Let’s face it: December is not a budget-friendly month! Holiday celebrations, gifts, and family get-togethers can certainly add up quickly. That’s why we’ve gathered hundreds of ideas for free things to do with kids in January, from local events happening every day of the month to free activities running all season long.
That’s right: you and your kids can explore museums, watch movies, or play outdoors, all without spending a penny this winter. So give your bank account the refresh it needs with these events and activities for free January fun. Bookmark this list for daily ideas!
Free Kid-friendly Activities and Events in January 2025
Events may change, and some require prior registration. Please check directly with the hosting organization before you make plans!
January 1
- Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
January 2
- Animals in Winter (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
- Big Blue Blocks (St. Charles Public Library)
- Winter Break Drop-in Crafts (Westmont Public Library)
- Kids’ Music Concert with Little Miss Ann (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Family Feature – Paddington (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Game of Warriors: Brazilian Capoeira (Barrington Area Library)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Pool Noodle Foosball (Wheaton Public Library) – registration required
- LEGO Builders Club (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Winter Break Family Programming (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
- Icy Antics (Batavia Public Library) – registration required
- Drop-in Craft (Elmhurst Public Library)
- The Bare Bones (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
- No Sew Blanket Drive (Elmwood Park Public Library) – registration required
- Ready, Set, Game (Franklin Park Public Library)
- Family Lego Night (Wheaton Public Library)
- Family Game Night (Wood Dale Public Library) – registration required
- Pokémon Club (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- Family LEGO Build (Downers Grove Public Library)
January 3
- Animals in Winter (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
- Domino Toppling (St. Charles Public Library)
- Winter Break Drop-in Crafts (Westmont Public Library)
- Crafty Bean Cafe and Studio Storytime (Bolingbrook)
- Hot Wheelin’ Fun (Clarendon Hills)
- Life-Size Candy Land (Hoffman Estates Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
- Drop-In Craft (Batavia Public Library)
- Family Game Day (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Laura Doherty Concert (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Smarty Pants: The Big Balloon Show (St. Charles Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Winter Break Family Programming (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
- Winter Exploration Day (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Our Wild World with DuPage County Animal Services (Wheaton Public Library) – registration required
- Preschool Hour (Elmwood Park Public Library)
- Drop-in Craft (Elmhurst Public Library)
- Tech Open Lab (Barrington Area Library)
- Feature Films – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Poplar Creek Public Library, Streamwood)
- Super Awesome Movie Series (North Riverside Public Library)
- First Friday: Weather Chasing with Storm Science (Geneva Public Library)
- Build and Watch: Inside Out (Mount Prospect) – register in advance to ensure participation.
- Snow Ball (Barrington Area Library)
- Family Movie: Frozen 2 (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Movies in the Corner (Des Plaines Public Library)
- Friday Night Sing-Along: The Lion King (Lisle Public Library)
January 4
- Home Depot Workshop (Check your local store)
- Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
- Animals in Winter (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
- Cookies and Crayons (Lisle Public Library)
- Play for All (Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier) register in advance
- Lowe’s Kids’ Workshops (Check your local store)
- Life-Size Candy Land (Hoffman Estates Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Lunar New Year Party (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Dual Language Storytime (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- Sensory Saturday (Wood Dale Public Library) – registration required
- Bonne Année: A New Year Celebration! (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville) – registration required
- Puzzle Races (Poplar Creek Public Library, Streamwood) – registration required
- After Hours Nerf Night (Downers Grove Public Library) – registration required
January 5
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Sensory-Friendly Hour (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Family Winter Scavenger Hunt and Campfire (Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest)
- Winter Walk (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook) – register in advance for snowshoes
- LEGO® Club (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- ¡Celebración del Día de los Reyes Magos! (Santori Library, Aurora)
January 6
- KEVA Building Challenges (St. Charles Public Library)
- Spanish Language Storytime (Westmont Public Library)
- Veterinarian For A Day (Woodridge Public Library) – registration required
- Home Sweet Habitat (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Día de los Reyes Storytime and Craft (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Stuffed Animal Beach Party (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Winter Mammals Drop-In (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs)
- Up Close Animal Encounters (Mount Prospect Public Library) – registration required
- Cold Catapult Challenge (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Family Book Bingo (Batavia Public Library)
- La Loteria/La Lotería (Palatine Public Library – Rand Road Branch) – registration required
- Pajama Time (Wheaton Public Library)
- Family Game Night (95th Street Library, Naperville)
January 7
- Small Serendipity (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Sensory Playtime (Franklin Park Public Library)
- The Gaming Hour: Switch Games Edition (Wheaton Public Library)
