Bundle up! Our roundup of things to do with kids this weekend is full of wintertime activities to help you make the most of the season. To go along with the winter fun below, our Winter Activities guide has ideas for sledding, skiing, tubing, and more outdoor ways to soak up our recent snowfalls.
Looking ahead: Valentine’s Day events are starting to pop up, making this one of the busiest times of year for Daddy/Daughter, Mother/Son, and family celebrations. Nearly all of these events require advance registration, so now’s the time to look into options for a night of dancing, sweet treats, photo booths, and fun memories.
This weekend planner is sponsored by St. Cletus School and The Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show.
St. Cletus School Open House
St. Cletus School Open House
January 25, 2026 | 11:30am – 2:30pm
700 W. 55th Street
La Grange, IL 60525
Website | Facebook | Instagram
At St. Cletus School, our preschool program is designed to support the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth of every child.
Through engaging, age-appropriate learning, students build strong foundations in literacy, math, and problem-solving while developing confidence and independence. Small class sizes allow for personalized attention, and enrichment programs like art, music, and physical education encourage creativity and self-expression.
Rooted in Catholic values, our classrooms emphasize kindness, respect, and community. A Dual Language Immersion preschool program is also available.
Join us at the open house to get an inside look.
Discount for The Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show
The Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show
January 28 – February 1, 2026
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N River Rd.
Rosemont, IL 60018
Chicago’s biggest boating event returns to Rosemont January 28–February 1, 2026—perfectly timed over NFL Bye Week to beat cabin fever.
The Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show®, in partnership with Progressive®, docks at the DES Convention Center for its second year, bringing more boats for sale, more family fun, and more ways to discover life on the water.
The 2026 Chicago Boat Show features hundreds of new boats—including more cruisers and yachts—plus the latest accessories and marine tech.
Family fun favorites return with the Discover Boating Beach Club: an immersive, interactive area with a Lake Tahoe‑inspired golf simulator, virtual reality boating adventure, surf simulator, and the Get Sparked Pop‑Up Shop, Paddlefest Pool, Bumper Boats, daily seminars, and the Huck Finn Trout Pond – where kids can fish for real trout!
And, Saturday only: football fandom meets boating with a one-day Boatgating takeover featuring legendary player appearances, a legends panel, and Boating & Football Feud.
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
We’re grateful for libraries this Friday. Glen Ellyn Public Library’s Tiny Tea Party, Lisle Public Library’s ARTstravaganza, and Game Day Fridays at Maywood Public Library will be full of family-friendly fun.
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 23, 2026 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
Included in general admission.
Tiny Tea Party (Glen Ellyn Public Library, Glen Ellyn)
January 23, 2026 | 9:30am – 11:00am
Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago History Museum, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 9:30am – 4:30pm
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
ARTstravaganza (Lisle Public Library, Lisle)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Morning Glories (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 12:30pm
Included in general admission.
Miss Molly and her Ukelele (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 23, 2026 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Included in general admission.
Free Admission for Illinois Residents (The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Game Day Fridays (Maywood Public Library, Maywood)
January 23, 2026 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Saturday
It’s a great day to visit DuPage Children’s Museum with their Community Cares event and Tiny Great Performances. Dolly Parton Imagination Library Party at Batavia Public Library, Bolingbrook’s Winterfest, and Garfield Park Conservatory’s Winter Wonderland are great options, too!
Community Cares (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
January 24, 2026 | 9:00am – 2:00pm
Included in general admission.
Drop In Craft: DIY Origami (Batavia Public Library, Batavia)
January 24, 2026 | 9:00am – 5:00pm
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 24, 2026 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
Included in general admission.
STEAM Saturdays (Maywood Public Library, Maywood)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:00am
4th Annual Art & Craft Supply Swap (Clarendon Hills Public Library, Clarendon Hills)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Party (Batavia Public Library, Batavia)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:30am
Kids Science Labs (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Included in general admission.
Crafting a la Cache: Handheld Habitats (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville)
January 24, 2026 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Advance registration required.
Spark’s Snow Day (Downers Grove Public Library, Downers Grove)
January 24, 2026 | 10:30am – 11:30am
All About Fire (Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest)
January 24, 2026 | 10:30am – 1:30pm
Winterfest (Annerino Community Center, Bolingbrook)
January 24, 2026 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Tiny Great Performances (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
January 24, 2026 | 11:00am – 12:30pm
Included in general admission.
Lego Club (Maywood Public Library, Maywood)
January 24, 2026 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Family Literacy Day (Bellwood Public Library, Bellwood)
January 24, 2026 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.
Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
January 24, 2026 | 11:30am – 12:00pm
Winter Wonderland (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 24, 2026 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Included in general admission.
