Events Calendar

Celebrate the holiday season with a train ride with Santa that includes a story, holiday music, and treats. Each paid child receives a small gift from Santa and a goody bag. General admission sales begin at 8A on October 18. Pricing: $20 per person Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. All...

Join us for the 20th annual Chicago Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG) this holiday season, the largest gathering of toy and game enthusiasts, inventors and brands in North America. People of all ages will converge on the Donald E. Stephenson Convention Center in Rosemont on December 10 & 11. Plus, to celebrate our 20th year,...

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Winter is the perfect time to find out what animals live in your area. As the snow falls, animals leave behind tracks for us to find and identify. Come along on a hike and learn how to track animals. Bring along any animal track field guides you have for extra help.

Santa’s in town! This holiday season, families are invited to capture memories with Santa every Sunday, starting November 27 through December 18 from 11am – 3pm. Little ones are invited to meet Santa, create memories, and capture photos they will treasure for a lifetime. Plus, there will be toy giveaways for the kids, available while...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED Visit Santa on the front porch of the Historical Society for a chat about your wish list and a photo opportunity! One family per appointment please. Visits take place outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Members please use code “member” during check out to receive the member price. If you wish...

Take a guided hike to discover where our local animals will spend the winter. Family program.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE Visit with the Grinch and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. There will be story time and photo opportunities. Each registered attendant is also invited to enjoy all Holiday Express has to offer, come early or stay after depending on your ticket time, Holiday Express runs 2-7 pm. You won’t want to miss...

Join us as at Toohey Park as we make great holiday themed crafts.

We’re delighted to welcome the youngest members of our community and their caregiver to our weekly Playgroup at the Irish American Heritage Center. Kids can play together and learn about Irish culture through games, crafts, music and more! Come along to connect with other families in the local Irish community. This is a drop-in group...

It’s winter and time to warm up and dance! So bring a stuffed animal partner, find your dancing shoes and meet us on the dance floor! Ages 2-5 yrs. with a caregiver. Registration required. Limit 20.

Join library staff for stories and songs! Advanced registration required*. Ages birth through 8 with caregiver. / Vengan a escuchar cuentos y canciones. Se requiere registro avanzado*. Desde el nacimiento hasta los 8 años con cuidador.

MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE Tis the season to be jolly! Santa is ready to hear your child’s Christmas Wishes. Pick up a form at the Iowa Community Center after November 28 and return it prior to December 9. If registering for both Phone Calls from Santa and Letters from Santa, please keep information consistent.

Join us as at Toohey Park as we make great holiday themed crafts.

“Dancing through the Snow” is an interactive music and movement event with songs and activities about playing in the snow, having a snowball fight, sledding, building a snowman, ice skating, and more! Our unique, child-friendly rhythm instruments, movement props, and creative play based on a winter wonderland theme are sure to warm you up even...

Purchase day-of tickets in advance of the program at The Morton Arboretum’s Visitor Center Information desk. Join us in the Sterling Morton Library for this popular and interactive story time program. We’ll read nature-based stories, make a craft, and then head outside for a short adventure walk. The program is 45 minutes long. Themes change...

Celebrate seasonal holidays by creating a special craft! September 21st, October 26th, November 16th and December 14th at 3:30 pm

REGISTER IN ADVANCE For over 100 years, The Nutcracker has been performed globally as a Christmas tradition. If you can't make it to a production this year, join us as we watch the filmed performance of the Nutcracker Ballet, danced by the Ballet of the Slovak National Theatre. Enjoy some holiday treats.   Doors open at 5:45...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED Christmas is just around the corner, and Santa has set aside some special time to talk with the children of the Oswegoland area! He wants to hear how your child’s year has been, all of their Christmas wishes, and, most of all, to spread Christmas cheer. If your child would like to...

Purchase day-of tickets in advance of the program at The Morton Arboretum’s Visitor Center Information desk. Join us in the Sterling Morton Library for this popular and interactive story time program. We’ll read nature-based stories, make a craft, and then head outside for a short adventure walk. The program is 45 minutes long. Themes change...

REGISTER IN ADVANCE With festive holiday music playing in the background, decorate your very own gingerbread house. Pizza and refreshments will be served as you spend time with your friends selecting the perfect combination of candies and icing to decorate your house. Gingerbread houses will be preassembled. Parents are welcome to stay and assist. 

REGISTER IN ADVANCE With festive holiday music playing in the background, decorate your very own gingerbread house. Pizza and refreshments will be served as you spend time with your friends selecting the perfect combination of candies and icing to decorate your house. Gingerbread houses will be preassembled. Parents are welcome to stay and assist. 

Video is a powerful way to communicate stories through individual videos or a series of video shorts that can be used in many ways such as news stories, teach a skill, crowdfunding videos, calling people to action on an important issue, serving as a public service announcement, or simply to tell a story. Storytelling is...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED This year Santa is taking the train into town, to his own Gretna Station cottage! Santa and his elfs will arrive in Carol Stream on December 4 for private visits in his Carol Stream cottage! Each family will have a private meeting with Santa, Rudolph, and his elves and receive a special...

Join us at the museum for some great crafts and stories!

