For the past few weeks, our list of things to do with kids this weekend has been filled with holiday fun. There have been countless opportunities to join the excitement by eating with Santa, Polar Express Train Rides and so much more. As you’re crossing the final items off your holiday list, we hope you’re able to sneak in a final visit with Santa at one of the many places listed below, along with a trip through one of our driving routes for the best Christmas lights.
On Saturday, select nature centers throughout the Chicago area will be hosting bonfires and hikes in honor of the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. Starting Sunday, we’ll begin to see more and more sunlight each day!
Things to Do with Kids This Weekend: Western Suburbs
Please check the details before you go to these events to ensure you know about registration requirements and additional info to maximize your family’s fun. While we do our best to keep the most up-to-date information in our calendar, last minute location or time changes do happen. Want to find “weekend events near me”? We have you covered!
Friday
Visit the Santa Sendoff at Clow International Airport in Bolingbrook, Isle a la Cache Museum’s Solstice Celebration in Romeoville, or Holiday Lights and Visits with Santa in Lilacia Park in Lombard for family-friendly fun on Friday night.
Pop-in Play (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
December 20, 2024 | 9:30am – 11:30am
Indoor Recess (Downers Grove Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 9:30am – 11:00am
NCG Free Holiday Family Film Fest: The Polar Express (Yorkville)
December 20, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Miss Molly and her Ukelele (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
December 20, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Included in general admission.
Find the Elves (Maywood Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration is required.
Holly Jolly Days (Naper Settlement, Naperville)
December 20, 2024 | 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Purchase tickets in advance.
Live Nativity and Christmas Story (Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, Elmhurst)
December 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Santa Sendoff (Clow International Airport, Bolingbrook)
December 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm
LEGO Dreidels (Downers Grove Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 4:45pm
Favorite Character’s Club: Harry Potter (St. Charles Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Solstice Celebration (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Register in advance.
Holiday Lights and Visits with Santa (Lilacia Park, Lombard)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Alongs (Chicago)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Mad Science: Wacky Winter Show (95th Street Library, Naperville)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday
There are so many places to fit in a last visit with Santa Clause on Saturday, including Downtown Oak Park’s Home for the Holidays. Need a break from Christmas activities? Watch the Saturday Morning Cartoon Party: Inside Out 2, hosted by the Lisle Public Library.
Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 9:00am – 2:00pm
Noon Lions Club Free Vision Screening (Santori Library, Aurora)
December 21, 2024 | 9:30am – 11:30am
Block Party (St. Charles Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
NCG Free Holiday Family Film Fest: The Polar Express (Yorkville)
December 21, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday Morning Cartoon Party: Inside Out 2 (Lisle Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Home for the Holidays (Downtown Oak Park)
December 21, 2024 | 10:00am – 3:00pm
Free Family Holiday Movies: The Christmas Chronicles (Glen Art Theatre, Glen Ellyn)
December 21, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Santa and Mrs. Claus at the W Tent (Downtown Wheaton)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Santa Visits (Burlington Park, Hinsdale)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Santa is Coming to Downtown Glen Ellyn
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Family Free Play (Lemont Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Santa’s House (Downtown St. Charles)
December 21, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Complimentary Visits with Santa (Downtown Downers Grove)
December 21, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Train Saturdays (DuPage County Historical Museum, Wheaton)
December 21, 2024 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Family Movie Afternoon: The Polar Express (Wheaton Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Christmas in the Commons (New Lenox)
December 21, 2024 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Winter Solstice Celebration (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs)
December 21, 2024 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Registration is required.
Holiday Lights and Visits with Santa (Lilacia Park, Lombard)
December 21, 2024 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Winter Fireworks Show (Navy Pier, Chicago)
December 21, 2024 | 9:00pm – 9:30pm
Sunday
Come Meet Santa at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Wheaton or stretch your legs at one of the many walk-through light displays.
