It’s sure to be a chilly weekend, but that doesn’t slow down the fun in our weekend events list. Bundle up and visit Downtown Downers Grove’s Ice Festival running all weekend long, where you’ll see ice carving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Cast your reel at St. Charle’s Ice Fishing Derby or lace up your ice skate’s Ice-A-Palooza in Wheaton happening on Saturday. Prefer to stay inside? Make your own ice cream and play games at Cabin Fever Family Fun in Woodridge, or check out other great ideas on our Indoor Activities Guide.
Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival
February 3-5, 2023 | Carving demonstrations Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 3pm
Grab the family for a fun winter weekend! The Annual Ice Fest Downtown Downers Grove will be held February 3-5, 2023. Enjoy live ice carving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3 pm at the Main Street Train Station. While enjoying the more than 60 creative ice sculptures that will line the sidewalks downtown Downers Grove, make sure to stop in your favorite boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Family Events This Weekend
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. Want to find “weekend events near me”? We have you covered!
Friday
Visit DuPage Children’s Museum for Story Time with Naperville Public Library, register for a spot at Woodridge Public Library’s HEART BINGO, or stop by 2023’s first First Fridays in Downtown Aurora.
Spring Festival Lantern Riddles (Naperville Public Libraries)
February 3, 2023 | all day
Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
February 3, 2023 | 9:30am – 4:30pm
Farmhouse Tours: Keeping Your Family Healthy in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 3, 2023 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Adventures in Homeschooling (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
February 3, 2023 | 10:30am – 11:30am
Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival
February 3, 2023 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Elmhurst Art Museum Free Day
February 3, 2023 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Free Day at The Art Institute of Chicago
February 3, 2023 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Story Time with NPL (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
February 3, 2023 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Included in general admission.
Roving Naturalists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
February 3, 2023 | 11:00am – 1:30pm
Adventures in Homeschooling (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
February 3, 2023 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Farm Life in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 3, 2023 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Family Craft Hour (IPPL, Darien)
February 3, 2023 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Advance registration required.
HEART BINGO (Woodridge Public Library)
February 3, 2023 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Advance registration recommended.
First Fridays (Downtown Aurora)
February 3, 2023 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Big Game Pre-Game (Burr Ridge)
February 3, 2023 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Register in advance.
Family Game Night (North Riverside)
February 3, 2023 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Registration recommended.
Daughter Date Night (Lemont)
February 3, 2023 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Advance registration recommended.
Mini Art Show Reception (Elmhurst Art Museum)
February 3, 2023 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
DuPage Symphony Orchestra Mini Concert (95th Street Library, Naperville)
February 3, 2023 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday
Register for a spot to enjoy Ice Cream For Breakfast with the Pleasant Dale Park District, make Victorian Valentines at the DuPage County Historical Museum in Wheaton, or get creative at Brookfield Public Library’s Legotastic Saturday.
Spring Festival Lantern Riddles (Naperville Public Libraries)
February 4, 2023 | all day
Highlands Clothing Resale (Naperville)
February 4, 2023 | 8:30am – 2:00pm
Ice Fishing Derby (St. Charles)
February 4, 2023 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Advance registration recommended.
Home Depot Workshop (Check your local store)
February 4, 2023 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Chocolate Walk (Downtown Oswego)
February 4, 2023 | 10:00am – 3:00pm
Register in advance to guarantee admission.
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
February 4, 2023 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Ice Cream For Breakfast (Burr Ridge)
February 4, 2023 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Registration is required.
Farmhouse Tours: Keeping Your Family Healthy in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 4, 2023 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Legotastic Saturday (Brookfield Public Library)
February 4, 2023 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Black History Month Activities for Kids and Families (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
February 4, 2023 | 10:30am – 2:00pm
Winter Fest (Oak Park)
February 4, 2023 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Ice-A-Palooza (Wheaton)
February 4, 2023 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival
February 4, 2023 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Winterfest (Bolingbrook)
February 4, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Greg the Groundhog and Friends (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs)
February 4, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Register in advance.
Victorian Valentines (DuPage County Historical Museum, Wheaton)
February 4, 2023 | 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Farm Life in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 4, 2023 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Winter Fair (Lombard)
February 4, 2023 | 1:30pm – 4:00pm
Owls of Trailside (River Forest)
February 4, 2023 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Advance registration required.
Ninja Warrior Training (Naperville Public Library)
February 4, 2023 | 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Sunday
Little White School Museum is hosting Jr. Dragstrip Day in Oswego, or dance the afternoon away at Western Spring’s Little Sweetheart Dance. Enjoy a Free Family Concert with Jim Gill in Melrose Park on Sunday evening, too!
Spring Festival Lantern Riddles (Naperville Public Libraries)
February 5, 2023 | all day
Brookfield Zoo Free Admission Day
February 5, 2023 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Farmhouse Tours: Keeping Your Family Healthy in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 5, 2023 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival
February 5, 2023 | 11:00am – 3:00pm
Jr. Dragstrip Day (Little White School Museum, Oswego)
February 5, 2023 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Cabin Fever Family Fun (Woodridge)
February 5, 2023 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Farm Life in Winter (Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago)
February 5, 2023 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Little Sweetheart Dance (Western Springs)
February 5, 2023 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Register in advance for reduced ticket prices. Admission increases $2 at the door.
Community Music Programs (Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts, Oak Brook)
February 5, 2023 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Free Family Concert with Jim Gill (Melrose Park)
February 5, 2023 | 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Register in advance to guarantee admission.
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…
Ultimate Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in the Western Suburbs
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 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!
Last Chance for Little League and Softball this Spring!
Registration for Western Springs Little League and Softball ends next Wednesday, February 1, 2023. So if you haven’t signed up yet, here’s your chance! Click here to get more details and register. Both of Annie’s kids played WSLL for several years and had a great time! It’s a wonderful way to meet other kids, learn the sport, and get outside.
Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute
The Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute
3450 Lacey Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
The Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute provides expertise in addressing the unique needs of children with various communication impairments. Working together with graduate student clinicians, we evaluate and treat a wide range of speech, language, and swallowing disorders. We serve individuals who may have articulation issues, language delays/impairments, learning disabilities, social communication disorders, hearing loss, voice disorders, stuttering, and more. The Speech-Language Institute provides exceptional care at a price your family can afford.