Variety artist Dan Gogh uses comedy, magic, and art to unlock the mystery of creativity. Dan will be your guide to wacky colors, magical drawings, and art tools that have a mind of their own. Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and laugh all the way as you join us on this one-of-a-kind journey fun for...

Search for hundreds of hidden candy canes outdoors after creating a candy-cane-inspired craft project and enjoying a story indoors. In addition to the regular candy canes, there will be special candy canes that will lead to an extra special treat. Adults must accompany children; only children need to be registered.

Interested in exploring what's inside a computer? Find out what's inside a computer by taking one apart – all you really need is a computer and a few tools! We'll provide the tools and the computer and you get to have fun exploring!

Explore the woods and prairie on a winter’s eve. Take a hike along a candy cane decorated path as you solve a puzzle to receive a goody bag! Then head inside Hickory Knolls for warm beverages and a make & take craft.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED This year Santa is taking the train into town, to his own Gretna Station cottage! Santa and his elfs will arrive in Carol Stream on December 4 for private visits in his Carol Stream cottage! Each family will have a private meeting with Santa, Rudolph, and his elves and receive a special...

Come take a walk with us through Santa's Wintery Wonderland. You will walk your way through our magical Wintery Wonderland at The Glen. You will have an opportunity to meet Santa, have a snowball fight with our elves, visit Santa's workshop at our annual decorative windows, and Free Hot Coco! All children must be accompanied...

Santa Clause is coming to town! Come write a letter to Santa to send off to the North Pole.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE Looking to do some last-minute Christmas shopping? Register your child for our Game Night & Pizza, so you can head out and grab the last few items on your list. This event will feature board games, sport games and a pizza dinner. Game on!

ADVANCE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE Parents, take advantage of this program for a night out! All kids 5-11yrs are welcome for blacklight glow yoga with art class and dance party! Kids come in glow clothes, get a glow bracelet, do yoga, relax, and then dance while glowing brightly under the blacklights! Yoga followed by music and dancing...

REGISTER IN ADVANCE Come to Pelican Harbor to see Parkie this holiday season. Parkie will be perched in a large gift box for group photos. Once you have seen Parkie, you can enjoy some time in the pool with our melted snowmen. We will have arts and crafts, holiday decorations and other fun games and...

Explore natural wonders. Ages 8 & up.

Come visit the animals before Christmas! Hayrack rides will be running! Guests can visit with Santa, enjoy complimentary refreshments and roast a marshmallow! Admission is $10/person for ages 2+ No advance reservations required!   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Places to See Santa.

All Aboard the HOLLY TROLLEY! Explore Elmhurst Express Trolley is back for the holidays! The City of Elmhurst is excited to announce the Explore Elmhurst Trolley is back for the holiday edition “Holly Trolley” on Saturdays November 26 through December 17 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The trolley will follow the same route as...

Reservations at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm Includes 3 crispy tenders, cup of fruit, sweet potato or regular fries, scoop of ice cream with sprinkles. Bring your camera for a photo with Santa by the piano and letter to the North Pole.

Matinee showing begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec 17th. DOORS OPEN AT 10AM. Arrive Early to insure your seat at this POPULAR EVENT

Join us every Saturday at 11 am for cartoons and cereal! Each month, we'll be watching something different: September: School House Rock November: Children's cartoons (TBD) December: Short films for children

Make a sweet gift while you munch on cookies and sip hot cocoa. Decorate a real cookie with frosting and sprinkles and decorate a cookie card with sequins and googly eyes, wrap everything up and tie it with a bow and you’ll have a sweet treat to gift to someone special.

New this year to coincide with Christkindlmarket at RiverEdge Park, Aurora Downtown will feature a Downtown Holiday Trolley on Saturdays from noon to 3:30 p.m. from November 19 to December 17. The trolley, generously sponsored by Invest Aurora, will make four stops while making a loop through downtown Aurora, beginning and ending at Aurora Transportation...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED Visit Santa on the front porch of the Historical Society for a chat about your wish list and a photo opportunity! One family per appointment please. Visits take place outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Members please use code “member” during check out to receive the member price. If you wish...

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Santa Spectacular at Burr Ridge Village Center. Join us for pictures with Santa at Hampton Social, live reindeer and Not Your Mama’s Hot Cocoa & Donuts!   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Places to See Santa.

Visit us at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum to create some great holiday memories! Participants can come and get their holiday pictures taken with a snowman and a reindeer.

Doors open at 2pm. Special holiday character Meet & Greets from 2pm - 3pm and 5pm - 6pm. Frozen starts at 3:30pm and Frozen 2 starts at 6pm.

Visit with Santa, with a free gift to each Santa visitor. Displays are open to the public.  For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Places to See Santa.

Battle it out with NERF! Compete in games including Capture the Flag, Team Elimination and Free-for-All Combat. Food and drink provided! You can bring your own NERF guns and protective gear, or we have some to borrow! Label your belongings. For ages 6-10.

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE IN ADVANCE The set for Cantigny’s version of “A Christmas Carol” is a vintage radio station. Audiences will enjoy a behind-the-scenes perspective as they watch a talented five-member cast cycle through multiple characters. To the side, an old-time radio sound artist will create realistic auditory effects to support the action...