Saturday Crafternoon: Mini Seasonal Canvases (Santori Library, Aurora)
January 24, 2026 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Bone Appétit (Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest)
January 24, 2026 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Sensory Supported Storytime (Wheaton Public Library, Wheaton)
January 24, 2026 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Register in advance.
Arctic Ninja Adventure (Gemini Gymnastics Academy, La Grange)
January 24, 2026 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Register in advance.
Sunday
Register for a spot at Wonder Works for Everyone and stay for the final days of their Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover. Our readers will love the $5.29 Family Day at Chicago Children’s Museum or the Griffin MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents.
Wonder Works for Everyone (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 25, 2026 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Included in general admission.
MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 9:30am – 5:30pm
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Included in general admission.
Free Yoga Day (Fox Valley Mall, Aurora)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:00am
$5.29 Family Day (Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Register in advance.
Sensory Friendly Open House (Warrenville Public Library, Warrenville)
January 25, 2026 | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Included in general admission.
Wild Cards (Oswego Public Library, Oswego)
January 25, 2026 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
Brick Book Day (Three Stories Books, Lemont)
January 25, 2026 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Trading Card Club (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
January 25, 2026 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
LEGO Club (Batavia Public Library, Batavia)
January 25, 2026 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Sunday Kids Club (check your local Michaels store)
January 25, 2026 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
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
Register for a spot at Vernon Area Public Library’s Bilingual Mandarin Storytime or Elmwood Park Public Library’s Indoor Snowball Fight.
Developmental Speech Language Playgroup with Assential Therapies (Park Ridge Public Library, Park Ridge)
January 23, 2026 | 9:30am – 10:15am
Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago History Museum, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 9:30am – 4:30pm
Bilingual Mandarin Storytime (Vernon Area Public Library, Lincolnshire)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 10:30am
Register in advance.
Morning Glories (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 12:30pm
Included in general admission.
January Special for Guests 55 & Older (Volo Museum, Volo)
January 23, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Free Admission for Illinois Residents (The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago)
January 23, 2026 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Cuentos en Español (Elmwood Park Public Library, Elmwood Park)
January 23, 2026 | 11:30am – 12:00pm
Indoor Snowball Fight (Elmwood Park Public Library, Elmwood Park)
January 23, 2026 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Registration required.
Movie Night (Barry Recreational Center, Rosemont)
January 23, 2026 | 6:00pm – 8:45pm
Saturday
Visit Park Ridge Public Library’s Preschool and Enrichment Fair, join the fun at Mount Prospect Public Library’s We See Color Party or the Lunar New Year Celebration in Buffalo Grove.
Adaptive Storytime (Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Preschool and Enrichment Fair (Park Ridge Public Library, Park Ridge)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Family Explorers: Squirrels (Barrington Area Library, Barrington)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 10:45am
We See Color Party (Mount Prospect Public Library, Mount Prospect)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 11:30am
January Special for Guests 55 & Older (Volo Museum, Volo)
January 24, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Winter Wonderland (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 24, 2026 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Included in general admission.
Meet Our Ambassador Animals (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
January 24, 2026 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
What’s On The Menu? (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
January 24, 2026 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Lunar New Year Celebration (Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, Buffalo Grove)
January 24, 2026 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Sunday
Celebrate Winterfest in Wheeling or take advantage of the January Special for Guests 55 & Older at Volo Museum in Volo.
MSI Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 9:30am – 5:30pm
$5.29 Family Day (Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Register in advance.
January Special for Guests 55 & Older (Volo Museum, Volo)
January 25, 2026 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
January 25, 2026 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Included in general admission.
Winterfest (Chevy Chase Country Club, Wheeling)
January 25, 2026 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Everyone at Play (Kohl Children’s Museum, Glenview)
January 25, 2026 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Register in advance.
Sunday Kids Club (check your local Michaels store)
January 25, 2026 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
What’s On The Menu? (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
January 25, 2026 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Looking for indoor fun?
Now that the snow has melted away, you may be heading indoors for fun. Here are a handful of our favorite lists:
- Indoor Play Places and Playgrounds Guide
- 30 Arcades and Entertainment Centers with Laser Tag, Go-Karts, and More
- 45 Nature Centers in Chicagoland
- 31 Alleys to Take Kids Bowling And Strike Out Boredom
- 24 of the Coolest Indoor and Outdoor Mini Golf Courses in Chicagoland
- 12 Play Cafe Destinations in Chicago’s Suburbs to Sip and Play
- Chicagoland Ice Skating Arenas
- Jump Places: Trampoline Parks and Inflatables
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…
- Your Guide to Amazing Winter Activities for Kids in the West and Northwest Suburbs
- 2025-26 Guide to Kids Classes and Teams
- 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!
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