The holiday season is here and we couldn’t be more excited about all the festive family-fun in store. We are sending Happy Hannukah wishes to all of our readers celebrating this week. To help with your planning, Jill gathered a list of local Hanukkah events, which also includes spots to find Hanukkah food favorites.
Can you believe it’s December already? Many organizations are kicking off their Christmas celebrations this weekend. As you look through the list below, you’ll find quite a few ways to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sign up for a spot at Santa’s Naperville Workshop, the Winter Wonderland and Photos with Santa in Western Springs, or Visits with Santa in Downtown Geneva. Don’t see one that works with your schedule? We have even more places in our Where to See Santa guide. Reservations for brunches and photo opportunities fill up quickly, so start looking today.
Looking for experience gift ideas? Meet Kidsperience the app that is changing the way we give gifts for all occasions. Kidsperience makes it easy and fun for family members and/or friends to chip in for experience gifts. Check out our Amazing Experience Gifts for Kids to Give Memories, Not Clutter, where you’ll find more experience gift ideas too.
This weekend planner is sponsored by Princess Party By MC who is hosting a Holiday Party with TONS of fun for ages 3-10 years old.
Holiday Party (La Grange)
PRINCESS PARTY BY MC, a children’s party planning and character performance company in La Grange, is excited to invite you to their festive Holiday Party on December 16th for children ages 3-10 years old!
Visit Santa’s Workshop full of busy Elves and of course Santa! You will help Santa get ready for Christmas by decorating ornaments, making reindeer food, playing games/throwing snowballs with Elves and most importantly visiting with Santa! There will be a beautiful backdrop around the fireplace for your Christmas photo. In addition, you can enjoy hot cocoa, delicious treats, joyful caroling and a story by Santa! It’s not to be missed.
Winter Wonderland and Photos with Santa
Winter Wonderland and Photos with Santa
December 4, 2021 | 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Tower Green, along Hillgrove Avenue
The WSBA’s Winter Wonderland is back again this year on Saturday, December 4th from 12:00 – 5:00pm! Make your way to the Tower Green by 12:30pm to see Santa arrive on the firetruck! Santa photos are sold out, but there will still be plenty of fun! This event will also feature photos with Santa, holiday music, hayrides around the Tower Green, a petting zoo and the village tree lighting at 5:00pm.
You can also pre-purchase your luminaria kit to ‘Light up Western Springs’ on Tuesday, December 24th. Kits can be purchased online at a discounted price for pick-up at Winter Wonderland or any weekend Santa is at the Tower Green.
Fun Things To Do With Kids This Weekend and Beyond
Please check the details before you go to these events to ensure you know about registration requirements and additional safety measures 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.
Friday
The weather should cooperate for a beautiful Friday evening outside. Join Snow Much Fun in Westmont, the Christmas Walk in Oswego, or the Tree Lighting in La Grange Park to get in the holiday spirit.
Take and Make Fridays (Brookfield Public Library)
December 3, 2021 | 10:00am – 6:00pm
Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus (Playroom Cafe Two, Naperville)
December 3, 2021 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Free Day at The Art Institute of Chicago
December 3, 2021 | 11:00am – 6:00pm
Festival of Lights Opening Night and Kris Kringle Market (Bloomingdale)
December 3, 2021 | 3:30pm – 8:30pm
Snow Much Fun (Westmont)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Christmas Walk (Clarendon Hills)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Christmas Walk (Oswego)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
First Fridays (Aurora)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Santa’s Naperville Workshop (Naperville Riverwalk Cafe)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Reservations are required.
