Gratitude, quality time with friends and family, and sharing love through food are top of the list for us. These family-friendly Thanksgiving traditions and events can make your time together special. This year, when I count my blessings, I include the Kidlist readers among them! We have a really special community, both online and in-person.
Keep reading for fun camps and events going on the week of Thanksgiving, as well as a few Kidlist team traditions and kid-friendly recipes!
2024 Thanksgiving Week Camps
Iron Fit Kids Thanksgiving Break Camp (Westmont and Lemont)
Events During Thanksgiving Week 2024
Events in the Western Suburbs
Nature Discovery Days (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
November 25, 2024 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
Dino Building Stations (St. Charles Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
DIY Slime (Wheaton Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Bookmarks and Booktalks Drop-In (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
November 25, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Dinovember Movie Mondays: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (West Branch, Aurora Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Noche de la Familia (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
November 25, 2024 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Family Karaoke (Wheaton Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
$1 Movie Mondays: It’s a Wonderful Life (Paramount Theater, Aurora)
November 25, 2024 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Nature Discovery Days (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
November 26, 2024 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day (Brookfield)
November 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
November 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thanksgiving Table Crafts (Geneva Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 10:30am – 11:30am
Thanksgiving Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
November 26, 2024 | 1:30pm – 2:15pm
Family Crafternoons (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
November 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Night Dives: Illinois Resident Free Evenings (Shedd Aquarium, Chicago)
November 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Pokémon Trainers’ Club (Eola Road Branch, Aurora Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Sensory Storytime (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
November 26, 2024 | 6:30pm – 7:00pm
Family Movie Night (Wheaton Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Nature Discovery Days (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
November 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 5:00pm
Drop-In Craft: Turkey Time (Batavia Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
The Magic of Gary Kantor (Wheaton Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Museum Free Day (Oak Brook)
November 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 4:00pm
Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
November 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 10:00pm
Giant Coloring (St. Charles Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Family Movie: Moana (Downers Grove Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Magic Of Gary Kantor (Santori Library, Aurora)
November 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 1:45pm
Open Crafternoon (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
November 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
LEGO Builders (Lisle Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Wild Wednesdays (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Turkey Trot 4-Mile Run (Lake Ellyn Park, Glen Ellyn)
November 28, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade (Downtown Chicago)
November 28, 2024 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot (Elmhurst)
November 28, 2024 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Domino Free Build (St. Charles Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
Skating in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
November 29, 2024 | 11:00am – 10:00pm
Book Bingo (Batavia Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Friends Used Book Sale (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Holiday Walk at the Library (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Ornaments for the Wilder Park Tree (Elmhurst Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Storytime with the Gingerbread Librarians (Downers Grove Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 3:45pm – 4:10pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony (Downtown Downers Grove)
November 29, 2024 | 4:30pm – 5:00pm
Wheaton Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting (Downtown Wheaton)
November 29, 2024 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Holiday Parade of Lights (Downtown Naperville)
November 29, 2024 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Events in the Northwest Suburbs
Boredom Busters (Palatine Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 9:00am – 9:00pm
Let’s Build (Wood Dale Public Library)
November 25, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Dan Gogh’s Magic and Art Show (Mount Prospect)
November 25, 2024 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm or 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Boredom Busters (Palatine Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 9:00am – 9:00pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Free Day (Chicago)
November 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Stay and Play: Thankful Feast (Mount Prospect Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:30am or 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Wildlife Connections (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
November 26, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
LEGO Club (Palatine Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
The Wicked Movie Premiere Party (Schaumburg Township District Library)
November 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Turkey Day Crafts (Wood Dale Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
The Floor is Lava (Franklin Park Public Library)
November 26, 2024 | 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Night Dives: Illinois Resident Free Evenings (Shedd Aquarium, Chicago)
November 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Family LEGO Club (Indian Trails Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
November 26, 2024 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Boredom Busters (Palatine Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 9:00pm
Field Museum Illinois Resident Free Day (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 5:00pm
Family Movie: Harold and the Purple Crayon (Barrington Area Library)
November 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Triceratops Handprint Card (Palatine Public Library)
November 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 7:00pm
DuSable Museum of African American History Free Days (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 4:00pm
Evening Movie Showing: The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Hoffman Estates Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
November 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Wild Wednesdays (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Adler Planetarium Illinois Resident Free Days (Chicago)
November 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Turkey Trot and Sammy Scurry (Harper College Campus, Palatine)
November 28, 2024 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade (Downtown Chicago)
November 28, 2024 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Boredom Busters (Palatine Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 9:00am – 6:00pm
Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Friday Family Features: Inside Out 2 (Park Ridge Public Library)
November 29, 2024 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Drop-in Cardmaking (Hoffman Estates Branch, Schaumburg Township Library)
November 29, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Puzzle Party (Barrington Area Library)
November 29, 2024 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Holiday Tree Lighting (Village Green, Elk Grove Village)
November 29, 2024 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Holiday Tree Lighting (North School Park, Arlington Heights)
November 29, 2024 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony (Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg)
November 29, 2024 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Simply click or tap on the image below and a printable version will load.
