55 Things to Do with Kids This Weekend: March 14-16

The weather we’ve had in the Chicagoland this week certainly has us feeling lucky, and we’re happy to see it continue in the forecast ahead. Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend with fun-filled events the whole family can enjoy. Parades, crafts, live music, Irish dancing, and of course, the annual dyeing the Chicago River green! Our list below, as well as our St. Patrick’s Day Guide, have all the details about festive fun this weekend.

This weekend planner is sponsored by the Timothy Christian School Resale.

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

Everyone loves to see the Trinity Irish Dance Academy Performances, and there’s one at Brookfield Public Library on Friday. We know Friday Fun at the St. Charles Public Library, or the DuPage Children’s Museum’s Family Fun Friday Nights: Pajama Party will be filled with excitement, too.

Rhea Lana’s of West Chicagoland (Lombard)
March 14, 2025 | 10:00am – 8:00pm

Bilingual Spanish Storytime (Brookfield Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 10:30am – 11:00am

Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
March 14, 2025 | 11:00am – 5:00pm

Miss Molly and her Ukelele (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
March 14, 2025 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Included in general admission.

Trinity Irish Dance Academy Performance (Brookfield Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 11:15am – 12:00pm

Homeschool Hangout (Lemont Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Friday Fun (St. Charles Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 4:00pm – 6:00pm

National Pi Day (Bellwood Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Family Fun Friday Nights: Pajama Party (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
March 14, 2025 | 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Included in general admission.

Saturday

Bundle up for Tales from the Great Outdoors at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, score great deals at the Timothy Christian School Resale in Elmhurst, or stop by Wonder Works Children’s Museum’s Author Visit: Ashley Lottie in Oak Park.

DuPage Doubles Childrens Resale (Wheaton)
March 15, 2025 | virtual sale

St. Paddy’s Day 5k (Downtown Naperville)
March 15, 2025 | 8:00am – 10:00am

Saturday Stay and Play (Geneva Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 9:00am – 2:00pm

Tales from the Great Outdoors (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
March 15, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Included in general admission.

SouthTown Shamrock Shenanigans (Carnival Grocery Store, Oak Park)
March 15, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Noon Lions Club Free Vision Screening (Santori Library, Aurora)
March 15, 2025 | 9:30am – 11:30am

Timothy Christian School Resale (Elmhurst)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 3:00pm

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Downtown Naperville)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Pot of Gold Park Stroll (St. Charles)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Advance registration is required.

Adult Egg Hunt (Elmhurst)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Registration is required.

Lowe’s Kids’ Workshops (Check your local store)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Trinity Irish Dancers (Woodridge Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 11:00am

Saturday Morning Cartoon Party (Lisle Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.

Preschool Fair (La Grange Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Storytelling Through Dance: Puss ‘n’Boots (Westmont Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 10:45am
Registration is required.

Andersonville Kids’ Activities Fair (Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Polish Storytime with the Language Labs (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
March 15, 2025 | 10:30am – 11:00am

Shamrock’n The Block (Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Hosted by Old St. Patrick’s Church.

Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

Pre-Eid Card Party (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Sensory Storytime (Bellwood Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Family Free Play (Lemont Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 11:30am

Author Visit: Ashley Lottie (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Included in general admission.

String Theory Fiddle Ensemble (Batavia Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.

Winter Wonderland (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm

St Patricks Day Parade and River Dyeing (Downtown Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm

St. Patrick’s Day Party (Aurora Public Library – West Branch)
March 15, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Train Saturdays (DuPage County Historical Museum, Wheaton)
March 15, 2025 | 1:30pm – 4:30pm

St. Patrick’s Parade (Downtown St. Charles)
March 15, 2025 | 2:00pm – 4:30pm

American Girl Doll Adventures (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration is required.

Visit with Peck Farm Park: Turtles -vs- Tortoises (Geneva Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Sunday

Join the Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt at The FORGE: Lemont Quarries, the Hometown Irish Parade in Downtown Plainfield, or the Drop-In Craft: Rainbow at the Batavia Public Library.

DuPage Doubles Childrens Resale (Wheaton)
March 16, 2025 | virtual sale

Wonder Works for Everyone (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
March 16, 2025 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Registration is required.

Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt (The FORGE: Lemont Quarries)
March 16, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.

Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

St. Patrick’s Day Procession and Annual Irish Flag Raising Ceremony (Downtown Aurora)
March 16, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Northwest Side Irish Parade (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Family Sensory Hour (Elmhurst Public Library)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Registration is required.

Drop-In Craft: Rainbow (Batavia Public Library)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Fine Motor Fun (St. Charles Public Library)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Shamrock and Roll (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm

South Side Irish Parade (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Hometown Irish Parade (Downtown Plainfield)
March 16, 2025 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Tech Time (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
March 16, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Concert: Classically Celtic (Wheaton Public Library)
March 16, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

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

It’s one of the final days of Free Admission for Illinois Residents at the Art Institute of Chicago, or learn about ways to celebrate Pi Day from PBS Kids.

Harmonious Horizons Music Class (Park Ridge Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 10:00am – 11:15am
Pick up tickets 30 minutes before sessions.

Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Registration is required.

Free Admission for Illinois Residents (Art Institute of Chicago)
March 14, 2025 | 11:00am – 5:00pm

Paranormal Investigators (Elmwood Park Public Library)
March 14, 2025 | 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Registration is required.

Saturday

Visit Buffalo Grove’s Public Works Open House, celebrate at Palatine’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, or check out the Des Plaines Youth Commission Community Fun Fair for family-friendly fun.

Sugar Bush Fair (Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg)
March 15, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Public Works Open House (Buffalo Grove)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Pot of Gold Climb (Hoffman Estates)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Lowe’s Kids’ Workshops (Check your local store)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Mini Golf Fundraiser (Mount Prospect Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 3:00pm

The Velveteen Rabbit Presented by BrightStar Theatre (Park Ridge Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 10:45am
Pick up tickets in advance.

Andersonville Kids’ Activities Fair (Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Sap’s Rising (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
March 15, 2025 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Registration is required.

Shamrock’n The Block (Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
Hosted by Old St. Patrick’s Church.

Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Downtown Palatine)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Thom McNamee Memorial Dundee St. Patrick’s Day Parade (East Dundee)
March 15, 2025 | 11:00am – 2:00pm

Winter Wonderland (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm

St Patricks Day Parade and River Dyeing (Downtown Chicago)
March 15, 2025 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Korean Cultural Celebration (Schaumburg Township District Library)
March 15, 2025 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm

St. Joseph’s Day Table (Elmwood Park Public Library)
March 15, 2025 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration is required.

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts (Elk Grove Historical Museum)
March 15, 2025 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Register in advance.

Super Saturday: T-Rexplorers – Dinosaur Discovery (Indian Trail Public Library – Main Branch, Wheeling)
March 15, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

What’s On The Menu? (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
March 15, 2025 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm

Youth Commission Community Fun Fair (Des Plaines)
March 15, 2025 | 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Sunday

Join the sweet fun at Schaumburg’s Sugar Bush Fair or River Trail Nature Center’s Maple Syrup Festival in Northbrook.

Sugar Bush Fair (Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg)
March 16, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

The Green STEM Fair (Buffalo Grove)
March 16, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

Maple Syrup Festival (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
March 16, 2025 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

Public Skate (Hoffman Estates)
March 16, 2025 | 11:30am – 1:00pm

Northwest Side Irish Parade (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Shamrock and Roll (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm

South Side Irish Parade (Chicago)
March 16, 2025 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Family Concert Series: Parkwest Strings (Poplar Creek Public Library, Streamwood)
March 16, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration is required.

What’s On The Menu? (River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook)
March 16, 2025 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm

More ideas for indoor fun

If you’re looking for even more ideas for indoor fun, we wanted to highlight a few of our recent articles:

• Visit one of the Top 10 Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces, 10 Best Children’s Libraries with Play Areas or 10 Best Free Nature Centers in Chicagoland as voted by our readers!
• Make a splash at open swim hosted by These 30 Indoor Pools with Family Swim Times or at one of the 22 Indoor Water Parks Near Chicago.
• New play places are popping up everywhere. Funlandia Kid Cafe in Palatine and The Fun Playce in Naperville opened their doors in 2024 and are ready to be explored. Did you see Jondra’s review of Wheaton Bible Church PlayZone and Toddler Treehouse?

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…

• Your Guide to Amazing Spring Activities for Kids in the West and Northwest 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 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!