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Want Pizza, Cookies, or Breakfast with Santa? These Christmas 2024 Events Let Kids Feast with St. Nick
Any opportunity to see Santa during the Christmas season is filled with magical moments, but what could make them even more special? Enjoying a delicious meal with Mr. and Mrs.…
2024 Toy Drives and Donation Opportunities to Spread Holiday Cheer
The spirit of holiday cheer encourages us towards generosity, and toy drives are a great way to help kids get into the giving. Involving kids can start with explaining the…
Pumpkin Smash Events from Easy Drop-Offs to Catapults, Ladder Drops, and Jack-o-Lantern Races
In the weeks following Halloween, SCARCE coordinates pumpkin and jack-o-lantern collections all around the western suburbs. The locations below will accept your no-longer-needed pumpkins for composting. This keeps your pumpkin…
Halloween Food Deals and Discounts for 2024: Chuck E. Cheese, Chipotle, and More
Find scary good Halloween food deals and discounts all around Chicagoland, from free extra play time at Chuck E. Cheese to discounted Booritos at Chipotle! We’ve rounded up the details…
Bookmark These Indoor Trick or Treating and Halloween Events in Case of Scary Weather
Let’s face it: Chicago weather is temperamental. Some years on Halloween, we’re in shorts; others, we’re breaking out our winter coats, boots, and gloves. To prepare for the uncertainty, we’ve…
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In Case You Missed It
Kidlist’s 2024 Holiday Family Fun Guide
As the weather turns colder, it’s time to start thinking about the winter holidays and holiday family fun! It may seem soon (and we’ll certainly be updating all of these…
24 Local Volunteer Opportunities for Kids to Spread Hope Together with Their Families
As the holiday season begins, it can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of the material parts of the season. Finding ways to volunteer to give back…
Tips from Experts in Financial Literacy: Corsalus Financial
All of us have so much information at our fingertips, but how can we know what information is accurate? Jason Dobrzynski, CFP®, CMFC® and Maralynn Kearney, MBA, CFP® of Corsalus Financial…
New! The Social Play Indoor Play Area in Brookfield
The Social Play is having their soft opening on Monday, September 30, 2024 and we’re excited to give you a sneak peek! It’s clear that the owners, Cristina and Anthony,…
2024 Polar Express Train Rides, Holiday Express Rides, Santa Trains, and Santa Trolleys
All aboard! If you believe in the magic of Christmas, throw on your best holiday pajamas and round up your family and friends to embark on a magical polar-express unlike…
55 Trunk-or-Treat Events to Celebrate Halloween 2024
Trunk-or-treat events are popping up everywhere, and what’s not to love? Parents of young children often especially appreciate these Halloween events. Walk through cars decked out in Halloween decorations and…
26 Día de los Muertos Events to Remember and Celebrate Your Loved Ones
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrating life and death of one’s ancestors. Celebrations take place over two days in the fall, November…
Upcoming Events
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Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day
Museum of Contemporary Art 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Free
Trick-or-Treating at Museum of Illusions Chicago
Museum of Illusions Chicago 25 E Washington Street, Chicago
Included in general admission
Week of Events
Oak Brook Park District Birthday Celebration
Celebrate the Park District's birthday with us! The Oak Brook Park District invites members and the community to the Family Recreation Center on Friday, November 1 for an open house...
Pumpkin Smash
The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. It is held each year...
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Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market
Get the freshest produce in town every Sunday morning from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. The 2024 Market Season runs from June 2 thru Oct. 27 and the Market goes...
Free
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Fraidycat 5k, 8k and Meow Mile
Fraidycat 5k, 8k and Meow Mile
Endeavor Health and the Oswego Chamber of Commerce invite you to run with us in the 14th Annual FraidyCat 5k, 8k and Meow Mile in Oswego. This scenic USATF-IL-certified course...
$22 – $40
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Geneva French Market
Geneva French Market
European-style market offers unique eats, treats and treasures in Geneva. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Farmer’s Markets.
Free
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Creepy Critters Month
Creepy Critters Month
Celebrate all things creepy during the month of October Drop in anytime during our open hours: Saturday 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am - 1 pm & 1:30...
Free
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Halloween Spooktacular
Halloween Spooktacular
Get in the Halloween mood with crafts, games and a parade through the library! Costumes encouraged. Halloween does not have to be scary to be spooky at GPLD! A short...
Free
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Halloween Family Storytime and Craft
Halloween Family Storytime and Craft
Come join us for some spooky stories and a craft. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Halloween Events.
Free
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Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s Market
Every Tuesday this summer—rain or shine—you can shop at the SOAR Farmers Market on the MCA Plaza. Many of our beloved vendors will be back at the colorful open-air market...
Free
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Creepy Critters Month
Creepy Critters Month
Celebrate all things creepy during the month of October Drop in anytime during our open hours: Saturday 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am - 1 pm & 1:30...
Free
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Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day
Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day
Illinois residents receive free admission on Tuesdays. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.
Free
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Free Parking Wednesday
Free Parking Wednesday
New for 2024, enjoy free parking at Cantigny every Wednesday, March through October. Advance online registration is required. The normal $5 parking fee applies for guests not registered. For...
Free
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Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
Free Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity for you to explore our general admission exhibitions with your family or a group of science-loving friends. Adventure through the wilderness on a desert...
Free
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Creepy Critters Month
Creepy Critters Month
Celebrate all things creepy during the month of October Drop in anytime during our open hours: Saturday 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am - 1 pm & 1:30...
Free
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Library Trick or Treating
Library Trick or Treating
If you come in costume and say hello we will have a treat waiting for you to go! Whether you’re ghoulish, a witch, or wear a mask, please dress up...
Free
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Creepy Critters Month
Creepy Critters Month
Celebrate all things creepy during the month of October Drop in anytime during our open hours: Saturday 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am - 1 pm & 1:30...
Free
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Halloween Costume Parade
Halloween Costume Parade
Drop-in storytime for families with children of all ages. Join us for a special Halloween storytime. We’ll celebrate the slightly spooky with seasonal stories and silly songs. Costumes are encouraged!...
Free
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Plum Playdate: Baby and Toddler
Plum Playdate: Baby and Toddler
Drop-in activities recommended for ages 3 months-5 years, with a participating adult Meet up with a friend or make a new one during this casual playgroup for our littlest learners...
Free
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Twin Leaf Tales
Twin Leaf Tales
Join us for nature-inspired stories, music and movement at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. Please register with the St. Charles Park District.
Free
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Scales-N-Tales Storytime
Scales-N-Tales Storytime
Start your Friday morning off at the library with a fun storytime all about animals. A new animal each week! Some bilingual Spanish.
Free
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Recycling, Shredding, and Pumpkin Smash Event
Recycling, Shredding, and Pumpkin Smash Event
The Village of Carol Stream is partnering with eWorks, SCARCE, Accurate Document Destruction, Flood Brothers Disposal, and DuPage County to host a Pumpkin, Textiles, Electronics Recycling and Shredding Event. This...
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Paint, Paper and Pumpkins Recycling Event
Paint, Paper and Pumpkins Recycling Event
SBC Waste Solutions will hold a recycling event on Saturday, November 2 from 8 AM to 11 AM. There will be on-site paper shredding (three computer paper boxes per car...
Free
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Pumpkin Smash
Pumpkin Smash
Don't trash your pumpkins—smash them instead! Come to Village Green Park and be part of our pumpkin composting initiative. Let's work together to divert as many pounds as possible from...
Free