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Everyone is welcome to add events to the Kidlist calendar, given that they are drop-in and/or free special events (no ongoing classes or camps that require registration) and are local to the west and/or southwest suburbs of Chicago. Click on the blue “Submit an Event” button and fill out the form.
Cantigny Park
The First Division Museum at Cantigny Park reopened to the public on Saturday, August 26, 2017 following an extensive 10-month renovation project. They opened with a traditional military ceremony honoring the 100-year history of the 1st Infantry Division and museum ribbon cutting at 11 am that day. Kidlist Contributor, Meghan was there to check it out firsthand with her kids.
Highlights of the thoroughly updated military museum include “Duty First,” an all-new gallery focusing on the more recent history of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division. The gallery’s new media and interactive exhibits provide a hands-on experience from a soldier’s perspective that are sure to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Admission to the museum is free with paid parking. Cantigny’s regular daily parking fee is $5 per car. On Saturdays and Sundays, May through September, parking is $10. The $10 rate also applies on Labor Day. Parking is free on the first Wednesday of every month.
More information, including a calendar of upcoming events, is available online at fdmuseum.org.
There are also many tanks outside that are pretty cool to see.
September 2019
Fall Jamboree Kid Rock Event
Parent/Child Program 1-5 years (with adult) Visitor’s Center Medill Room Grab your partner and come on down for Kid Rock’s Fall Jamboree! To celebrate this exciting season, this one-day musical event will be about apple picking, colorful leaves, hayrides, campfires and much more! We will use our imaginations, some upbeat songs, and a variety of musical instruments and movement props for some good old fashioned fun! Don’t “leaf” us hanging; sign up today and “fall” into Kid Rock! Kid Rock…
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »October 2019
Autumn Hayride
Visitors Center This falls under our usual day of the month slot (first Tuesday of the month, April through November) but we’ve allowed two hours instead of just one. While this event is not truly a tour–it is a lot of fun! You’re welcome to join us this Tuesday for a hayride around the property given by our forestry staff. Tours are given on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do have a group of 10 or more individuals who…
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Cantigny Fall Festival
Parade Field Autumn is here! It’s time to celebrate Mother Nature’s most beautiful season. Celebrate at Cantigny with harvest-time fun for all ages! Enjoy: Pumpkin Decorating Hayrides Petting Zoo Wax Hands Inflatables Face Painting Children’s Book Sale Craft Fair Food Trucks Live Entertainment Plant and Pumpkin Sales Stop by Bertie’s Bistro inside the Visitors Center for a taste of autumn, visit the Cantigny Shop to browse our new fall merchandise, and pick up a new book at the Usborne Book…
Find out more »Second Saturday Family Program
Visitor Center Medill Room Theme: Fall Fest Help celebrate autumn with our fall themed activities! On the Second Saturday of each month, March- December, the McCormick House presents a drop-in family program from 12:00-3:00pm. Locations and themes will vary throughout the season.
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »West Chicago Library Storytimes
Visitors Center The West Chicago Public Library and Cantigny Gardens have partnered up: stories + nature = fun for kids (of all ages). Join library staff this summer for a special storytime with hands-on activities as well as great stories. Recommended for children birth to age 6 (with a favorite adult). Attendees should meet library staff at the Visitors Center before the start of the program. Prior to the storytime please pick up a parking pass at the West Chicago Public…
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Family Night Pumpkins and Treats
Dust off those costumes early! Come to Cantigny for some Trick-or-Treating and pumpkin decorating. We will have a “Teal Pumpkin” stop for all of those not wanting candy as well.
Find out more »Booriffic Music and Dance Party Kid Rock Event
Parent/Child Program 1-5 years (with adult) Visitor’s Center Medill Room Calling all little pumpkins to our Boo-riffic music & dance party! Join us for songs and musical activities about the Halloween season. We’ll have fun with songs about decorating pumpkins, wearing costumes, trick-or-treating and more! A variety of musical instruments and movement props will be used. This is no “trick”; treat yourself to some fun at Kid Rock’s Monster Mash! Children are encouraged to wear costumes! No parking fee, registration required
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Boo Bash
Visitor’s Center Medill Room Parent/Child Program 3-5 years (with adult) A Halloween Celebration Happy Halloween! Come join us for a morning of festive fun! Little ones (and grown ups too) are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes to show off! We will read Halloween stories, make Halloween crafts and share a special Halloween treat. Boo! No parking fee, registration is required. Questions? Please call 630.260.8162
Find out more »November 2019
Autumn Hayride
Visitors Center This falls under our usual day of the month slot (first Tuesday of the month, April through November) but we’ve allowed two hours instead of just one. While this event is not truly a tour–it is a lot of fun! You’re welcome to join us this Tuesday for a hayride around the property given by our forestry staff. Tours are given on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do have a group of 10 or more individuals who…
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »December 2019
Cantigny Park Free Parking Day
2019 Cantigny Park Free Days Parking is free the first Wednesday of each month, March through December. Special Free Days May 19 – Armed Forces Day July 11 July 26 – McCormick Day November 11 – Veteran’s Day
Find out more »Celebrate the Season Holiday Festival
Families and children of all ages are invited to Cantigny Park for the “Celebrate the Season” holiday festival from 1 – 7 pm. The park will be decorated for the holidays, and an assortment of activities and offerings are planned to kick off the season in style. We will be showing “The Grinch (2018)” inside the Theater at the Visitor Center Throughout the day as well. Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides ($2) | Craft | Face Painting ($3) | Storytime with Mrs.…
Find out more »LEGO Train Show
The LEGO show has become a holiday tradition. This extraordinary event is produced by the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club and is the group’s largest annual show in terms of display space and attendance. Welcome to the 16th Annual LEGO Train Show! Please enjoy ALL the attractions this weekend, brought to you by the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club. **Visitors to the show are encouraged to bring a new and unwrapped toy for the Marine Toys for Tots drop boxes inside…
Find out more »All events will be reviewed before publishing to the calendar. Event approval usually occurs on Wednesdays; if you need your event to be reviewed before then, please email Annie at annie@mykidlist.com.
We do our best to provide comprehensive, accurate and useful information about events and activities. This information (such as times and locations) is gathered from press releases, websites, signs around town and word of mouth. However, details change and people make mistakes, so please confirm the details before you go. Kidlist is not responsible for any problems that occur while participating in activities listed on this site.