It’s time to unplug and get outside! Unplug Illinois Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of July, which means our list of things to do with kids this weekend is packed with outdoor fun. Community organizations and recreation departments have lined up live music, games, crafts, water play, delicious food, and countless other ways to spend time together outside. As you look through our roundup below, you’ll also find an annual favorite for all Chicagoans, as the Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park this weekend. Visitors will enjoy live music and tasty food throughout this five-day festival in the heart of downtown Chicago.
This weekend planner is sponsored by Kiddie Academy Darien, which is hosting Hero Play Day on Saturday!
Free! Hero Play Day
Calling all little heroes! ✨🦸♀️
Get ready for a SUPER day of adventure at Kiddie Academy® of Darien's Hero Play Day — a FREE community event packed with hands-on fun, exciting activities, and heroic surprises!
🚒 Touch-a-Truck Experience
Meet local heroes and explore real emergency and service vehicles from:
Darien Fire Department
Darien Police Department
Darien Public Works
City of Darien Refuse Service
Tri-State Fire District
🕷️ Train with Spider-Man
That's right — Spider-Man himself will be stopping by to help young heroes complete their superhero training!
🍩 Beaver's Donuts
Grab some delicious made-to-order donuts available for purchase.
🎉 Plus games, activities, photo opportunities, and more superhero-sized fun for the whole family!
Cape optional. Hero spirit required! 💥
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
Plug Into Nature at Lincoln Marsh in Wheaton, join the Community Block Parties in Bolingbrook, or celebrate Christmas in July with the Downers Grove Park District.
Saturday
The opportunities feel endless when looking at this Saturday filled with fun. DuPage Children’s Museum is adding even more excitement with their Winter In July Celebration and La Grange is hosting their annual Touch-A-Truck. Celebrate with the Pan-American Culture Festival at Fox Valley Mall in Aurora.
Sunday
Windy Acres in Geneva for Peach Festival, Wonder Bubbles at Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak Park, and Elmhurst History Museum’s Fearless & Fun Summer Jam are a small sampling of all the fun on Sunday.
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
Garfield Park Conservatory hosts their Morning Glories program on Friday (don’t miss the new EMG Children’s Garden while you’re there!). Children will love the Family Fun Fest in Elgin and Fun Day In The Park in Hoffman Estates, too.
Saturday
There’s so much outdoor fun in honor of Unplug Illinois Day! You’ll also enjoy Bloomingdale’s Popsicles in the Park, Wood Dale’s Motion Explosion or the Movie in the Park in Itasca.
Sunday
Enjoy the Live Reptile Meet and Greet Sunday at Volo Museum or join the fun at Elk Grove Village’s Play, Picnic and Party.
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.