- Sensory Night (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Sensory Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook) – registration required
January 8
- I am a Scientist (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs) – registration required
- Wee Wonders (Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- Stories at the Nature Center (Creek Bend Nature Center, St. Charles)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Afternoon Movie Showing (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- LEGO Club (St. Charles Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Wednesday Fun Night (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Family Craft Night (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Bilingual Storytime en Espanol: Salta para Cuentos (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Songs and Stories (Westmont Public Library)
- Polish Storytime: New Year Birthday Party! (Prospect Heights Public Library) – register in advance
January 9
- Storytime at the Museum (Bolingbrook Historical Museum)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Tiny Tot Adventures (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Cuentos en Español (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- La Hora de Cuentos (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- Homeschool Hangout (St. Charles Public Library)
- Adventurers Unite (Lemont Public Library) – registration required
January 10
- Story Trail: “Animals in Winter” (Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest)
- Cocoa or Joe Hike (Messenger Woods Nature Preserve, Home Glen) – registration required
- Homeschool Hub (North Riverside Public Library)
- Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Homeschool Hangout (Wheaton Public Library)
- Homeschool Game Club (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Friday Fun (St. Charles Public Library)
- Family Fort Night (Westmont Public Library) – registration required
- Family Craft Fridays (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Winter Fire Building Workshop (Camp Reinberg, Palatine)
- Chinese Storytime (Nichols Library, Naperville)
January 11
- Prehistoric Play Day (Camp Reinberg, Palatine)
- Toy Swap (Wheaton Public Library)
- Preschool Resource Fair (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
- Cocoa and Crafts (Hanover Park)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Crafting a la Cache: Handheld Habitats (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville) – registration required
- Family Day: Press Play (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago)
- WinterFest (Springbrook Nature Center, Itasca)
- Celebration of Lunar New Year (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Winter Bash (The Recreation Complex, Wood Dale)
- LEGO Club (Bolingbrook Historical Museum, Bolingbrook)
- Pokemon Fun (Downers Grove Public Library)
January 12
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Pinewood Derby Workshop (La Grange Public Library) – register in advance
- Funko Pop Customization (Elmwood Park Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
January 13
- Spanish Language Storytime (Westmont Public Library)
- New Parent Support Group (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Lego Free Build (Wheaton Public Library)
- Munch Madness (Des Plaines Public Library)
- Fun for All: Board Games (Aurora Public Library – West Branch)
- Bilingual Storytime: Polish, Dwujęzyczna opowieść (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Dual Language Storytime: Russian (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- Noche de la Familia (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
January 14
- Storytime at Society 57 (Aurora)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Swedish American Museum Free Days (Chicago)
- Bilingual Japanese Storytime and Craft (Palatine Public Library – North Hoffman Branch) – register in advance
- Nature Storytime with The Morton Arboretum (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Pokémon Club (Naper Boulevard Library, Naperville)
- Noche de Lotería (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Sensory Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook) – register in advance
- Weeknight LEGO Challenge (Batavia Public Library)
January 15
- Cuentos y Canciones: Spanish Bilingual Storytime (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Children’s Story Time (Bemis Woods, Westchester)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- LEGO Club (St. Charles Public Library)
- Arctic Exploration STEAM (Palatine Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Cuentos y Canciones: Spanish Bilingual Storytime (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Family Book Party (Mount Prospect Public Library) – register in advance
- Wednesday Fun Night (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Family Craft Night (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Noche de Lotería (Elmwood Park Public Library)
- Evening Movie Showing: Cloud 9 (Hanover Park Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
January 16
- Chick-fil-A Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Chat and Play Cafe (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Nature’s Art Box (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs) register in advance
- Cuentos en Español (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Play-Doh-Palooza (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling) – registration required
- Ready, Set, Game (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- La Hora de Cuentos (Naper Boulevard Library, Naperville)
January 17
- Pop-in Play (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Bilingual Storytime (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Homeschool Hangout (Lemont Public Library)
- Family Crafternoons (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- STEAMagination (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Reptile Rodeo (North Riverside Public Library) – registration required
- Favorite Character’s Club: Dog Man (St. Charles Public Library)
- Movies in the Corner (Des Plaines Public Library)
January 18
- Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
- Preschool Open House (Main Street Recreation Center, Glen Ellyn)
- Animals in Winter (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
- Noon Lions Club Free Vision Screening (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Go Nuts for Donuts Storytime (Helen Plum Library, Lombard) – registration required
- Sensory Friendly Movie Event – Disney Pixar’s Up (Geneva Public Library)
- Adaptive Storytime (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Craft Supply Swap (Clarendon Hills Public Library)
- Lowe’s Kids’ Workshops (Check your local store)
- Saturday Morning Cartoon Party (Lisle Public Library)
- Preschool Fair (St. Charles Public Library)
- MLK Service Day Celebration (Caldwell Woods, Chicago)
- Moana Singalong and Crafts (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook) – register in advance
- Toy Exchange (Palatine Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Cuentos y Cantos: Bilingual Storytime (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Mark Anderson Cartooning (Wheaton Public Library) – registration required
- Family Free Play (Lemont Public Library)
- Super Saturday: Bright Star Theatre – African Folktales (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Lego Club (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Draw Yourself as a Superhero (Glen Ellyn Public Library) – registration required
January 19
- Track and Scat Hike (The FORGE: Lemont Quarries, Lemont) – register in advance
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Family Sensory Hour (Elmhurst Public Library) – registration required
- Winterfest (Horizon Park, Wheeling)
- Tech Time (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Adventurers Unite (Lemont Public Library) – registration required
- Raise the Woof! It’s a Dogman Party (Batavia Public Library)
- PajamaRama (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Skating in the Park (Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
January 20
- MLK Jr. Day of Service (Glen Ellyn) – register in advance
- Animals in Winter (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
- MLK Day of Service (Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland)
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorative Day (Chicago History Museum)
- MLK Day of Service (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Spanish Language Storytime (Westmont Public Library)
- Day of Service (St. Charles Public Library)
- Kids Care Fun Fair: Spread Kindness! (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Dan Gogh’s Magic and Art Show (St. Charles Public Library)
- Drop-in: MLK National Day of Service Project (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
- Family BINGO (Woodridge) – registration required
- Family Volunteering: Make a Fleece Blanket (Glen Ellyn Public Library) – registration required
- Winter Crafts (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Dan Gogh’s Magic and Art Show (Wheaton Public Library)
- MLK Day of Service (La Grange Public Library)
- Afternoon Movie Showing: Our Friend Martin (Hoffman Estates Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
- Battle of the Pizzas (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Change Makers’ Club (La Grange Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
- Clay-O-Rama (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Family Bingo Nights (Lemont Public Library) – registration required
- Pokémon Club (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Noche de la Familia (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
January 21
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Small Serendipity (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Homeschool Huddle (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Fandom Fun – Taylor Swift (Downers Grove Public Library) – registration required
- Sensory Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook) – registration required
- Bingo (Hanover Park Branch, Schaumburg Township Library) – registration preferred
January 22
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- LEGO Club (St. Charles Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Wednesday Fun Night (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Family Craft Night (Santori Library, Aurora)
January 23
- Storytime at Wholey Granoly (Bolingbrook)
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Cuentos en Español (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- La Hora de Cuentos (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- LEGO® Building Challenge (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Fandom Crafts: Minecraft (Wheaton Public Library)
- Chess Club: Instruction and Open Play (Wheaton Public Library)
- Lunar New Year Story and Craft (Eola Road Branch, Aurora)
- Adventurers Unite (Lemont Public Library) – registration required
January 24
- Community Partner Playdate (Wheaton Public Library)
- Lunar New Year Dragon (Woodridge Public Library)
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Bilingual Storytime (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Family Movie (Downers Grove Public Library)
- Mini Mad Scientists – Bubbles (Downers Grove Public Library) – registration required
- Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Zoo Baby Playtime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- LEGO Club (Barrington Area Library)
January 25
- Preschool and Enrichment Fair (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Sensory Storytime and Play (Woodridge Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Kids Care Fun Fair: Spread Kindness! (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- All About Fire (Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest)
- Family Concert: Jigglejam (Barrington Area Library)
- Science Heroes: Adventures of the Lost Treasure (Batavia Public Library) – pick up tickets in advance
- Puzzle-Palooza (Elmhurst Public Library)
- Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Craft Supply Swap (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- South Asian Perspective Workshop (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Fantastic Face Painting (Lemont Public Library) – registration required
