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 January 2024 Fun for Kids in Chicagoland
Events may change, and some require prior registration. Please check directly with the hosting organization before you make plans!
January 1
January 2
- Jumbo Board Games (Westmont Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- LEGO Club (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Winter Bingo (Aurora Public Library – Santori Branch)
- Noon Year’s Celebration (La Grange Public Library) (register in advance)
- Giant Candy Land (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Crafternoon (Wheaton Public Library)
- El Mago Magic Show (St. Charles Public Library)
- Winter Break Movie Day: Balto (Elmhurst Public Library)
January 3
- Jumbo Board Games (Westmont Public Library)
- Winter Wonderland LEGOs (St. Charles Public Library)
- Winter Movie and Craft: The Land Before Time (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Hot Wheelin’ Fun (Clarendon Hills Public Library)
- Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Bilingual Family Storytime (Des Plaines Public Library)
- Drop-In: Play-Doh Party (Poplar Creek Public Library, Streamwood)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- Celebration Dances of West Africa (Barrington Area Library)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Winter Exploration Day (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Family Movie: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Downers Grove Public Library)
- Stuffed Animal Beach Party (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Weird but True Trivia (Woodridge Public Library) (register in advance)
- Afternoon Movie: Night at the Museum (La Grange Public Library)
- Winter Magic (Mount Prospect Public Library) (registration recommended)
- Lego Free Build (North Riverside Public Library)
- LEGO Builders Club (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Weekday Intermission (St. Charles Public Library)
- Family Movie Night (Wheaton Public Library)
January 4
- Jumbo Board Games (Westmont Public Library)
- Fireside Board Games (St. Charles Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- LEGO Free Build (Wheaton Public Library)
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Mammals Presentation at Crabtree Nature Center (Barrington)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- American Girl Storytime and Craft Hour (Woodridge) (register in advance)
- Puzzlepalooza (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Family Winter Scavenger Hunt and Campfire (Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest)
- Pokémon Party (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Family Escape Room (La Grange Public Library) (register in advance)
- Andertoons Drawing Class (Park Ridge Public Library) (register in advance)
- Boredom Buster BINGO (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Sensory Seeking Story Time (St. Charles Public Library) (register in advance)
- All Aboard! Board Game Club (La Grange Park Public Library)
- Family Game Night (Aurora Public Library – Santori Branch)
- Fireside Flurries and Fun (Roselle) (advance registration required)
- Celebración del Día de los Reyes Magos (Aurora Public Library – Santori Branch)
- Trivia: Winter Break Edition (Barrington Area Library) (register in advance)
January 5
- Drop In Crafts (Rolling Meadows Public Library)
- First Friday Fun Kits (Park Ridge Publc Library)
- Twin Leaf Tales (Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles) (register in advance)
- Family Chess Open Play (Elmhurst Public Library)
- Friday Fun Day (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Preschool Conversation Hour (Elmwood Park Public Library)
- Percy Jackson Watch Party (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Robot Rumble (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
- Friday Afternoon Movie (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- First Friday: Spark’s Snow Day with Firefly Family Theatre (Geneva Public Library)
- Tween/Teen Escape Room (Schaumburg Township District Library) (register in advance)
- Snow Ball (Barrington Area Library)
- Movies in the Corner (Des Plaines Public Library)
January 6
- Home Depot Workshop (Check your local store)
- Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Early Literacy Expo (Santori Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Dual Language Storytime: Albanian (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Family Jigsaw Puzzling (South Branch, Mount Prospect Public Library)
- One Book, One Community Kickoff Event (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- After Hours Nerf Night (Downers Grove Public Library)
January 7
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Feeding Time at Hidden Oaks (Bolingbrook) (advance registration required)
- Sunday Makebreak (Michaels Craft Stores)
- Gujarati and English Storytime (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
January 8
- Recycled Racetrack (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Drop-in Robot Day (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Dual Language Storytime: Russian (Nichols Library, Naperville)
- Family Game Night (95th Street Library, Naperville)
January 9
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Swedish American Museum Free Days (Chicago)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Winter Messy Art (La Grange Public Library)
- Mindfulness for Families (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- TLC with Mrs. C (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Polish Storytime (Wood Dale Public Library)
January 10
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Wee Wonders (Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland) (advance registration required)
- Animal Olympics Trail (Bemis Woods, Westchester)
- Wee Wanderer Wednesdays (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
- Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Bilingual Storytime and Play – Cuento bilingue y juego (West Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- 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)