Cocoa Crawl (Downtown Aurora)
December 3, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Operation Santa and the Village Tree Lighting (Bartlett)
December 3, 2021 | 5:30pm
Santa’s Alley Workshop (La Grange)
December 3, 2021 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Holiday Tree Lighting (Carol Stream)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tree Lighting (La Grange Park)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Festival of Lights (Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Christmas Walk (Downtown Geneva)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Parents Night Out (Geneva)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Holly Days (Warrenville)
December 3, 2021 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Daddy Daughter Holiday Dance (Lombard)
December 3, 2021 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Admire Holiday Lights (Various Locations)
December 3, 2021 | all day
Stroll Through Holiday Walks (Various Locations)
December 3, 2021 | all day
Explore Immersive Experiences and Special Exhibits (Various Locations)
December 3, 2021 | all day
Enjoy a Live Theater Performance (Various Locations)
December 3, 2021 | all day
Saturday
Saturday morning is full of spots to enjoy a delicious meal with Santa! Afterwards, keep the fun going with a stop at Santas Craft Corner at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Holiday Pet Pictures in West Chicago, or the Once Upon a Christmas festivities at The Museums at Lisle Station Park.
Donuts with Santa (Glen Ellyn)
December 4, 2021 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Fall Family Yoga (Peggy Notebaert Museum, Chicago)
December 4, 2021 | 8:00am – 5:00pm
Breakfast with Santa (Warrenville)
December 4, 2021 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Reindeer Run (Wheaton)
December 4, 2021 | 8:30am – 10:00am
Donuts with Santa (Naperville)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 11:30am
Reservations are required.
Breakfast Lunch and Tea With Santa (Cheney Mansion, Oak Park)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
Reservations are required.
Santa Claus at Wilder Mansion (Wilder Mansion, Elmhurst)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 12:30pm
All participants must register.
Breakfast With Santa (Hinsdale)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Pictures with Santa Paws (Hinsdale Area Humane Society)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
LEGO Train Show (Cantigny Park, Wheaton)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 7:00pm
Breakfast with Santa (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am
Reservations required.
Santa Gretna Station Visits (Carol Stream)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 5:00pm
Annual Gingerbread House Building Event (Downers Grove)
December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
The Polar Express Storytime Train (Geneva)
December 4, 2021 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
Santas Craft Corner (Cosley Zoo, Wheaton)
December 4, 2021 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Nature+Art (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
December 4, 2021 | 10:00am – 11:30am
Must register in advance.
Cast-Iron Cooking (Glen Ellyn)
December 4, 2021 | 10:00am – 12:30pm
Santa’s Storytime (Oakbrook Terrace)
December 4, 2021 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Holiday Pet Pictures (West Chicago)
December 4, 2021 | 10:00am – 1:00pm
Holiday Train Ride (Villa Park)
December 4, 2021 | 10:15am – 1:15pm
Children’s Christmas Party (Countryside)
December 4, 2021 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Cocoa Crawl (Downtown Geneva)
December 4, 2021 | 11:00am – 4:00pm
Skating with Santa (Rocket Ice Arena, Bolingbrook)
December 4, 2021 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Santa’s Naperville Workshop (Naperville Riverwalk Cafe)
December 4, 2021 | 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Winter Wonderland and Photos with Santa (Western Springs)
December 4, 2021 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Popup Holiday Selfie Station (Two Bostons Pet Boutique, Naperville)
December 4, 2021 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Visits with Santa (Downtown Geneva)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Santa’s Workshop at Wilder Mansion (Elmhurst)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Reservations are required.