Ideas for Thanksgiving Traditions from the Kidlist Team
From Rachel’s family…
“We like to go run a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning! The day after Thanksgiving, we put up our Christmas decorations while drinking hot cocoa and listening to carols.”
From Kaitlyn’s family…
“One that’s most special to me is sharing a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows with my Mom while we watch the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. She usually makes chocolate croissants and never forgets to serve the hot chocolate in our holiday mugs. We have been doing this since I was little and even though I have my own house now, I still drive to hers on Thanksgiving morning – it’s actually my favorite part of the day because it’s usually the calm before the storm (and yes, we always put up our trees mid-November in this Family!)”
From Nicole’s family…
“Each year, we stamp the kids’ handprints on Thanksgiving table cloths and draw in legs, a beak, and gobbler to make them into turkeys with the year under it. We gave one to each grandparent the first thanksgiving and collect them back each year to add this year’s handprint turkey. As more of our siblings have kids, we pass around the table cloth each November for the kids to add their handprints to. On Thanksgiving, we place it on the dinner table and we see how much the kids have grown and our family has expanded.
Our second tradition is similar to every else’s. We add something we are thankful for to a scroll of butcher paper. I roll it up each day to hide how long it’s getting. During Thanksgiving breakfast, we unroll the butcher paper across the table and read our huge scroll as we eat breakfast!”
From Annie’s family…
“Each of us writes a list of the things they are and were thankful for over the last year. We have been making our lists and discussing them during our Thanksgiving feast every year! We actually have a binder of all the lists from past years to be able to look back at all our blessings. And now it’s even more exciting to write the thankful lists with my kids… sometimes they come up with the most hilarious things to be thankful for, small things that I would never even think of, immensely profound things, and sometimes they say things that I’m so glad I have written down and will warm my heart forever.”
From Katie’s family…
“After we eat, we all sit together and watch the same Thanksgiving episode of an old 90’s sitcom (anyone remember “Mad About You”?)”
From Taylor’s family…
“We follow our wonderful meal on Thanksgiving by adventuring to Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic lights with both sides of the family. It’s so special for our girls to have both sets of grandparents there!”
From Elyse’s family…
“In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, my kids add one feather each day to our “Thankful Turkey,” with something on it that they are grateful for. It’s a sweet way to focus on our blessings!”
From Bridget’s family…
“We simply go around the table and say what we’re thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner.”
More Family Thanksgiving Tradition Ideas
The following ideas were shared from past members of the Kidlist team. We love them (and their ideas)!
A few years ago, we started a “Today, I am thankful for….” chalkboard that sits right on my kitchen counter. For the month of November, we take turns writing what we are thankful for, whether it is something big or little. And usually something funny from my husband pops up there from time to time. You can buy a Turkey On The Table to achieve something like this, or purchase a whiteboard and some dry erase markers at your local office supply store. If you already have paper, you can achieve this for free! Just make a paper loop chain to “Countdown to Thanksgiving” and each day, when your child(ren) tears off a loop, have them write something for which they’re thankful on it and read those slips of paper out during your family meal. – Jill
Write things you are thankful for on paper leaves and attach them to a tree in the center of your table. – Claudia
Print out a favorite photo from that year for each person that will sit at your table and place each photo under their plate. Everyone goes around and shares the photo and it turns into a great way to remember special times together that year! – Meghan
Places to Order Thanksgiving Food
Take the stress out of your day and outsource some of your Thanksgiving food. These local restaurants and catering companies will help you with turkeys, sides, desserts or the whole meal. It’s important to look at the ordering deadlines, as most need a few days notice to prepare your order. Don’t see your favorite spot listed? Email Annie at annie@mykidlist.com so we can get it added.
- Whole Foods (various locations) – sides and main entrees.
- HoneyBaked Ham Co. (Bloomingdale, Morton Grove, Naperville, Norridge, Rolling Meadows, and Villa Park) – full family meals, sides, and desserts.
- Fresh Market (Crystal Lake, Geneva, Lake Forest, Wilmette) – holiday meal kits, main dishes, sides, desserts and more.
- Dinner Club (LaGrange) – entrees, sides, breakfast items, and desserts.
- Meal Village (Lisle) – family style meal and/or sides and desserts
- Righteous Kitchen (Lombard) – starters, sides, salads, desserts and breakfast.
- CityGate Grille (Naperville) – full family meal including turkey or prime rib.
- AnticoPosto (Oak Brook) – full family meal including turkey and sides
- Beatrix (Oak Brook) – full family meal or pies
- Seasons52 (Oak Brook and Schaumburg) – full family meal for 4-6 people including turkey and sides
- Bub City (Rosemont) – full family meals for 2, 4, or 8, as well as a la carte items.
