026

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

All ages

Sat, Nov 7 · 8:00 AM

Fall Fishing Derby at Horsetail Lake

Horsetail Lake

Free

Sat, Oct 24 · 12:30 PM

Family Swim at FitNation — Gurnee

FitNation

From $8

Sat, Nov 7 · 9:00 AM

Geneva Pumpkin Smash

Community Gardens at Prairie Green

FreeAll ages

Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM

Girls Build! Public Art & Architecture — Fall 2026

Chicago Center for Arts & Technology

Free

Sat, Nov 7 · 11:00 AM

My Lucky Leaf Book Event at the Children's Garden

The Morton Arboretum — Children's Garden

With admissionAll ages

Sat, Nov 7 · 9:00 AM

National STEM Day at DuPage Children's Museum

DuPage Children's Museum

With admission

Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM

Nature Play Date at Heller Nature Center

Heller Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Nov 7 · 12:00 PM

Parent and Child Turkey Shoot at Kosciuszko Park

Kosciuszko (Thadeuz) Park

From $10

Sat, Nov 7 · 12:00 PM

Pumpkin Smash at Hidden Oaks Nature Center

Hidden Oaks Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Nov 7 · 9:00 AM

Pumpkin Smash: From Gourd to Garden

Frontier Park

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM

Drawing Owls at Thorn Creek Woods

Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve

From $5All ages

Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM

Fossil Quarry Tour at Sagawau

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center

Free

Sun, Nov 8 · 11:00 AM

GPS Scavenger Hunt at River Trail Nature Center

River Trail Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 8 · 12:00 PM

Harvest Time in 1858 at the Powers-Walker House

Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park Conservation Area

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 8 · 12:00 PM

Living History Encounter: 18th-Century Weaponry & Tools

Isle a la Cache Museum

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM

Map and Compass Basics at Crabtree Nature Center

Crabtree Nature Center

Free

Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM

Mixed Media Madness Kids Art Class — Vernon Hills

Century Park Pavilion

Sun, Nov 8 · 9:30 AM

Play in a Day! Youth Theater Workshop

West Ridge Community Center

From $45Ages 5–12

Sun, Nov 8 · 10:15 AM

Princess Holiday Party — Streamwood

Hoosier Grove Barn

From $44

Sun, Nov 8 · 9:30 AM

Winter Wreath Creations at Pilcher Park

Pilcher Park Nature Center

Paid

Tue, Nov 10 · 10:00 AM

Little Sprouts Sound Lab at Crabtree Nature Center

Crabtree Nature Center

FreeAges 2–6

Tue, Nov 10 · 10:00 AM

Small Serendipity at River Trail Nature Center

River Trail Nature Center

FreeAges 3–6

Wed, Nov 11 · 10:00 AM

Day Off Drop Ins at Pilcher Park Nature Center

Pilcher Park Nature Center

Wed, Nov 11 · 5:30 PM

Pages and Palettes: Family Art Show & Children's Book Fair

Ray Morrill Community Center — Memorial Room

FreeAll ages

Wed, Oct 28 · 10:00 AM

Stories in the Woods at Heller Nature Center

Heller Nature Center

From $12Up to 6

Wed, Nov 11 · 10:30 AM

Story Time at Creek Bend Nature Center

Creek Bend Nature Center (LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve)

