Halloween may be over, but the family fun keeps going! Our list of things to do with kids this weekend is packed with a variety of activities. Give your jack-o-lanterns a second life by bringing them to a local pumpkin smash event for composting. We’re also wishing a very happy Diwali to all of our readers celebrating this weekend. If you’re already eager to jump into holiday fun, don’t forget our Holiday Guide is already out!
This weekend planner is sponsored by Chicago Toy and Game Fair and Chicago Dogs Baseball.
Discount for Chicago Toy & Game Fair
Celebrate two days of play, discovery, and holiday fun at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair™ (CHITAG) this weekend (November 7 – 8), at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont!
As North America’s largest toy and game fair open to the public, CHITAG brings families together to discover, test, and shop for the hottest toys and games of the holiday season.
Make the most of Wishlist Weekend™ with hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, giveaways, and opportunities to meet beloved characters and toy inventors. Plus, celebrate 50 years of Star Wars with special experiences, character appearances, photo ops, and lightsaber fun!
Cheer on young creators in the Young Inventor Challenge® and get a first look at the 2027 Toy of the Year® Awards finalists!
KIDLIST EXCLUSIVE: Save $3 per ticket using promo code KIDLIST3!
Celebrate National Pickle Day with the Dill Dash
The Chicago Dogs invite runners and walkers of all ages to the Dill Dash .11K Run/Walk at Impact Field on Saturday, November 14, in celebration of National Pickle Day. That’s one trip around the bases.
Participants can make their dash any time from 3 to 6 p.m. Sprint for a personal best or stroll with the whole family. It’s the perfect way to start a new tradition honoring the biggest dill of the year.
Registration is $32.99 at www.thechicagodogs.com/dilldash and closes November 6. Buying the special edition Dill Dash t-shirt is your registration. On race day, every participant receives the t-shirt, a hot dog, pickle, soda and race sticker.
With a course short enough for toddlers and grandparents alike, there’s no better way to celebrate National Pickle Day in Chicago than with the Chicago Dogs at Impact Field.
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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
Libraries are filled with fun on Friday, like the The Cat in the Hat Party at Geneva Public Library. It will be a beautiful night for Stars, Stories & S’mores at LaBagh Woods in Chicago.
Saturday
Cast your reel at the Fishing Derby in Palos Park, celebrate National STEM Day with DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville, or explore the Local Authors’ Mini-Fair at Berwyn Public Library.
Sunday
Support local vendors at North Riverside’s Holiday Bazaar or learn all about Living History Encounter: 18th-century Weaponry & Tools at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.
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
Celebrations are everywhere on Friday. Join Hanover Park’s annual Dia De Los Muertos Dance, Barrington Area Library’s 100 Years of the Hundred Acre Wood festivities for Winnie the Pooh, or Buffalo Grove’s Experience Diwali: A Festival of Lights will all be filled with family-friendly fun.
Saturday
Visit the Child Safety Seat Inspection Event in Arlington Heights, find unique holiday gifts at Jingle and Mingle Holiday Market in Prospect Heights, or celebrate at the Diwali Fireworks Show in Bartlett.
Sunday
Enjoy Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents The Greatest Show on Earth or Volo Museum’s Live Reptile Meet and Greet.
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…
- All the Best Family-Friendly Fall Activities in Chicagoland
- The Ultimate 2026 Halloween Chicago Suburbs Family Guide
- 2026-27 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!
3 Comments. Leave new
This is a wonderful site. Thank you.
Love this Katie! Good job! Always looking for different healthy activities for the kiddos!
Awesome job, we struggle each week to find things to do with our grandchildren. Thank you so much.