- Snowflake Science with Peck Park Farm (Geneva Public Library)
- Bone Appétit (Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest)
January 26
- Lunar New Year (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs) – registration required
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Girl Power Songs: A Children’s Show About Black Women Who Changed the World (Muse Coffee Shop, Chicago)
- Trading Card Club (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- African Folk Tales (Glen Ellyn Public Library) – register in advance
- Dog Man Party (Santori Library, Aurora)
- DuPage Children’s Museum PopUp: PopArt (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Skating in the Park (Rosemont) – skate rental an additional fee
January 27
- Baby Candy Land (St. Charles Public Library)
- Spanish Language Storytime (Westmont Public Library)
- DuPage Children’s Museum PopUp: PopArt (West Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- What is YOUR SUPER- POWER? (La Grange Public Library) – registration required
- Mini Mad Scientists – Bubbles (Downers Grove Public Library) – registration required
- LEGO Squad (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- A Night to READmember: A Community Reading Event (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Family Art Night (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Noche de la Familia (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
January 28
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- All Aboard: Build Tracks and Roads (St. Charles Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- DuPage Children’s Museum PopUp: PopArt (Santori Library, Aurora)
- National Kazoo Day Celebration (Downers Grove Public Library)
- Crafternoon (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Family LEGO Club (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Sensory Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
January 29
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- The Mitten Storytime and Activities (St. Charles Public Library)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- Children’s Lunar New Year (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Lunar New Year Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Celebrate the New Lunar Year (Aurora Public Library – West Branch)
- LEGO Club (St. Charles Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Create-A-Puzzle (Eola Road Branch, Aurora) – register in advance
- Wednesday Fun Night (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Family Craft Night (Santori Library, Aurora)
January 30
- Chat and Play Cafe (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Development Screenings with the Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Plum Playdate: Baby and Toddler (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Cuentos en Español (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Lunar New Year Party Drop-In (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
- Supa Awesome Afternoon (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Dog Man Party (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Winter-ful Crafts (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling) – tickets distributed in advance
January 31
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Supported Storytime and Craft with Little Steps (Park Ridge Public Library) – tickets distributed in advance
- Really Chilly (St. Charles Public Library)
- Bajeczki w Bibliotece (Elmwood Park Public Library)
- Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library) – registration required
- Kids BINGO: Dog Man (Woodridge Public Library) – registration required
- Movies in the Corner (Des Plaines Public Library)
More Ideas for Free Things to Do with Kids in January
Chicagoland Zoos with Free Admission
Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)
Always free admission to all visitors.
Phillips Park Zoo (Aurora)
Phillips Park Zoo is also always free to visitors. There is a huge playground area next to the zoo to add to your visit.
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton)
If you live in Wheaton, Cosley is always free with your park district ID! Kids 17 and under are always free, too; non-resident adults pay $7, or $6 for ages 55+.
Local Libraries
Libraries are always a great place for free local fun. Grab a few new titles, come in for storytimes and regular programming, or log into countless streaming services for home entertainment. Our handy list of the best libraries for kids in the west and northwest suburbs gives you a sneak peek into the different kids’ areas to explore, too.
Free Outdoor Fun
While some locations charge admission, there are many places that offer free ice skating. Check out our roundup of indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks.
Another exciting outdoor activity that is free of charge? Sledding! Our list of the sledding hills in the western suburbs includes round-up of local hills and details about what you can expect.
While most of the Holiday Lights turn off after Christmas or the start of the new year, some continue on through the first week of January. For example, Nights of Lights in Adams Park in Wheaton and Winter Lights at Central Park in Oak Brook will run until January 5, 2025.
Free Indoor Fun
The Chicago-area is full of incredible museums, many of which offer free days throughout the year. Find all the details about Museum Free Days happening in January.
Nearly all of the nature centers in our area are free. Pop in to learn more about native animals, or check out some of the free events listed below.
Bring the outdoors indoors. Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, Elmhurst’s Wilder Park Conservatory, and Oak Park Conservatory are all free.
Many families find time to give back during the holiday season, but the needs in our communities don’t end after the new year. Use our Volunteering Guide to find a way to make an impact with your family.
While your entire bill won’t be free, these Kids Eat Free deals will certainly minimize your restaurant tab.
You can also find lots of cozy indoor activities for the winter months in our Winter Activities Guide!
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