It’s time to embrace all the fun that fall has to offer! Each week, our “list of things to do with kids this weekend” is filling with more fall festivals and oktoberfests where you’ll find pumpkin decorating, traditional German music, family activities, and plenty of seasonal fun. For even more fall activities, keep our Fall Guide handy for pumpkin patches, apple picking, and more ways to enjoy the season.
This weekend planner is sponsored by Downtown Downers Grove Fine Arts Fest, The Little Gym of Orland Park, and Elmhurst Childrens Business Fair.
49th Annual Fine Arts Festival in Downtown Downers Grove
Join us September 12-13, 2026, from 10am-5pm, for the 49th Annual Fine Arts Festival on Main Street in historic Downtown Downers Grove!
Stroll Main Street and explore juried artists showcasing work in a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, mixed media, wood, sculpture, and more.
Admission is free, and all are welcome!
While enjoying the festival, listen to live music throughout the weekend, shop our unique downtown retailers, dine at local restaurants, and let the kids get creative with a free children’s art activity. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
For the complete artist lineup, live music schedule, and festival details, visit www.downtowndg.org.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Downtown Downers Grove for a weekend celebrating art, creativity, community, and local charm!
Free Fall Preview Class at The Little Gym on Sept. 13
Join The Little Gym of Orland Park for their Fall En-ROLL-ment Open House on Sunday, September 13! Try a FREE preview class with age-specific sessions: Parent & Child (2-3pm), Pre-K (3-4pm), and Grade School (4-5pm), plus games, prizes, and treats for the whole family.
Elmhurst Children's Business Fair
2026 Elmhurst's Children's Business Fair is on Sunday, September 13th from 9 am-12 noon at Wilder Park, 175 S Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL.
The mission of the Elmhurst Children's Business Fair is to give kids ages 9-17 in our area the opportunity to bring their creative endeavors to life and to foster budding entrepreneurship. Whether it's baking their famous cookies, advertising their DJ services, selling handmade cards, jewelry, crocheted items or selling custom soaps and scrubs, this event will showcase these young entrepreneurs great ideas for you!
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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
Sign up for fun at Gemini Gymnastic Academy’s Preschool Pop Up, Rock the Block in Elmhurst, and Glen Ellyn’s Glow in the Park Lantern Walk at Lake Ellyn Park.
Saturday
The fun never ends on Saturday! We’re loving the variety with Pistons for the Parks in St. Charles, DuPage Comic Con at DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, and Pollinator Fest in Westmont.
Sunday
Round out the weekend with fun at Elmhurst Children’s Business Fair, Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago, Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival or St. Cletus Fall Fest
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
Join the 90s Party at Schaumburg Township District Library, raise a stein at Itasca Oktoberfest, or join Friday on the Green in Mount Prospect.
Saturday
Family-friendly fun is everywhere! Palatine’s Family Kite Fly, Bartlett’s Pet Event, and Elk Grove Village’s Pioneer Day are a small sampling exciting events on Saturday.
Sunday
Explore Roselle’s Public Safety Open House, Volo Museum’s Live Reptile Meet and Greet, and Palatine’s Festival of Cultures.
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…
- Ultimate Summer Guide for Local Family Fun in Chicagoland
- 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!
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.