Family-Friendly Weekend Events: September 17–19 and Beyond

Fall weather isn’t quite here yet, but before we know it, we’ll be digging out the sweatshirts and snow boots. Inevitably, as we’re preparing our closets, we’ll find something my kids have quickly outgrown. Before heading to retail stores, stop by one of the many fall resales running this weekend. Restock your essentials or grab a few new toys, all while knowing you’re spending a fraction of what you would at stores. Rhea Lana’s of Fox Valley Resale in Naperville, Children’s Toy & Clothing Resale in Lisle, Timothy Christian School Resale in Elmhurst are just some of the many resales up and running this weekend. If you can’t make these, check out our full roundup of fall resales for other great options happening this fall.

This weekend planner is sponsored by Rhea Lana’s of Fox Valley and Timothy Christian.

Fun Things To Do With Kids This Weekend and Beyond

Please check the details before you go to ensure you know about registration requirements and additional safety measures to ensure you 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

Friday night has opportunities for independent fun. Enjoy a kid-free evening as you drop your kids off at Kids Night Out at Fort Hill Activity Center in Naperville, or Parents Night Out in Geneva, and you know they’ll have a great time, too.

Take and Make Fridays (Brookfield Public Library)
September 17, 2021 | all day

Bugaboo Children’s Consignment Sale (Yorkville)
September 17, 2021 | all day
Online appointments must be made in advance.

Celebration Weekend (Swedish American Museum, Chicago)
September 17, 2021 | all day

School’s Out Days (Bloomingdale)
September 17, 2021 | 7:00am – 6:00pm

Schaumburg Farmers Market
September 17, 2021 | 7:00am – 1:00pm

Walker Park Storytime (Burr Ridge)
September 17, 2021 | 10:00am – 10:30am

Touch-A-Truck (Batavia)
September 17, 2021 | 10:30am – 12:00pm

Posh Kids Resale (Arlington Heights)
September 17, 2021 | 12:00pm – 8:00pm

Elgin Farmers Market
September 17, 2021 | 3:00pm – 7:00pm

Oktoberfest (Downers Grove)
September 17, 2021 | 3:30pm – 11:00pm

Rhea Lana’s of Fox Valley Resale (Naperville)
September 17, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Family Fun Fest (Lombard)
September 17, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Oktoberfest (Glendale Heights)
September 17, 2021 | 5:00pm – 11:30pm

Oktoberfest (Tinley Park)
September 17, 2021 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Naper Nights (Naper Settlement, Naperville)
September 17, 2021 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Family Campout (Bensenville)
September 17 – 18, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00am

Mom and Son Night (Woodridge)
September 17, 2021 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Berwyns Oktoberfest (Berwyn)
September 17, 2021 | 6:00pm – 11:00pm

Kids Night Out (Fort Hill Activity Center, Naperville)
September 17, 2021 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Parents Night Out (Geneva)
September 17, 2021 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Autumn Fest and Chili Cook Off (North Riverside)
September 17, 2021 | 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Families by the Fireside (Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton)
September 17, 2021 | 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Movie in the Park (Darien)
September 17, 2021 | 7:30pm – 9:30pm

A Night at the Movies (Rotary Hill, Naperville)
September 17, 2021 | 8:30pm

Saturday

We love to see annual events safely returning in 2021. The LaGrange Pet Parade , Depot Days in Lisle Museum Station Park and Tower Trot in Western Springs are two of our favorites. Saturday is also Smithsonian Museum Day, with local spots such as Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook or Stacy’s Tavern Museum in Glen Ellyn offering special opportunities for families.

Bugaboo Children’s Consignment Sale (Yorkville)
September 18, 2021 | all day
Online appointments must be made in advance.

Celebration Weekend (Swedish American Museum, Chicago)
September 18, 2021 | all day

Downers Grove Market (Downers Grove)
September 18, 2021 | 7:00am – 12:30pm

Naperville Farmer’s Market (5th Avenue Station)
September 18, 2021 | 7:00am – 12:00pm

Children’s Toy & Clothing Resale (Lisle)
September 18, 2021 | 7:00am – 1:00pm

Oak Park Farmers Market
September 18, 2021 | 7:30am – 1:00pm

Community Fishing Derby (Bellwood)
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 11:00am

Makin Tracks 5K (River Forest)
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am

Timothy Christian School Resale (Elmhurst)
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 1:00pm

Aurora Farmers Market
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 12:00pm

Batavia’s Farmers’ Market
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 12:00pm

Brookfield Farmers Market
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 1:00pm

Lisle Farmers Market
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 1:00pm

Wheaton French Market
September 18, 2021 | 8:00am – 2:00pm

Tower Trot (Western Springs)
September 18, 2021 | 8:30am – 10:00am

Kid’s Closet Connection Resale (Frankfort)
September 18, 2021 | 8:30am – 4:00pm

Park Pride (Addison)
September 18, 2021 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Children’s Clothing and Toy Resale (Lemont)
September 18, 2021 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Fall Fishing Derby (Roselle)
September 18, 2021 | 9:30am – 11:00am