- Indoor Snowball Fight (Wheaton Public Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Family STEM2gether (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Weekday Intermission (St. Charles Public Library)
- Polish Storytime (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Family Game Night (Nichols Library, Naperville)
January 11
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Storytime at the Museum (Bolingbrook Historical Museum)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Lactation Station: Breastfeeding Clinic (La Grange Public Library) (advance registration required)
January 12
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Friday Fun Day (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- バイリンガルお話し探検家 / Japenese Bilingual Story Explorers (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- STEAMagination with American Science and Surplus (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Young Artists Workshops: Winter Trees Watercolor (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- Family Fort Night (Westmont Public Library) (register in advance)
- Family Craft Fridays (Indian Trails Public Library, Prospect Heights)
January 13
- Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Frozen Fest (Lake Ellyn Park, Glen Ellyn) (advance registration required)
- Go Nuts for Donuts Storytime (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- National Sticker Day (Clarendon Hills Public Library)
- Foundation Used Book Sale (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Cardboard Creation Celebration (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- MLK Service Day Celebration (Rolling Knolls, Elgin)
- Stickerpalooza (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Mark Anderson Cartooning (Wheaton Public Library) (register in advance)
- Family Day: Quilts and Stories (Museum of Contemporary Arts, Chicago)
- Winterfest (Springbrook Nature Center, Itasca)
- Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Movie Afternoon (Schiller Park Public Library)
- Drop-in: Snowed in at the Library (Woodridge Public Library)
- Bonne Année: A New Year Celebration! (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville) (register in advance)
- Sensory Friendly Movie (Wheaton Public Library)
- Animals in the Winter with Peck Farm Park (Geneva Public Library)
- Pokemon Fun (Downers Grove Public Library)
January 14
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Winter Bash (Recreation Complex, Wood Dale)
- Animal Encounters (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
- Sunday Makebreak (Michaels Craft Stores)
- Fun for All: Board Games (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
January 15
- MLK Jr. Day of Service (Glen Ellyn) (register in advance)
- MLK Day of Service (Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland)
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (St. Charles Public Library)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorative Day (Chicago History Museum)
- Heroes and Helpers Storytime (La Grange Public Library)
- MLK Day of Service (Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago)
- Drop-in: MLK National Day of Service Project (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
- MLK Day of Service (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Nature Center Open House (Lake View Nature Center, Oakbrook Terrace)
- MLK Day Restoration (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
- Animal Encounters (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
- The Magic of Gary Kantor, Workshop (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Library BINGO (Clarendon Hills Public Library)
- Family Trivia (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Lego Club (Wheaton Public Library)
- Magic Of Gary Kantor (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Winter Clothing Distribution Event (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Pokémon Club (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Civil Rights Game Night (Santori Library, Aurora)
January 16
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Nature Storytime with The Morton Arboretum (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
January 17
- Bilingual Storytime and Play – Cuento bilingue y juego (West Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- STEM Exploration: Sound All Around (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Preschool Fair (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- LEGO Mania (Mount Prospect Public Library – South Branch)
- Weekday Intermission (St. Charles Public Library)
- Cuentos y Canciones: Spanish Bilingual Storytime (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Ready Teddy Palooza Open House and 30th Birthday Celebration (La Grange Park)
- Hablar y Jugar: Talk and Play (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Pajama Storytime (La Grange Public Library) (registration recommended to ensure participation)
January 18
- Chick-fil-A Storytime (Bolingbrook)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Family Yoga with YogaSix (Geneva Public Library)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Merry Tutors (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Fun for All: Board Games (West Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Friendship Station Preschool Open House (Geneva)
- Family Lego Night (Wheaton Public Library)
January 19
- Drop In Crafts (Rolling Meadows Library)
- Nature Storytime with The Morton Arboretum (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Friday Fun Day (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Homeschool Huddle: Superhero STEAM (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Build and Watch: The LEGO Movie (Mount Prospect Public Library – South Branch)m
- LEGO Fun for Big and Littles (St. Charles Public Library)
- Movies in the Corner (Des Plaines Public Library)
January 20
- Friends Book Sale (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Friends Used Book Sale (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Tiny Toes Music (La Grange Public Library) (register in advance)
- Preschool Fair (St. Charles Public Library)
