Week of Events
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 3 – November 23, 2023: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 4 – December 19, 2023: Mondays and Tuesdays January 2 – February 29, 2024: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.
Gujarati and English Storytime
Gujarati and English Storytime
Enjoy a bilingual storytime in both English and Gujarati. Rhymes, music, and more will be featured. Children of all ages and their caregiver(s).** Tickets available 30 min. before program begins at the Children's Reference Desk.
Recycled Racetrack
Recycled Racetrack
Are you ready to race? Help us build an exciting racetrack from recycled supplies complete with ramps, jumps, obstacles, and more. Bring the whole family to help us construct and test the track, and decorate a speedy racecar to use and keep! No registration necessary. Sessions from 10:30am - 12:00pm or 1:30pm - 3:00pm.
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Admission is free for Illinois residents on weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays), November 27–December 22, 2023, as well as January 8–March 22, 2024. If you reserve your free tickets online in advance, your resident status will be verified using the zip code associated with the billing address provided. If you’re unable to reserve tickets in...
Dual Language Storytime: Russian
Dual Language Storytime: Russian
Experience rich culture and beautiful languages from around the world during our dual language storytimes! Books, rhymes, and songs will be shared to help foster an appreciation for the many languages spoken throughout our wonderful multicultural community. The activities presented are family oriented with stories suitable for the youngest ages. This program welcomes both Polish...
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 3 – November 23, 2023: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 4 – December 19, 2023: Mondays and Tuesdays January 2 – February 29, 2024: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.
Winter Messy Art
Winter Messy Art
Stop by and let your preschooler discover and create winter-themed art projects. Dress to get messy! This drop-in program is for ages 3-5.
Polish Storytime
Library Game Night
Library Game Night
Join us for an all ages open board game night every 2nd Tuesday of the month after 7:00 pm. Play from our selection of games or bring your own. Teen+ games can be found in the Adult/YA department. Kids and family friendly games in Children’s.
Wee Wanderer Wednesdays
Wee Wanderer Wednesdays
For children ages 2-6 w/ caregiver. Limited tickets on a first-come, first served basis starting at 9:30 am.
Bilingual Storytime and Play – Cuento bilingue y juego
Bilingual Storytime and Play – Cuento bilingue y juego
In this story session, we will enjoy stories, music, and also some play time! Ages 0-5. En esta sesion de cuentos estaremos disfrutando de cuentos, musica, y ademas de un tiempo de juego! Ages 0-5 / Edades 0-5.
Animal Olympics Trail
Animal Olympics Trail
Kids and families can walk a short, looped trail in a fun test of human versus animal abilities! Prize awarded after completion. Grove 7.
Indoor Snowball Fight
Indoor Snowball Fight
Join us for a paper snowball fight. Stop by to create your "snowballs" and then let the battle begin. No registration required.
Family STEM2gether
Family STEM2gether
Adults are invited to join in the fun during this twist on our typical STEM2gether program! Children in grades 1-4 can bring along their favorite grown-up to explore STEM activities and create STEM projects with the help of our teen volunteers. Limit 24 child/caregiver pairs. Those arriving more than 10 minutes late cannot be guaranteed...
Family Game Night
Family Game Night
Whether your family prefers board games, card games, or anything in between, we've got something everyone will enjoy! Games vary from session to session. Caregiver participation is required. Limit 50 participants. No registration is required. Participants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 3 – November 23, 2023: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 4 – December 19, 2023: Mondays and Tuesdays January 2 – February 29, 2024: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Admission is free for Illinois residents on weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays), November 27–December 22, 2023, as well as January 8–March 22, 2024. If you reserve your free tickets online in advance, your resident status will be verified using the zip code associated with the billing address provided. If you’re unable to reserve tickets in...
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Free Admission for Illinois Residents
Admission is free for Illinois residents on weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays), November 27–December 22, 2023, as well as January 8–March 22, 2024. If you reserve your free tickets online in advance, your resident status will be verified using the zip code associated with the billing address provided. If you’re unable to reserve tickets in...
Young Artists Workshops: Winter Trees Watercolor – FULL
Young Artists Workshops: Winter Trees Watercolor – FULL
Design and paint a landscape of birch trees in winter. You’ll be amazed at the results!
STEAM: Snowstorm in a Jar – FULL
STEAM: Snowstorm in a Jar – FULL
Learn how to make a snowstorm in a jar with this hands-on science experiment. You’ll be able to create snow while staying warm indoors!
Frozen Fest
Frozen Fest
Your favorite Frozen characters are visiting Lake Ellyn Park! Enjoy some hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, and a photo opportunity with the characters. Frozen Fest is free, but registration is required for both adults and children. This is not a drop-off activity; all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Snowman Craft Day – FULL
Snowman Craft Day – FULL
January is cold and snowy, so it is the perfect time to get creative with a Winter Snowman Craft Day! There will be four separate stations consisting of a snowman picture frame craft, a winter wishes box craft kit, a melted snowman paper craft, and a melted snowman slime project. You’ll even get a sweet...