FreeAges 0–5

Wed, Nov 11 · 9:00 AM

STREAM Explorers School Day Off — Veterans Day

West Ridge Community Center

From $100Ages 5–10

Wed, Nov 11 · 10:00 AM

Veterans Day at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum

Arlington Heights Historical Museum

All ages

Wed, Nov 11 · 10:00 AM

Wee Wonders: Snakes at Sand Ridge Nature Center

Sand Ridge Nature Center

FreeAges 2–5

Thu, Nov 12 · 9:30 AM

Baby Buds: Nature Songs and Stories at Crabtree

Crabtree Nature Center

Free

Thu, Nov 12 · 5:30 PM

Creatures of the Night at Johnson's Mound

Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve

FreeAll ages

Thu, Oct 29 · 4:00 PM

Fall Open Climb at Camp Sullivan

Camp Sullivan

Free

Thu, Nov 12

Monopoly Launch Party at DuPage Children's Museum

DuPage Children's Museum

With admission

Fri, Nov 13 · 6:00 PM

Family Fun Night — Gurnee

Hunt Club Park Community Center

Paid

Fri, Nov 13 · 6:30 PM

Family Lego Night — Highland Park

West Ridge Community Center

From $15Ages 5+

Fri, Nov 13 · 5:30 PM

Kids Night Out — Vaughan Athletic Center, Aurora

Vaughan Athletic Center

From $25Ages 4–10

Through Jan 3

Lightscape 2026–2027 — Family Trail

Chicago Botanic Garden

Paid

Fri, Nov 13 · 5:00 PM

Monster Trucks Kids Night — Vernon Hills

Sullivan Community Center

Ages 3–6

Through Feb 15

Pine Whistle Railroad Model Train Exhibit

The Morton Arboretum — Firefly Pavilion

From $9All ages

Fri, Nov 13 · 7:00 PM

Teen Night — Bikini Bottom Bash

Arlington Ridge Center (ARC)

From $16

Fri, Nov 13 · 6:00 PM

Things That Go Bump… in the Night

Heller Nature Center

From $14Ages 6–12

Sat, Nov 14 · 9:30 AM

“Artsgiving” Crafty Cornucopia — Mount Prospect

The Art Studio (Mount Prospect Park District)

From $41Ages 5–10

Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM

27th Annual Turkey Trot — Waukegan

Waukegan's Greg Petry SportsPark

Free

Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM

America 250: Americana Folk Art Linocut Workshop

Thatcher Woods Pavilion

FreeAges 12+

Sat, Oct 31 · 1:00 PM

Family Drop-In Days at Ryerson Woods

Edward L. Ryerson Welcome Center

Free

Sat, Nov 14 · 6:00 PM

Family Tennis Night at Deer Creek Racquet Club

Deer Creek Racquet Club

From $15All ages

Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM

Feeling Squirrely Hike at Four Rivers

Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Nov 14 · 1:00 PM

Leaf Peeping & Pressing Workshop

Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center

From $14All ages

Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM

Pete the Cat — Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences

Northbrook Community Center

From $18All ages

Sat, Nov 14 · 10:30 AM

Princess & Pancake Party — Tinley Park

Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center

From $18

Sat, Nov 14 · 12:00 PM

Pumpkin Smash at Plum Creek Nature Center

Plum Creek Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Nov 14 · 5:00 PM

Saturday Night Kids Club — Gurnee

Hunt Club Park Community Center

Ages 3–11

Sat, Nov 14 · 9:30 AM

Slither & Paint at Pilcher Park Nature Center

Pilcher Park Nature Center

Sat, Nov 14 · 9:30 AM

Smashing Pumpkins & Gourds — Wheaton

Rice Pool & Water Park parking lot

Free

Sat, Nov 14 · 1:15 PM

Try Skating for Free — Northbrook

Northbrook Sports Center

FreeAges 3+

Sun, Nov 15 · 11:00 AM

Autumn Stories in Chinese at Little Red Schoolhouse

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 15 · 3:00 PM

Campfire Cooking Workshop at Hammel Woods

Hammel Woods — DuPage River Access

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 15 · 1:00 PM

Intergenerational Cooking: Holiday Baking at Cheney Mansion — Oak Park

Cheney Mansion

Paid

Sun, Nov 15 · 10:00 AM

Turkey-ly Awesome at Rosewood Beach

Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center

From $14All ages

Mon, Nov 16 · 11:45 AM

Little Chef Makes Lunch: Thanksgiving — Vernon Hills

Sullivan Community Center

Ages 3–5

Mon, Nov 16 · 5:15 PM

Little Turkeys Thanksgiving Night — Vernon Hills

Sullivan Community Center

Ages 2–4

Mon, Nov 16 · 10:00 AM

Read the Storybook Trail and Craft

Pilcher Park Nature Center

From $5Ages 2–6

Tue, Nov 17 · 6:00 PM

Nature Play Day: Sandhill Cranes

Plum Creek Nature Center

FreeAges 3–5

Tue, Nov 17 · 4:00 PM

Twigs to Trees: Animal Signs

Creek Bend Nature Center (LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve)

From $5

Wed, Oct 28 · 6:30 PM

Family Art Night at West Ridge Community Center

West Ridge Community Center

From $15Ages 4+

Wed, Nov 18 · 10:00 AM

Little Explorers: Vultures

Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

FreeAges 3–5

Wed, Nov 18 · 10:00 AM

Soaring, Storing, and Snoring

Heller Nature Center

From $12Up to 6

Thu, Nov 19 · 9:30 AM

Little Saplings: Oh, Deer!

