Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 1 - November 26, 2024: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 2 - December 24, 2024: Mondays and Tuesdays January 3 - February 27, 2025: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district is thrilled to kick off the holiday season with the return of its Chicago Wolves Ice Rink Saturday, November 23. Admission to the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink is free. Guests are invited to bring their own skates or rent skates on-site for $8. The Chicago Wolves Ice Rink will...

Start your year with dance and movement at Wonder Works Children’s Museum, thanks to a grant from the youth and family services committees of the Oak Park Township and the River Forest Township. Performance Schedule: Denita Inez from Desueno Dance – Salsa Dancing – Thursday, January 2 Gina and Robby from Momenta Dance – Winter...

Enjoy a winter afternoon on a self-guided hunt for signs of animals and plant life on your Scavenger Hunt List, followed by snacks and relaxing around a campfire. Family program.

Learn about wildlife in winter during a guided walk. The program begins at 1 pm if snow depth exceeds 4”. Registration required to reserve snowshoes.

¡Ven a celebrar el día de los Reyes Magos con nosotros! Para niños de todas las edades y sus cuidadores. Come and celebrate Three Kings Day with us! For children of all ages and their caregivers. ¡Celebremos el Día de los Reyes Magos con un pedazo de rosca de Reyes de diferentes panaderías de Aurora!...

Test your building skills with wooden KEVA planks! Drop by any time and try out different challenges, or build your own creation.

Drop in with your little one to enjoy songs and stories in Spanish. Presented by The Language Labs. 0 – 6 years with a caregiver.

Meet a real life veterinarian and listen to a fun story! Then engage in pretend play that you are a veterinarian.

Learn how amazing creatures survive in their unique environments, with some help from a few live animals! Best for ages 3-5 with an adult. Why do some birds have webbed feet? How can some animals live in the mountains? Learn about animals’ special features, their habitats, and their conservation. Please register each child and adult...

Enjoy a special storytime and craft to celebrate Día de los Reyes! We will be reading a story, making a craft, and cutting a rosca. For ages 3+ with a caregiver. ** **Tickets are available at the Children's Services Desk 30 minutes before the start of this storytime. Enjoy a special storytime and craft to...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Dust off your sunglasses and summer gear and bring your favorite stuffed animal from home to enjoy music, snacks, crafts and play time. Ages 4 and up. Caregiver required. Drop in.

Join us to learn about the mammals of Cook County by examining our skins and skulls collection.

We’re excited to start 2025 with Free Winter Weekdays, January 6–March 14, 2025, offering Illinois residents free admission every Monday, Thursday, and Friday—all day long. Beginning March 5, 2025, we will also be open on Wednesdays, which means that Wednesdays, March 5, and March 12, will also be part of our 2025 Free Winter Weekdays....

Get an up-close look at some special animals while learning about how they survive in their unique environments. Best for ages 6-11. Why do some birds have webbed feet? How can some animals live in the mountains? Learn about animals’ special features, their habitats, and their conservation. If your child is age 8 or younger,...

No snow shovel? S-NO-w problem! Engineer a way to gather up the most 'snow,' then build a catapult to see how far you can fling it! (Grades K–5)

Play Bingo. Win prizes! Become the Bingo champion in your family.

Feeling blue on a Monday? Come watch a movie with us! / ¿Te sientes triste en un lunes? ¡Ven a ver una película con nosotros! January 6: Despicable Me 4 February 3: Moana

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.

Get ready for bed with a story and some relaxing activities. Feel free to wear your pajamas or bring a stuffy for this cozy family storytime. No registration required.

Our Illinois Resident Free Days include access to all open animal and permanent exhibit and seasonal Stingray Touch. Take a deeper look at our current available exhibits here. We offer several reservation options for Free Days. For those who prefer to plan ahead, online ticket reservations are available with a $5 convenience fee per order....

Nature stories, crafts, and activities.  Children ages 3 to 6 with adult.

Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 1 - November 26, 2024: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 2 - December 24, 2024: Mondays and Tuesdays January 3 - February 27, 2025: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

Illinois residents receive free admission on Tuesdays.   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Recommended Ages 0-5 with Caregiver — Registration required. After getting rowdy at Rockin’ Tots, stick around for an open sensory playtime! We will have different tactile and sensory experiences for young kids to learn and engage with together.

