Whether you’re saying goodbye to summer or celebrating the start of the new school year, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your family time this weekend. Our list of things to do with kids this weekend has something for all interests, from lively summer festivals to relaxing outdoor storytimes and everything in between. If you’re looking for an epic summer sendoff or a more relaxed way to ease into the new school year, we’ve got you covered with our weekend roundup below.
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
Friday night’s Food Truck Rally in River Forest is an annual favorite! Enjoy one of the last $5 Summer Fridays at Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak Park, or a visit to one of the many outdoor summer concerts happening, too.
Saturday
There are festivals everywhere on Saturday! North Riverside’s Art in the Park, West Chicago Food Festival, and the Back to School Fun Fair at Geneva Commons are a small sampling of the family-friendly fun.
Sunday
Visit DuPage Children’s Museum for the final Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Day, celebrate at McAninch Arts Center’s 40th Anniversary Festival in Glen Ellyn, or register for a spot at Wings and Wheels in Dekalb.
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
Visit Dan Ryan Woods for Nature Skate Day, join the fun at Mount Prospect Public Library’s Minute to Win It, or make a splash at Free Open Swim Friday, hosted by Streamwood Park District.
Saturday
Stroll through a Saturday morning farmers market, join Park Ridge Public Library’s Summer Sendoff or soak in a Summer Breeze Concert in Schaumburg.
Sunday
Celebrate the end of summer with Mount Prospect’s Last Splash Bash or the start of a new school year with Hanover Park’s Back To School Park Pop-Up.
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.