NCG Free Holiday Family Film Fest: The Polar Express (Yorkville)
December 22, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Santa is Coming to Downtown Glen Ellyn (Downtown Glen Ellyn)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Sundays with Santa (Downtown Batavia)
December 22, 2024 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Santa Sundays (Downtown Naperville)
December 22, 2024 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Dads of Steele Christmas Karaoke (Muggs-N-Manor, Addison)
December 22, 2024 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Santa’s House (Downtown St. Charles)
December 22, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Complimentary Visits with Santa (Downtown Downers Grove)
December 22, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday Crafternoons (Brookfield Public Library)
December 22, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Come Meet Santa (Trinity Episcopal Church, Wheaton)
December 22, 2024 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Christmas in the Commons (New Lenox)
December 22, 2024 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Things to Do with Kids This Weekend: Northwest Suburbs
We strive to answer the question “Where can I find weekend events near me?” Our team takes care to stock the calendar full of kid-friendly fun, but please keep in mind that last minute changes to events do happen. We recommend clicking through to the event details to double check if there has been a change in registration requirements and to get additional information before you go. Have fun!
Friday
Join the Grinchmas celebration in Hanover Park or the Sprinkles and Sparkles: Holiday Cookie Decorating Party at Elmwood Park Public Library. Explore the Park Ridge Public Library’s STEAMagination for non-holiday fun.
Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Registration is required.
Visits with Santa (Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont)
December 20, 2024 | 11:00am – 7:00pm
LEGO Club (Barrington Area Library)
December 20, 2024 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
STEAMagination (Park Ridge Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
December 20, 2024 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Quentin Road Christmas (Lake Zurich)
December 20, 2024 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Alongs (Chicago)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Sprinkles and Sparkles: Holiday Cookie Decorating Party (Elmwood Park Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Grinchmas (Hanover Park)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Winter Solstice Night of Lights (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
December 20, 2024 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Register in advance.
Movies in the Corner: Ice Age (Des Plaines Public Library)
December 20, 2024 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday
Dance at Indian Trails Public Library’s Super Saturday: Panadanza – ¡Baila Salsa!, cozy up at a Movie Afternoon at Schiller Park Public Library, or head to Glenview to Meet Santa at ABT Electronics.
Visits with Santa (Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont)
December 21, 2024 | 10:00am – 8:00pm
Meet Santa at ABT Electronics (Glenview)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 10:00pm
Super Saturday: Panadanza – ¡Baila Salsa! (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
December 21, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:45am
Movie Afternoon (Schiller Park Public Library)
December 21, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Winter Solstice (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
December 21, 2024 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
What’s On The Menu? (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
December 21, 2024 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Quentin Road Christmas (Lake Zurich)
December 21, 2024 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Winter Fireworks Show (Navy Pier, Chicago)
December 21, 2024 | 9:00pm – 9:30pm
Sunday
Join festive fun to Skate with Santa at Triphahn Community Center in Hoffman Estates or at the Menorah Workshop at Deerfield Home Depot.
Skate with Santa (Triphahn Community Center, Hoffman Estates)
December 22, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Meet Santa at ABT Electronics (Glenview)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 9:00pm
Visits with Santa (Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont)
December 22, 2024 | 11:00am – 7:00pm
Animal Encounter (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
December 22, 2024 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Menorah Workshop at Deerfield Home Depot (Deerfield)
December 22, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:45pm
Registration is required.
Quentin Road Christmas (Lake Zurich)
December 22, 2024 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Want to look ahead to next week?
Check out all the family-friendly events happening in your neighborhood and beyond on our events calendar. You can filter the calendar by day by clicking the date on top, so if you are looking for things to do on a specific day, it’s easy to find!
You might also be interested in…
- Kidlist’s 2024 Holiday Family Fun Guide
- Where to Have the Best Kids Birthday Party + Entertainers, Rentals, Decor, Food and More
- Find the Right Preschool and Daycare for Your Family
- Your Local Guide to Kids Eat Free
We hope you found some family-friendly fun in our list of things to do with kids this weekend in the west and northwest suburbs of Chicago! This list is updated every week and sent out in the Kidlist emails. (Click here to sign up if you haven’t already.)
We love local businesses, libraries, park districts, villages, and organizations — they plan great events for all of us to enjoy. If you are hosting an event or know of an event that should be on our list, click here to submit it to the Kidlist calendar!
We strive to be the most comprehensive source for family fun, which is why you’ll always see so many weekend events listed. It would definitely be easier to just list the details for a few events and call them “the best weekend events for families”, but we recognize that everyone has different interests. Not to mention, sometimes I’m in the mood to go to a huge festival, and sometimes I’d rather go to a low-key storytime at the library. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way. That’s why we work hard and spend a lot of time to find everything going on in our area so you don’t have to!
We hope you find it helpful and we are open to suggestions. The Kidlist Team always talks about how we can improve and evolve to meet your needs, so let us know!