Celebrate the Season Holiday Festival (Cantigny Park, Wheaton)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 7:00pm
Santa at the Gazebo (Downtown Aurora)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Santa’s Alley Workshop (The Alley Shop, La Grange)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Roselle Winterfest (Roselle)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 5:00pm
City-Wide Santa Route (Wood Dale)
December 4, 2021 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Merry Cheese-mas with Santa (St. Charles)
December 4, 2021 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Winterfest and Cookie Walk (Oak Park)
December 4, 2021 | 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Once Upon a Christmas (The Museums at Lisle Station Park)
December 4, 2021 | 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Hometown Holiday (Lemont)
December 4, 2021 | 3:00pm – 7:30pm
Gingerbread and Candlelight: A Holiday Celebration for the Entire Family (Glen Ellyn)
December 4, 2021 | 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Tree Lighting at City Hall (Wood Dale)
December 4, 2021 | 5:00pm – 7:30pm
La Grange Holiday Walk (La Grange)
December 4, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Winter Walk Event Kickoff Tree Lighting Ceremony (Bolingbrook Town Center)
December 4, 2021 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Admire Holiday Lights (Various Locations)
December 4, 2021 | all day
Stroll Through Holiday Walks (Various Locations)
December 4, 2021 | all day
Explore Immersive Experiences and Special Exhibits (Various Locations)
December 4, 2021 | all day
Enjoy a Live Theater Performance (Various Locations)
December 4, 2021 | all day
Sunday
Keep the fun going through the weekend with Hinsdale’s Winter Wonderland, Santa Paws in La Grange, Jo’s Footwork Studio’s Dancing Holiday Magic performance, or the Toys for Tots Toy Drive with Characters in Glen Ellyn.
Frigid 5K (Lemont)
December 5, 2021 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Holiday Express Train – CANCELED (Hinsdale)
December 5, 2021, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Donuts with Santa (La Grange)
December 5, 2021 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Winter Wonderland – SOLD OUT (Hinsdale)
December 5, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Breakfast with Santa (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
December 5, 2021 | 9:00am
Reservations are required.
Christmas Village (One Line Church, Wheaton)
December 5, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Santa Trolley (Downtown Oak Park)
December 5, 2021 | 9:15am – 1:45pm
The Polar Express Storytime Train (Geneva)
December 5, 2021 | 9:30am – 4:00pm
Woodland Santa’s Holiday Workshop (St. Charles)
December 5, 2021 | 10:00am – 11:30am
Rummage Round-Up (Westchester)
December 5, 2021 | 10:00am – 1:00pm
Once Upon a Christmas (The Museums at Lisle Station Park)
December 5, 2021 | 11:00am – 4:00pm
Santa Brunch (Fogo de Chao, Naperville)
December 5, 2021 | 11:00am – 2:30pm
Dancing Holiday Magic (Jo’s Footwork Studio, Western Springs)
December 5, 2021 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Santa’s Naperville Workshop (Naperville Riverwalk Cafe)
December 5, 2021 | 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Santa Paws (La Grange)
December 5, 2021 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Holiday Cookie Walk (Downtown Naperville)
December 5, 2021 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Winter Wonderland and Photos with Santa (Western Springs)
December 5, 2021 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Popup Holiday Selfie Station (Two Bostons Pet Boutique, Naperville)
December 5, 2021 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Gingerbread Barn Raising (Geneva)
December 5, 2021 | 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Visits with Santa (Downtown Geneva)
December 5, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Open Mic Night (Bartlett Nature Center)
December 5, 2021 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Toys for Tots Toy Drive with Characters (Glen Ellyn)
December 5, 2021 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Santa Pictures (La Grange Park)
December 5, 2021 | 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Santa’s Alley Workshop (La Grange)
December 5, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
December Birthday Party (Indian Praire Public Library, Darien)
December 5, 2021 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Blankets for Babies (Inside Out Club, Naperville)
December 5, 2021 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Registration is required.
Drive Through Christmas Nativity (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia)
December 5, 2021 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Tree Lighting and Festival of Trees (Montgomery)
December 5, 2021 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Admire Holiday Lights (Various Locations)
December 5, 2021 | all day
Stroll Through Holiday Walks (Various Locations)
December 5, 2021 | all day
Explore Immersive Experiences and Special Exhibits (Various Locations)
December 5, 2021 | all day
Enjoy a Live Theater Performance (Various Locations)
December 5, 2021 | all day
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 might also be interested in…
The Giant Kidlist Holiday Bucket List
Where to Have the Best Kids Birthday Party + Entertainers, Rentals, Decor, Food, and More
Your Local Guide to Kids Eat Free
Find the Right Preschool and Daycare for Your Family
Ultimate Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in the Western Suburbs
We hope you found some family-friendly fun in our list of weekend events in the western 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!