Founders Day
Founders Day
Join us as we celebrate 167 years of nature and science! Meet our collections team, see rare specimens up close, and see how the Chicago Academy of Sciences’ collections serve as a library of nature from the 1830s to the present! Learn more about how local students help contribute to our collections and research through...
MLK Service Day Celebration
MLK Service Day Celebration
Participate in restoration, celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and warm up with hot beverages. Ages 10 & up. For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of How to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Kids.
Chicago Travel and Adventure Show
Chicago Travel and Adventure Show
America’s Favorite Travel Show, the Travel & Adventure Show, opens its 2024 season in Chicago Jan. 13-14 for the 19th year at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. This year’s show is complete with a variety of programming including noteworthy speakers such as Netflix star Phil Rosenthal and travel expert Pauline Frommer, Rick Steves, giveaways...
Cardboard Creation Celebration
Cardboard Creation Celebration
Join us and dive into one last playdate with the awesome collaborative creations. The library kicked off 2024 by inviting engineers of all ages to build games, activities, and more out of recycled materials. We're showcasing the amazing cardboard constructions invented by the little geniuses in our community with one last drop-in party. For families.
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 3 – November 23, 2023: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 4 – December 19, 2023: Mondays and Tuesdays January 2 – February 29, 2024: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.
National Sticker Day
National Sticker Day
Drop-in any time between 10-3 for some sticker fun in the Youth Services Department!
Winterfest
Winterfest
Activites: - Iceless Skating Rink - Winter Scavenger Hunt - Crafts - Hot Cocoa - S'mores Demonstrations: - World Class Ice Sculpture - Ice Carving - Free Spirit Siberian Rescue - Mushing Dog Sled Team - Wings & Talons - Birds of Prey - JG's Reptile Road Show
Origami Open House
Origami Open House
Origami is a fascinating, fun-filled creative activity for children as well as adults. With a minimum of folds and creases, you can transform a flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional form like a swan, a boat, a flower or even a hat. So, if you’re interested in creating animals, dinosaurs, flowers, decorative boxes and...
Drop-in: Snowed in at the Library
Drop-in: Snowed in at the Library
Let it snow at the library! Have snow much fun building with fake snow, having a snowball fight and more fun snowy activities!
EncryptHer
EncryptHer
Calling all girl coders! Designed for Grades 3-5, this monthly STEM class will cover topics like cybersecurity, computer science, and online safety. Students will learn new skills and develop problem solving abilities with hands-on activities. EncryptHer meets at the Library one Saturday each month and is presented in both English and Spanish.
Winterfest
Winterfest
Balloon twister, bon fire, face painting, kids indoor games, home depot craft project, hot chocolate bar. Food and beverages available for purchase. Weather permitting: Sledding and cross country skiing. Bingo for kids: 1:00-3:00pm. Ball drop at 3:30pm.
Animals in the Winter with Peck Farm Park
Animals in the Winter with Peck Farm Park
Learn about how some animals adapt during the winter and visit with Sir Charles, an Eastern Box Turtle! We will learn about hibernation, brumation, etc., from a naturalist from Peck Park Farm.
Volunteer Open House
Volunteer Open House
Calling all history buffs, friendly faces and folks who want to get more involved in their community. The Batavia Depot Museum can connect you! Tour the museum and research center and learn about ways you can help us meet our mission of collecting, preserving and sharing local history.
Bonne Année: A New Year Celebration!
Bonne Année: A New Year Celebration!
Celebrate like it’s 1759! Ring in the New Year French-Canadian fur trader style with stories and games of Illinois Country. Enjoy a warm drink around a toasty fire. Make a vintage French craft to take home as a keepsake of this family-friendly event and the Bonne Année, or good year, to come.
Splish Splash Family Night
Splish Splash Family Night
Come and join us for a splashtastic family night. Enjoy a night of water slides, our awesome inflatable obstacle course, splash zones, zero entry pool, music and more. A Winter/Valentine’s Day themed craft area will be set for all ages. Refreshment will be available. January 13th: Winter themed February 10th: Valentine’s Day themed Early bird...
We do our best to provide comprehensive, accurate and useful information about events and activities. This information (such as times and locations) is gathered from press releases, websites, signs around town and word of mouth. However, details change and people make mistakes, so please confirm the details before you go. Kidlist is not responsible for any problems that occur while participating in activities listed on this site.
Submit an Event
Click on the button above to submit an event to the Kidlist calendar. We welcome everyone to submit events, given that they are family-friendly, free and/or drop-in, and are local for families in the west and northwest suburbs of Chicago. All submitted events are reviewed by the Kidlist team.