Get ready for a fun-filled weekend! As fall festivals and Oktoberfests wind down and Halloween events begin popping up, our weekend roundup is filled with countless ways to get out and enjoy some family fun. Sunday kicks off Fire Prevention Week, with many municipalities hosting open house and touch-a-truck events this weekend and next. Hop on a fire truck, see equipment demonstrations, and tour the facilities that keep our communities safe. However you choose to spend your time together as a family, our list of things to do with kids this weekend is packed with plenty of ways to make the most of every minute.
This weekend planner is sponsored by Naper Settlement.
Family Spooktacular at Naper Settlement
Grab your candy buckets and prepare for a magical trick-or-treat journey across Naper Settlement's 13-acre campus with candy stops at our historic homes.
After, rock out with The Little Mermen & Princess Pals — the #1 Disney tribute band performing 100 years of Disney hits (see performance schedule). From classics like Mary Poppins and The Lion King to modern hits like Frozen and Moana, the whole family will enjoy a nostalgic journey through the magical world of Disney, infused with rock and pop influences.
Steps from the stage, little ones can bounce to the beat in themed inflatables including a fright-free Haunted House adorned with friendly ghouls, grinning ghosts, and playfully spooky décor. Plus, don't miss our interactive Ghoul School, where your little witches and warlocks can craft custom slime. All activities and performances are included in admission!
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Things to Do with Kids This Weekend: Western Suburbs
Please check the details before you go to these events to ensure you know about registration requirements and additional info to maximize your family’s fun. While we do our best to keep the most up-to-date information in our calendar, last minute location or time changes do happen. Want to find “weekend events near me”? We have you covered!
Friday
Libraries are filled with fun on Fridays with First Friday: Dave’s Traveling World of Reptiles at Geneva Public Library and Santori Library’s First Friday: Celebrating Latino Heritage in Aurora. It will be a beautiful night for The Forge’s Enchanted Adventure in Lemont.
Saturday
Community celebrations are everywhere on Saturday! Lemont Fire District Open House, Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s Community Hero Day, and Naper Settlement’s Oktoberfest are a small sampling. We love to see July 4th Fireworks in Woodridge–Downers Grove being made up Saturday evening!
Sunday
We’re loving the variety on Sunday. Oswego’s Fall Fox Fest, Block 59’s Hard Hat Heros celebration in Naperville, and Westmont’s The Last Straw Fall Event will offer plenty of fun for the whole family.
Things to Do with Kids This Weekend: Northwest Suburbs
We strive to answer the question “Where can I find weekend events near me?” Our team takes care to stock the calendar full of kid-friendly fun, but please keep in mind that last minute changes to events do happen. We recommend clicking through to the event details to double check if there has been a change in registration requirements and to get additional information before you go. Have fun!
Friday
It will be a beautiful day to check out a new pumpkin patch or enjoy a showing of ET at Fall Flicks in Palatine.
Saturday
Itasca Halloween Celebration, Morton Grove’s Family Kite Day, and Palatine’s Oktoberfest will be filled with family-friendly fun. We know our readers will love Hoffman Estates Fire Department Open House too!
Sunday
Fall festivals are everywhere this Sunday. Autumn Harvest Festival in Schaumburg, Franklin Park’s Pumpkin Fest, or Palatine’s Oktoberfest are all great options.
Want to look ahead to next week?
Check out all the family-friendly events happening in your neighborhood and beyond on our events calendar. You can filter the calendar by day by clicking the date on top, so if you are looking for things to do on a specific day, it’s easy to find!
You might also be interested in…
- All the Best Family-Friendly Fall Activities in Chicagoland
- The Ultimate 2026 Halloween Chicago Suburbs Family Guide
- 2026-27 Guide to Kids Classes and Teams
- Where to Have the Best Kids Birthday Party + Entertainers, Rentals, Decor, Food and More
- Find the Right Preschool and Daycare for Your Family
- Your Local Guide to Kids Eat Free
We hope you found some family-friendly fun in our list of things to do with kids this weekend in the west and northwest suburbs of Chicago! This list is updated every week and sent out in the Kidlist emails. (Click here to sign up if you haven’t already.)
We love local businesses, libraries, park districts, villages, and organizations — they plan great events for all of us to enjoy. If you are hosting an event or know of an event that should be on our list, click here to submit it to the Kidlist calendar!
We strive to be the most comprehensive source for family fun, which is why you’ll always see so many weekend events listed. It would definitely be easier to just list the details for a few events and call them “the best weekend events for families”, but we recognize that everyone has different interests. Not to mention, sometimes I’m in the mood to go to a huge festival, and sometimes I’d rather go to a low-key storytime at the library. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way. That’s why we work hard and spend a lot of time to find everything going on in our area so you don’t have to!
We hope you find it helpful and we are open to suggestions. The Kidlist Team always talks about how we can improve and evolve to meet your needs, so let us know!
3 Comments. Leave new
This is a wonderful site. Thank you.
Love this Katie! Good job! Always looking for different healthy activities for the kiddos!
Awesome job, we struggle each week to find things to do with our grandchildren. Thank you so much.