After all the pomp and excess of the holidays, January helps my family settle back down to earth. Free, local events around town are just the right speed for us — especially since we overdid it on the big events in December! Here, we’ve rounded up all the free event on our calendar for January, as well as other tips on where you can go to find family activities that will help you stick to your budget this month. (I know I could use that help!)
Free January 2020 Fun for Kids in Chicagoland
Free Days at Chicagoland Museums in January 2020
Adler Planetarium
Admission is free for Illinois residents on January 7–9 and 20–22, 2020.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Admission is free to all Illinois residents on select Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Call ahead to confirm.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Admission is free to all children under 15 years old the first Sunday of the month (January 5, 2020).
Chicago History Museum
Admission is free to Illinois residents every Tuesday from 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
DuSable Museum of African American History
Admission is free to all visitors every Tuesday.
Elmhurst Art Museum
Admission is free the first Friday of the month (January 3, 2020).
Lizzardo Museum of Lapidary Art
Admission is free to all visitors every Wednesday. (Please note that the museum has moved and is now located in Oak Brook!)
Museum of Contemporary Art
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays.
Free January Fun at Area Nature Centers
Hidden Oaks Conservation Area (Bolingbrook)
A habitat tree, animal sound and scent wall, and discovery rooms are just a few of the interactive exhibits you’ll find here.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center (Glen Ellyn)
Native wild species and indoor discovery area with various games, puzzles and activities.
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center (Oak Brook)
Have fun at their tree house and with many other hands-on activities.
Lake Katherine Nature Center (Palos Heights)
Explore their children’s play center, reptile and animal exhibits along with a huge book collection.
Little Red School House Nature Center (Willow Springs)
See live animals and exhibits and check out their children’s activity room.
Free January Fun at Local Zoos
Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield)
For all of January 2020, free admission is provided on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parking is still $14 per car on free days.
Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)
Always free admission to all visitors.
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton)
If you live in Wheaton, Cosley is always free with your park district ID! Kids 17 and under are free, too; non-resident adults pay $7, or $6 for ages 55+.
Free January Fun at Local Libraries
Libraries are always a great place for free local fun. Get lost in a good book, check out some games/puzzles, explore cool kids areas and more! Our handy list of Libraries in the Western Suburbs gives you a sneak peek into the different kids’ areas.
Free January Fun at Sledding Hills
Another wonderful outdoor activity that is free of charge… sledding! Check out all the sledding hills in the Western suburbs for a round-up of local hills and details about what you can expect.
Free January Events
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)
January 1–5, 2020, 4:30pm – 9:00pm
Massive Lego Play at the Library (Downers Grove)
January 2, 2020, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Nature Discovery Days: Swirling Snowflakes (Naperville)
January 2, 2020, 10:00am
Storytime with Barista Lillian (Berwyn)
January 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2020, 10:00am
Nature Story Time (River Forest)
January 2 and 16, 2020, 10:30am
Frozen Sing–along (Darien)
January 2, 2020, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Family Movie: Lion King (Downers Grove)
January 2, 2020, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
READ to the Dogs (Clarendon Hills)
January 2, 2020, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Neontastic (Darien)
January 3, 2020, 10:00am – 12:30pm
Robot Day (Naperville)
January 3, 2020, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Home Depot Workshop – Mini Hockey Game (Various Locations)
January 4, 2020, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Volunteer Restoration Day (DuPage Forest Preserves)
January 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2020
Nature for Little Ones: Animal Footprints (South Holland)
January 4, 2020, 10:00am
Storytime with Dad (Brookfield)
