2026 Fall Festivals and Oktoberfests in the Chicago Suburbs
Fall is coming, and it’s time to celebrate pumpkin season. For as much as I love summer in Chicago, there’s something so perfect about our fall weather. Our roundup of…
westmont
2025 Trick-or-Treating Hours in the West and Northwest Suburbs
Below you’ll find all the times from 2025. Check back as Halloween gets closer for our 2026 list! As Halloween approaches, your little pumpkins, fairies, and goblins, are likely anxiously…
Pumpkin Smash Events from Easy Drop-Offs to Catapults, Ladder Drops, and Jack-o-Lantern Races
In the weeks following Halloween, SCARCE coordinates pumpkin and jack-o-lantern collections all around the western suburbs. The locations below will accept your no-longer-needed pumpkins for composting. This keeps your pumpkin…
2026-27 Guide to Kids Classes and Teams
If you’re looking for classes and teams for your children to join this school year, you’re in the right place! The local businesses in our community have wonderful options for…
2026 Polar Express Train Rides, Holiday Trolleys, and Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
All aboard! If you believe in the magic of Christmas, throw on your best holiday pajamas and round up your family and friends to embark on a magical polar-express unlike…
31 Things To Do in August: Make The Most of the Last Month of Summer!
Finding things to do in August is tricky—my mom brain is jumping into back-to-school mode, but my kids are still in a full-on summer mindset. Fortunately, August is full of…
We Dig These Parks With Sand in Chicagoland
Oh, sand. Sometimes we love you, sometimes we loathe you — but the kids always have a great time with this sensory-friendly activity that encourages them to get down to…
4th of July Fireworks, Parades, and Events for 2026 in Chicagoland
It’s time to celebrate like it’s 1776! 4th of July fireworks are everywhere throughout the west and northwest suburbs, so get ready to ooh and aah at the skies this…
All the Outdoor Free Concerts for Families This Summer 2026
Grab your lawn chairs, coolers, and your dancing shoes — we’ve gathered the list of free concerts outdoors this summer in the western suburbs to help keep you and your…
Free Splash Pads and Spray Parks with a Fee: See Photos, Hours, and a Map
As soon as that summer heat strikes in Chicagoland, we are on the hunt for some awesome summer activities. There is nothing more refreshing, than that cool splash of water…
Ultimate Summer Guide for Local Family Fun in Chicagoland
Summer in the Chicago suburbs is packed with things to do. The hard part isn’t finding options, it’s narrowing them down! This guide pulls together everything we cover for summer,…
2026 Summer Festivals Filled with Great Music, Fair Food, and Family
Summer festivals check off all types of summertime fun with one outing: delicious food, live music, carnival rides, face painting, inflatables, games, and so much more. These festivals throughout the…
Our Amazing Sponsors
Popular Guides
The Best Kids Birthday Party Places, Kids Party Entertainment, Party Rentals, and more
Looking for the best kids birthday party places? Want to hire entertainment? Decoration experts? Yard Signs? Bounce houses? Food? We want to make planning an amazing party easy and fun!…
All the 2026 Free Museum Days Chicago and the Suburbs Have to Offer
Free museum days in Chicago?! Yes, please! Our visits to museums and zoos are core memory-makers for our children, especially when they involve a trip to the city. After marveling…
2026-27 Guide to Kids Classes and Teams
If you’re looking for classes and teams for your children to join this school year, you’re in the right place! The local businesses in our community have wonderful options for…