Creek Bend Nature Center (LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve)

From $5Ages 3–5

Thu, Oct 29 · 10:30 AM

Nature's Art Box at Little Red Schoolhouse

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

FreeAges 3–6

Thu, Nov 19

Shrek JR — Wheaton Park District Youth Theater

Ray Morrill Community Center — Memorial Room

From $10

Fri, Nov 20 · 11:00 AM

Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park 2026

RiverEdge Park

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 20 · 11:00 AM

Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza 2026

Daley Plaza

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 20

Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way 2026

Gallagher Way

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 20 · 6:30 PM

Family Game Night — Woodridge

Fred C. Hohnke Community Center

Paid

Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM

Family Karaoke Night — Waukegan

Belvidere Recreation Center

From $6

Fri, Nov 20 · 5:00 PM

River Trail Nightlife: Owl Prowl

River Trail Nature Center

FreeAges 8+

Fri, Nov 20 · 5:00 PM

Stars, Stories, and S'mores at Dan Ryan Woods

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM

Turkey Shoot Free Throw Contest — Northbrook

Techny Prairie Activity Center

From $9

Fri, Oct 30 · 10:00 AM

Wild Child at Hidden Oaks Nature Center

Hidden Oaks Nature Center

FreeAges 3–5

Fri, Nov 20 · 4:30 PM

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo 2026–2027

Lincoln Park Zoo

From $7All ages

Through Nov 22

Forge Kids Acting Workshop and Showcase

Forge Film Acting

From $250Ages 5–12

Sat, Nov 21 · 3:00 PM

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Brookfield Zoo Chicago

From $29.95All ages

Sat, Nov 21 · 10:30 AM

Junior Historians at Isle a la Cache

Isle a la Cache Museum

FreeAges 9–12

Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM

Natural Dyes Tea Towel Workshop

Heller Nature Center

From $20Ages 6+

Sat, Nov 21 · 5:30 PM

Splish Splash Family Night — Thanksgiving Edition

Vaughan Athletic Center

From $13All ages

Sun, Nov 22 · 10:00 AM

Cicada Pinning Class at Trailside Museum

Trailside Museum of Natural History

From $5Ages 14+

Sun, Nov 22 · 5:00 PM

Full Moon: Beaver Bonfire at Isle a la Cache

Isle a la Cache Museum

FreeAll ages

Sun, Nov 22 · 1:00 PM

Thanksgiving for Nature Scavenger Hunt at Hastings Lake

Hastings Lake Forest Preserve — Shelter A

From $5

Sun, Nov 22 · 1:30 PM

Thanksgiving with the Plum Creek Critters

Plum Creek Nature Center

FreeAll ages

Mon, Nov 23 · 11:00 AM

Candy Bar Bingo — Frankfort

Founders Community Center

FreeAges 4–13

Mon, Nov 23 · 10:00 AM

Fantastical Fall Forest in the Great Hall

Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier

With admissionAll ages

Mon, Nov 23 · 9:00 AM

Griffin MSI Fall Break Camps

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

From $300

Mon, Nov 23 · 9:30 AM

School Day Off Camp at Chicago Botanic Garden — Festive Fall

Chicago Botanic Garden — Learning Center

Paid

Mon, Nov 23 · 12:00 PM

Thanksgiving Showdown Indoor Soccer Tournament — Mount Prospect

Central Community Center

From $75

Wed, Nov 25 · 10:00 AM

School Day Off Open Gym — Westmont

Westmont Community Center

Wed, Nov 25 · 10:30 AM

Thanksgiving LEGO Party — Northbrook

Northbrook Community Center

From $39

Thu, Nov 26 · 10:00 AM

North Shore Turkey Trot Kids' Trot — Highland Park

Downtown Highland Park — St. Johns Avenue north of Elm Street (Kids' Trot start)

PaidAges 2–10

Fri, Nov 27 · 1:30 PM

Annual Turkey Trot Hike at Trailside Museum

Trailside Museum of Natural History

FreeAll ages

Fri, Nov 27 · 11:30 AM

Happy Holiday Railway at the Illinois Railway Museum

Illinois Railway Museum

From $25All ages

Through Dec 20

Kohlights Holiday Lightacular

Kohl Children's Museum

Paid

Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM

Wintrust Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier 2026–2027

Navy Pier — Festival Hall

From $27All ages

Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM

Charlie Brown Christmas Brunch — Live! at Pleasant Home

Pleasant Home

PaidAll ages

Sat, Nov 28 · 2:00 PM

Family Archery at Heller Nature Center

Heller Nature Center

From $14Ages 8+

Sat, Nov 28 · 7:45 AM

Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon & 5K with Kids Dash

Busse Woods — Ned Brown Meadow, Groves 28–30

With admission