Geared for K-5 Join us for an hour of gaming! No registration required.

Explore a variety of construction-themed stations! Children of all ages with autism, neurodivergence & physical disabilities are invited to celebrate the start of Sensory Storytime at this event!

Enjoy a welcoming and sensory-friendly storytime for children with autism, neurodivergence and physical disabilities. Please register so we can ensure a comfortable sensory experience. (All ages)

Our Illinois Resident Free Days include access to all open animal and permanent exhibit and seasonal Stingray Touch. Take a deeper look at our current available exhibits here. We offer several reservation options for Free Days. For those who prefer to plan ahead, online ticket reservations are available with a $5 convenience fee per order....

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 safari, explore ancient civilizations, and come face-to-face with prehistoric creatures— all in one place. The Field Museum has so much to explore, you’ll need more...

Ignite your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity as we explore, experiment, and make discoveries in the natural world. Ages 4-5 w/adult.

Wednesdays are Free Admission Days sponsored by RBC Wealth Management.   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

A guest presenter from The Morton Arboretum will join us for some fun nature stories. We will learn how weather, trees and animals change with the seasons!

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Children are invited to hear stories at the Creek Bend Nature Center at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. After the program, explore the Nature Center and walk the trails. Cosponsored with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

DuSable Museum of African-American history is free to Illinois residents to visit on Wednesdays. We also give free admission to military and to first responders. That means Police, Fire, EMT’s. With valid ID.   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

Enjoy an afternoon movie with us. We'll release the title approximately two weeks before the showing.

The Adler is excited to announce that we will be free for Illinois residents (with proof of residency) every Wednesday evening from 4-10 pm (our new Wednesday hours.) Stop by after work or school, or for date night and enjoy everything the Adler has to offer at night, for free as part of our Illinois...

Drop by the library and build with LEGO. Each Wednesday we will have a different LEGO challenge you can try, or build whatever you want!

Storytime in both Spanish and English including stories, music and activities. TR Un cuento muy especial en español e inglés que incluye historias, música y actividades. TR Join Miss Stephanie and Miss Lynna as we read a story or two in both Spanish and English. Don’t forget your dancing shoes, jazz hands, and wiggling bodies...

Join us for a special musical series at the Library! Every month through April, we will feature musicians playing instruments and songs of their choosing. Following each performance, the musicians will introduce the stories behind the songs.

Come in your pajamas or your play clothes; just be sure to bring the whole family for this evening storytime that features a different activity each week.   For kids up to 6 with caregiver. Siblings welcome.

Join us to celebrate all 2025 birthdays! Children and parents can enjoy Polish stories, songs, games and crafts. Find your birthday on our big calendar! Dołącz do nas i świętuj wszystkie urodziny w roku 2025! Dzieci i rodzice mogą cieszyć się polskimi opowieściami, piosenkami, grami i robótkami ręcznymi. Znajdź swoje urodziny w naszym dużym kalendarzu!

Bring the whole family for craft night at the library! Each week we will feature up-cycled materials. Ages 4 + with a caregiver.

Our Illinois Resident Free Days include access to all open animal and permanent exhibit and seasonal Stingray Touch. Take a deeper look at our current available exhibits here. We offer several reservation options for Free Days. For those who prefer to plan ahead, online ticket reservations are available with a $5 convenience fee per order....

Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 9 to 20, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! We will have activities related to outer space throughout the museum. Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In our lunar exploration pit, children can...

We are pleased to offer weekly Donation Days—every Thursday the museum is open—for Illinois residents. Illinois residents can enjoy free admission during these Donation Days, or support us with a $10 suggested household donation at the time of admission. Illinois residents can reserve their Donation Day tickets online or in person.   For information on...

Join us for an adventure in nature through movement, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/adult.

Stop by to make a simple craft with your child. Each week explores a different topic to spark your child's creativity and curiosity. Ages 3-7. While supplies last. Drop in.

Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 1 - November 26, 2024: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 2 - December 24, 2024: Mondays and Tuesdays January 3 - February 27, 2025: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Join the Naperville Public Library (NPL) for one of their spectacular Story Times at DCM. These interactive Story Times often feature puppets, songs, movement, and more! First Thursday Each Month (*unless noted otherwise) Thursday, January 9 | 11:00 Thursday, February 6 | 11:00 Thursday, March 6 | 11:00 Thursday, April 10 | 11:00 Thursday, May...

Acompáñanos para una presentación de cuentos y música en Español e Inglés.

We’re excited to start 2025 with Free Winter Weekdays, January 6–March 14, 2025, offering Illinois residents free admission every Monday, Thursday, and Friday—all day long. Beginning March 5, 2025, we will also be open on Wednesdays, which means that Wednesdays, March 5, and March 12, will also be part of our 2025 Free Winter Weekdays....

Join yoga instructor and former kindergarten teacher Marianne Mohrhusen for some afternoon relaxation. Walk-ins and new friends welcome!

Travel through the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons on an amazing journey to stop a famous D&D villain. Participants can choose a pre-made character at their first session or contribute their own character to join the fun.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE Winter in the forest is cold and quiet and may seem desolate, but there is still plenty of life if you know what to look for. Bundle up, grab your favorite mug and join a naturalist for a guided hike around Messenger Woods. Together, we will embrace the silent landscape while searching...

Read a children’s story along a short trail. Afterwards, get an activity bag to start your own adventure with crafts and activities. Drop in.

Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 9 to 20, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! We will have activities related to outer space throughout the museum. Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In our lunar exploration pit, children can...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Come by the library to connect with other guardians and kids who Homeschool.

Start your Friday morning off at the library with a fun storytime all about animals. A new animal each week! Some bilingual Spanish.

We’re excited to start 2025 with Free Winter Weekdays, January 6–March 14, 2025, offering Illinois residents free admission every Monday, Thursday, and Friday—all day long. Beginning March 5, 2025, we will also be open on Wednesdays, which means that Wednesdays, March 5, and March 12, will also be part of our 2025 Free Winter Weekdays....

Get to know some other homeschool families in the area while playing games, trying out hands-on activities, and more!

Bring your own games or play ours! Ages 6-11 with a caregiver.

Put your building skills to the test with the library’s Big Blue Blocks! These oversized foam blocks offer endless possibilities for creative play. Perfect for solo or group activities, the Big Blue Blocks are designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and endless fun!

Bring your own blankets or sheets, pillows, and a flashlight to build your fort. Enjoy a story together around the “campfire” and then crawl into your fort to read with your family. This is a special after-hours program. Please arrive before the Library closes at 5 pm to ensure entrance to the program. In partnership...

Create unique seasonal and theme-based projects. Materials provided. While supplies last.

Join us on select Friday nights for a little extra family fun at DCM! DCM is open until 8:00pm every Friday during the school year Friday, January 10: Let’s do some moving & grooving with Family Yoga at 5:30 and 6:15, explore musical instruments, and make a ribbon wand to sway to the music. Friday,...

Learn fire building skills indoors and try out your new talent outdoors. Ages 10 & up. Ages 10-17 w/ adult.

Calling all astronauts and deep space explorers! From January 9 to 20, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is blasting off to outer space! We will have activities related to outer space throughout the museum. Children can dress up as astronauts, crawl into rocket tents and pretend they’ve landed Mars. In our lunar exploration pit, children can...

Our kids grow up and grow out of toys that they used to play with. If you have toys that your children are no longer using, consider swapping them for something new-to-you! Bring in your gently used toys to the Youth Services Desk and receive a ticket for each toy you donate. Bring your tickets...

For parents. Drop in to speak with representatives from area daycares, preschools, and community and extra-curricular organizations. Continue checking in for most updated list of participating organizations. Attending in person: Darien Public Schools District 61- Mark Delay Hummingbird Children's Academy Kiddie Academy (Darien) Kingswood Academy Flyers Only: Cass School District 63- Concord Center Cass School...

Let your children's imaginations soar with a variety of crafts designed for all ages and skill levels. Enjoy delicious hot cocoa while creating together. Bring your little ones for a morning filled with crafting fun and joyful moments. Sign up is required to join the festivities! We can’t wait to see the amazing creations your...