January 4, 2020, 10:30am – 11:00am
JuiceBox Concerts (Chicago)
January 4, 2020, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Inclusive Playgroup (Brookfield)
January 4, 2020, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Family Movie: Lion King (Downers Grove)
January 4, 2020, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Family-Bots (Brookfield)
January 4, 2020, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Chicago Children’s Museum Free Admission Day (Chicago)
January 5, 2020, 12:00am
Winter Birds Nature Showcase (Darien)
January 6, 2020, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
January 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2020, 12:00am
Instrument Petting Zoo (Clarendon Hills)
January 8, 2020, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Nature Tots (River Forest)
January 8, 2020, 10:00am
Mother Nature and Me (Willow Springs)
January 8, 2020, 10:30am
Sewing 101: Fleece Hats (Naperville)
January 8, 2020, 4:15pm – 5:45pm
How Dewey Do It? (Darien)
January 8, 2020, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Free “Come & See” Music Together® (Sycamore)
January 9, 2020, 9:00am – 9:45am
Tiny Coders (Naperville)
January 9, 2020, 9:30am – 10:15am
Free “Come & See” Music Together® (Sycamore)
January 9, 2020, 10:00am – 10:45am
Free “Come & See” Music Together® (Sycamore)
January 9 and 10, 2020
Zoo Zen Yoga (Naperville)
January 10, 2020, 10:30am – 11:15am
Clothespin Puppets (Downers Grove)
January 11, 2020, 10:30am – 11:30am
Saturday Afternoon Cartoon (Bellwood)
January 11, 2020, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Makin’ Music Bluegrass Jam (River Forest)
January 12, 2020, 1:00pm
Storytime and Fun with Aunt Tillie (Glen Ellyn)
January 14, 2020, 10:30am – 11:30am
Wee Wonders (South Holland)
January 15, 2020, 10:00am
Observing MLK (Maywood)
January 16, 2020, 12:00am
Nature Story Time (River Forest)
January 16, 2020, 10:30am
Family LEGO Night (Clarendon Hills)
January 16, 2020, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Lego Build (Downers Grove)
January 16, 2020, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Family Movie Night: Aladdin (Darien)
January 17, 2020, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Cabin Fever Family Fun (Woodridge)
January 17, 2020, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Science Babies (Brookfield)
January 18, 2020, 10:30am – 11:00am
JuiceBox Concerts (Chicago)
January 18, 2020, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Iditarod Fun (Clarendon Hills)
January 18, 2020, 1:00pm
Kids vs. Police Hockey Showdown (Bloomingdale)
January 18, 2020, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Hot Cocoa Saturday (Bloomingdale)
January 18, 2020, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Family Movie: Missing Link (Downers Grove)
January 19, 2020, 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorative Day (Chicago)
January 20, 2020, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Martin’s Museum Makers (Darien)
January 20, 2020, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Zoo Zen Yoga (Naperville)
January 20, 2020, 11:15am – 12:00pm
Kids Movie Matinee: Toy Story 4 (Clarendon Hills)
January 20, 2020, 12:30pm
READ to the Dogs (Brookfield)
January 21, 2020, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Cookies and Hot Chocolate Storytime (Maywood)
January 22, 2020, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Family BINGO Night at Nichols Library (Naperville)
January 22, 2020, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Dog Man to the Rescue (Naperville)
January 23, 2020, 4:15pm – 5:00pm
Writing Club for Kids (Homewood)
January 23, 2020, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Language Storytimes (Clarendon Hills)
January 24, 2020, 10:00am – 11:00am
Language Labs Presents: French Storytime (Downers Grove)
January 24, 2020, 10:30am – 11:00am
Family Trivia Night (Darien)
January 24, 2020, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
After-Hours Mini-Golf (Berwyn)
January 24, 2020, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Winter Campfire & Night Hike (South Holland)
January 24, 2020, 7:00pm
Family Loteria (Berwyn)
January 28, 2020, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Snowman Bingo (Brookfield)
January 28, 2020, 6:30pm – 7:15pm
National Puzzle Day (Clarendon Hills)
January 29, 2020, 12:00am
Kids Movie Club (Brookfield)
January 31, 2020, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Dog Man to the Rescue (Naperville)
January 31, 2020, 4:00pm – 4:45pm
You can also find lots of cozy indoor activities for the winter months in our Winter Activities Guide!
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