- Lowe’s Kids Workshops (Check your local store)
- Puzzle and Game Swap (Westmont Public Library)
- Preschool and Enrichment Fair (St. Andrew’s Lutheran School, Park Ridge)
- Russian Storytime with The Language Labs (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Super Saturday: Red – A Crayon’s ASL Story (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Weaving Demo and DIY (Wheaton Public Library)
January 21
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Winterfest (Horizon Park, Wheeling)
- Sunday Makebreak (Michaels Craft Stores)
- Pinewood Derby Workshop (La Grange Public Library)
- National Playdate Day (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Fandom Club (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
January 22
- Multilingual Monday (Prospect Heights Public Library)
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Drop-In Gaming Days (Elmwood Park Public Library)
January 23
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Spidey and his Amazing Friends Party (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Family Game Night: Board Games (Wood Dale Public Library)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
January 24
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Weekday Intermission (St. Charles Public Library)
- Movie Screening: Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Hanover Park Public Library)
- Ukranian Storytime (Prospect Heights Public Library)
January 25
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Storytime at Wholey Granoly (Bolingbrook)
- Free Developmental Screenings for Children (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Crafty Kids (Palatine Public Library)
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Illinois Resident Donation Day (Chicago)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Lego Free Build (Westmont Public Library)
- TLC with Mrs. C (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Dual Language Storytime: Hindi (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Pokémon Club (Mount Prospect Public Library)
January 26
- Pop-in Play: Let It Snow (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Wild Child (Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Bolingbrook) (advance registration required)
- Messy Morning (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- LEGO Club (Barrington Area Library)
- Movie Night (Woodridge Public Library)
- Snow Much Fun (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Library After Dark: Mini-golf (Berwyn Public Library)
January 27
- Naperville Plays (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Family Yoga Storytime (Park Ridge Public Library)
- Toy Swap (Wheaton Public Library)
- Preschool Fair (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
- Baby and Toddler Winter Ball (Woodridge Public Library)
- Crafting a la Cache (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville) (register in advance)
- Super Saturday: The Magic and Mystery of the Talking Drum (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- All About Fire (Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest)
- Sparks Snow Day (Schiller Park Public Library)
- Nature Center Open House (Lake View Nature Center, Oakbrook Terrace)
- Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
- Jigsaw Puzzle Race (Clarendon Hills Public Library) (register in advance)
- Craft Supply Swap (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Animal Olympics (Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Bolingbrook) (register in advance)
- સ્ટોરી એક્સપ્લોરર્સ / Gujarati Bilingual Story Explorers (Schaumburg Township District Library)
- Retro Hour (Helen Plumb Library, Lombard)
January 28
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- Sunday Makebreak (Michaels Craft Stores)
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Hindi and English Storytime (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
January 29
- Puzzle Day (Santori Library, Aurora)
- Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Animal Investigators: Octopuses (Mount Prospect Public Library)
- Family Game Night (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Bilingual Storytime: Polish, Dwujęzyczna opowieść (Park Ridge Public Library)
January 30
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Plum Pokémon League (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
- Pokémon Trainers’ Club (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
- Noche de Lotería Familiar (Palatine Public Library) (register in advance)
- Family LEGO Club (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
- Preschool Open House (Schaumburg Township District Library)
January 31
- Shedd Aquarium Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago) (advance registration required)
- Plum Playdate: Baby and Toddler (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
- MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Chicago)
- Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
- Language Labs Presents Language Story Time – Mandarin (Clarendon Hills Public Library)
- Bilingual Storytime and Play – Cuento bilingue y juego (Aurora Public Library – West Branch)
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
- DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
- Ukulele Sing-Along Story Time (Barrington Area Library)
- Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
- Celebrating the Year of the Dragon (Franklin Park Public Library)
- Weekday Intermission (St. Charles Public Library)
- Polski Dwujęzyczy Storytime: Polish Bilingual Storytime (Schaumburg)
- Mr. Freeze Cryogenics Demonstration (Elmwood Park)
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, check out their storytimes and regular programming, or log into countless streaming services for home entertainment. Our handy list of Libraries in the Western Suburbs gives you a sneak peek into the different kids’ areas to check out, 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! Check out all the sledding hills in the western suburbs for a 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 7, 2024.
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!