- Uncle Bub’s Award Winning BBQ (Westmont) – sides, desserts and family packs available.
- Moveable Feast + Co. (Wheaton) – sides, entrees, appetizers, and desserts.
- Cantigny Park (Wheaton) – dinner package to heat and serve, or hot and ready.
Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Mama Johnson’s “Punkin” Bars
I associate these with fun memories made with the friends who have become my chosen family. They are my go-to contribution to any holiday potluck dinner, and they just hit different on Thanksgiving. Lots of opportunity here for kids to help stir, mix, grease pans, etc. – you can’t go wrong!
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 C (one standard can) pumpkin
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 oz plain cream cheese
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbs milk
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
Combine all the cake ingredients in a bowl, then pour into a floured and greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 deg for 30 minutes or until the top feels firm when pressed. Cool completely before frosting. To make frosting, whip ingredients together (a hand mixer is the best tool for this) and frost the cake. Cut and serve chilled or at room temperature. (Pro tip from my own mistake circa Thanksgiving 2005: use full-fat cream cheese or the frosting will be clumpy and unattractive) Enjoy!
Grandma’s Famous Toffee Bars
This recipe has been passed down through Kaitlyn’s mom’s family. These crowd-pleasing dessert is easy to make, and require only a few ingredients!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 drops maple extract (this is the “toffee” flavor)
- 2 cups flour
- 6 full-size Hershey bars
Mix all ingredients together (except the chocolate) and pat into a lightly greased 13×9 pan. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Place unwrapped Hershey bars on top and melt in the oven for two minutes. Spread chocolate with a knife, cool, cut into bars and enjoy!
Madison’s “Famous Apple Pie”
Nicole’s daughter Madison came up with her own recipe for apple pie a few years ago and wrote it down. It is now a cherished item that Nicole will keep forever. They have since “perfected” the recipe with exact measurements, giving everyone the opportunity to try it at home. It’s super easy and kid-approved!
- 1 store bought pie crust (to keep it simple!)
- 2/4 cup sugar
- 3 tbs. flour
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. all spice
- 6 cups of thinly sliced/peeled apples
Toss all ingredients together and add to your favorite pie crust p. Madison loves to lattice the top of the pie crust to make it look fancy. Cover edges with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.
Favorite Thanksgiving Books
Head over to your local library to find these books, check with your locally owned bookstore, or order on Amazon by clicking on the titles below.
Thanksgiving Picture Books
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
At Thanksgiving time, children express their gratitude for the people and things in their lives.
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ by Eileen Spinelli
When calamity stalks every step of the preparations for the Tappletons’ Thanksgiving dinner, they realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than turkey and trimmings.
Thanksgiving Day Thanks by Laura Malone Elliott
Sam has trouble deciding what he is grateful for during a Thanksgiving-themed classroom assignment.
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
Mr. and Mrs. Moose try to invite a turkey to their Thanksgiving feast.
Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules
When Tuyet finds out that her Vietnamese family is having duck rather than turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, she is upset until she finds out that other children in her class did not eat turkey either.
Beginning Readers and Early Chapter Books
Katie Saves Thanksgiving by Fran Manushkin
When a snowstorm causes the power to go out, Katie and her parents think their Thanksgiving dinner with JoJo and Pedro is ruined, but by being a good neighbor, Katie saves the day.
Trucksgiving by Jon Scieszka
The trucks of Trucktown create their own annual day of giving thanks.
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by Herman Parish
When Amelia Bedelia volunteers to fill in as director of a third-grade Thanksgiving play, she misunderstands everything from one girl’s desire to play a big role to an opening night wish that she “break a leg,” but all is well in the end.
Picture Books about Being Thankful
We Are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorell
Cherokee poet Traci Sorell celebrates traditions of gratitude in this beautifully illustrated book.
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Bear thanks his friends for bringing food dishes to his dinner party and finds a way of sharing something of his own.
Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes
Thankfulness shines through these poems with beautiful illustrations.
Splat Says Thank You by Rob Scotton
Splat the Cat figures out how to let Seymour know that he’s thankful for their friendship.
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
Easy-to-read text encourages the reader to find something every day for which to be thankful, from underwear that is just the right size to birthday cakes and the wishes they bring.
The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood
While learning the secret to a good life, a child says thank you for the natural world and for being loved, because a grateful heart is always happy.
Thank You, World by Alice McGinty
Eight children from eight different countries express their thanks for many special things including the sun that colors the sky, breezes that lift kites, clouds that paint cotton pictures and send rain, and sparkling stars that “shine like Mommy’s eyes.”
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which means the cost is the same to you but Kidlist receives a small fee from Amazon. Your support is appreciated!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