Free admission is available to guests on the following dates: October 1 - November 26, 2024: Tuesdays and Thursdays December 2 - December 24, 2024: Mondays and Tuesdays January 3 - February 27, 2025: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays For more information about events like these, check out our roundup of Museum Free Days.

Learn about the amazing world of Ice Age Illinois through a series of family-oriented games and activities. Ages 5 & up.

Have you been curious to try the rock wall in the Annerino lobby? This is your call to action! Climbing instructors will give a short presentation about safety and technique before assisting participants ages 6 years and up on their course of choice. Climbers aged 3-5 are permitted to "boulder" only with assistance of a...

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR NON-MEMBERS. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a number of Free Admission Days for Illinois residents each year. Please note: Parking fees still apply. Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply. Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for...

Celebrate National Hobby Month by crafting a handheld habitat in an Altoids tin! An interpretive naturalist will join in to discuss different animal habitats, natural environments and tin-spirations for your project. All materials will be provided, but if you have small leftovers from previous craft projects of your own, this is a great opportunity to...

Get ready to play! An early childhood staff member will meet you at the park listed below. Families welcome! No registration needed. Just show up for some fun. Playdates will not be rescheduled in case of inclement weather. Sunshine is expected every day! Activities are geared for ages 7 & under. January 11 - Pottawatomie...

Perform, watch, and be the director of your own story. Spot videos and films throughout the museum.

Celebrate Winterfest, there will be snowshoes available to use on our trails, a winter scavenger hunt, crafts, hot cocoa, and s’mores around our firepit to enjoy. Free Spirit Siberian Rescue will demonstrate “mushing” with their dog sled team. JG’s Reptile Road Show will have a booth filled with awesome reptiles! Wings & Talons will be...

Activities to educate and celebrate the impact of Lunar New Year – Year of the Snake.   For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of Ways for Families to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

Enjoy family-friendly movies in Le Jardin while you warm up after skating at Cantigny’s ice rink, or just stop by for a meal and a movie! The movie will run every two hours, with showings starting at 11 am, 1, 3, 5 pm. Coloring pages will also be available for children while supplies last. Whether...

Tiny Great Performances™ bring professional and community performers to the Museum to promote a life-long love of the arts in children and their families. Performances feature a variety of subjects including dance, music, storytelling, theatre, and more. Tiny Great Performances are designed to be an integration of play and performance. Guests are welcome to stop,...

Watch out as you explore the Conservatory – you may run into a Budding Botanists! on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am to 3:00pm, Nature Educators will provide activities for kids of all ages at our Budding Botanists station. These programs are drop in and no preregistration is required. You can stop by and interact with...

Did you know the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is the public face of the Chicago Academy of Sciences? We are! The Chicago Academy of Sciences was founded on January 13, 1857 and has been dedicated to studying and sharing knowledge about local nature ever since, including opening the first public museum in Chicago in 1869!...

For ages 1-3 w/adult. Dress for some messy fun at the Library! Drop in anytime between 11 and 11:45 a.m. to explore a variety of sensory stations with your toddler. Siblings welcome. No registration required.

A special Family Storytime presented in Mandarin with stories, songs, and activities for all ages.

Don’t let cabin fever give your family the winter blues- enjoy some cheer with our Winter Bash to ring in the New Year! From games, activities, snacks and entertainment, this indoor event is sure to be a fun event for all ages! Bring your friends, family, and festive spirit.

Gather the whole family for a fun-filled winter day sampling a variety of unique hot cocoas and artisan coffees at your favorite Downtown Wheaton shops and restaurants! Altiro BABAM Ditka's Grill Five & Hoek Gia Mia Graham's Fine Chocolate & Ice Cream Images Med Spa Ivy Restaurant Kilwins Kimmer’s Ice Cream London Skye The Protein...

Head to the Bolingbrook Historical Museum for some LEGO fun! You can build with friends or try one of our building challenges. We supply the bricks and you supply the imagination.

Join friends and friendly birds from the Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue to get up close and personal and learn about our feathered friends. Walk-ins and new friends always welcome!

Laura Winnie, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator, will share information for those interested in helping animals. A live animal is expected to be present at each session. Make toys for shelter pets to enjoy while learning how they care for animals at the shelter.

Trade cards, play games, talk with fellow fans, and maybe win a new pack of cards!