Chicago family events
Family-friendly events in Chicago and suburbs: kids, theater, festivals, museums, zoos.
Monday, September 28 Tomorrow
Illinois Free Day at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry9:30am to 4pm, day 2 of 4, Sep 27 to 30Free5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, ILIllinois residents get free general admission on select days. Special exhibits and tours cost extra. Sunday hours 9:30 AM-5:30 PM; weekday hours 9:30 AM-4 PM.msichicago.org
Illinois Resident Free Days at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum10am to 4pm, day 1 of 5, Sep 28 to Oct 2Free2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614Free general admission for Illinois residents on select weekdays (a suggested household donation applies). The butterfly exhibit may carry a separate fee.mykidlist.com
Friday, October 2
Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest10am to 5pm, day 1 of 3, Oct 2 to 4Free2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614Free fall festival at the zoo with pumpkin patches, harvest mazes, animal chats, and seasonal photo ops. Rides and some activities are ticketed separately.lpzoo.org
Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest3 to 7pm, day 1 of 3, Oct 2 to 44700 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625Neighborhood apple fest with a Kids Zone, apple treats, live music, and artisan vendors. Free entry; $5 donation suggested.lincolnsquare.org
Oktoberfest at Naper Settlement5 to 10pm, day 1 of 2, Oct 2 to 3$25523 S Webster St, Naperville, IL 60540Family-friendly Oktoberfest with children's activities and inflatables on Saturday, German food, music, and historic village grounds. $25 adults, $15 ages 4-12, under 4 free. All ages welcome.napersettlement.org
Saturday, October 3
Boo! at the Zoo10am to 6pm, day 1 of 7, Oct 3 to 93300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL 60513Family-friendly Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating (11 AM-5 PM), festive decor, costume parades, and photo ops. Included with zoo admission; free for members.brookfieldzoo.org
Sunday, October 4
Kickoff to Dia de los Muertos10am to 12pm2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614Family program inaugurating the Nature Museum's ofrenda, with crafts in Wilderness Walk starting the countdown to the Day of the Dead. Free with museum admission.naturemuseum.org
Maxwell Street Market10am to 3pmFreeW Maxwell St & S Halsted St, Chicago, ILThe final 2026 market day of Chicago's 114-year-old Sunday open-air market: international food, handmade crafts, vintage goods, live entertainment, and free walking tours. Free and open to the public.chicago.gov
Wednesday, October 7
Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns6:30 to 10:30pm, day 1 of 3, Oct 7 to 91000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022An evening stroll past more than 1,000 hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns with live pumpkin carving and family-friendly Halloween displays. Timed admission starts at 6:30 PM.chicagobotanic.org
Thursday, October 8
Family STEM Night: Mad Scientist Potion Lab6 to 7pm$8523 S Webster St, Naperville, IL 60540Halloween-themed chemistry night for kids ages 5-11 and their caretakers: color-changing potions, mixing liquids, and force experiments at Naper Settlement. $8 per person.napersettlement.org
Friday, October 9
St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend12 to 6pmFreeMain St & 1st St, St. Charles, IL 60174Free downtown festival with 120+ handmade scarecrows, a Family Zone in Lincoln Park, live entertainment, and activities along the Fox River.mykidlist.com
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