LaGrange Pet Parade
September 18, 2021 | 9:30am

Enchanted Encounters for Kids Presents Story Time (Richard H. Driehaus Museum,Chicago)
September 18, 2021 | 9:30am – 10:45am

Riverwalk Fine Art Fair (Naperville)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 5:00pm

Touch a Truck (Lombard)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Posh Kids Resale (Arlington Heights)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 6:00pm

Nature Play Kit Pickup (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
September 18, 2021, 10:00am – 3:00pm

Art on the Prairie (Warrenville)
September 18, 2021, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Smithsonian Museum Day (Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Oak Brook)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 5:00pm

Rhea Lana’s of Fox Valley Resale (Naperville)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 9:00pm
Pre-sale passes are available for Saturday.

Farm Frolic (Primrose Farm, St. Charles)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 3:00pm

Classic Stories and Crafts (Little White School Museum, Oswego)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 11:00am

See You Saturday (Downtown Oak Park)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 8:00pm

Kids Expo (Phillips Park Aquatic Center, Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Hispanic Heritage Festival Crafts and Activities (Nichols Library, Naperville)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 4:00pm

Monarch Butterfly Celebration (Lake Katherine, Palos Heights)
September 18, 2021 | 10:00am – 5:00pm

JIM GILL Sing-a-thon of Celebrated Songs! (Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 10:30am – 11:30am

Bi-Lingual Storytime on the Riverwalk (Nichols Library, Naperville)
September 18, 2021 | 10:30am – 11:00am

Autumn Fair (Peck Farm Park, Geneva)
September 18, 2021 | 11:00am – 3:00pm

Fall Fest on the Fox (North Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 11:00am – 10:00pm

Spring Road Fall Fest (Elmhurst)
September 18, 2021 | 11:00am – 2:00pm

Naperville Hispanic Heritage Festival (Naper Settlement, Naperville)
September 18, 2021 | 11:00am – 9:00pm

Berwyns Oktoberfest (Berwyn)
September 18, 2021 | 12:00pm – 11:00pm

Depot Days (Lisle Museum Station Park)
September 18, 2021 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Oktoberfest (Glendale Heights)
September 18, 2021 | 12:00pm – 11:30pm

Oktoberfest (Downers Grove)
September 18, 2021 | 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Fall Nature Fest (LaBagh Woods, Chicago)
September 18, 2021 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Oktoberfest (Tinley Park)
September 18, 2021 | 1:00pm – 10:00pm

Cemetery Walk (Darien)
September 18, 2021 |, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Dog Days of Summer (Addison)
September 18, 2021 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Smithsonian Museum Day (Stacy’s Tavern Museum, Glen Ellyn)
September 18, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:30pm

Jurassic Fest (Vaughn Athletic Center, Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Train Saturdays (DuPage County Historical Society, Wheaton)
September 18, 2021 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Autumn Fest (Oak Brook)
September 18, 2021 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Moon Festival (Pacifica Square, Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Family Fall Festival (Clarendon Hills)
September 18, 2021 | 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Water Lantern Festival (Aurora)
September 18, 2021 | 3:30pm – 8:30pm

Woodland Family Hike (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
September 18, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Must register in advance.

Puppy Pit Stop (Maryknoll Park, Glen Ellyn)
September 18, 2021, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Must register in advance.

Family Campout (Forest Park)
September 18 – 19, 2021 | 5:00pm – 9:00am

Barn Dance (Primrose Farm, St. Charles)
September 18, 2021 | 5:30pm – 9:00pm

Howl: Helping Our WildLife (Brookfield Zoo)
September 18, 2021, 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Community Campfire (Oakbrook Terrace)
September 18, 2021 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Harvest Moon Hike (Lincoln Marsh, Wheaton)
September 18, 2021 | 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Star Gazing Party (Peck Farm Park, Geneva)
September 18, 2021 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Sunday

Check out unique vehicles before they head into their garages for the winter. The Cantigny Car Show in Wheaton, Show and Shine Car Show in Glendale Heights, and IHP Car Show in Indian Head Park will be full of exciting sports cars, antique automobiles and emergency vehicles on Sunday afternoon.

Walk To End Alzheimer’s Naperville
September 19, 2021 | 8:00am – 12:00pm

Kid’s Closet Connection Resale (Frankfort)
September 19, 2021 | 8:00am – 12:00pm

Community Garage Sale (Glendale Heights)
September 19, 2021 | 9:00am – 2:00pm

Burr Ridge Farmers Market
September 19, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm

Geneva French Market
September 19, 2021 | 9:00am – 2:00pm

Oswego Country Market
September 19, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm

Western Springs French Market
September 19, 2021 | 9:00am – 1:00pm

Family Chat and Play (Oak Park)
September 19, 2021 | 9:15am – 10:15am

Riverwalk Fine Art Fair (Naperville)
September 19, 2021 | 10:00am – 5:00pm

Cantigny Car Show (Wheaton)
September 19, 2021 | 10:00am – 3:00pm

Posh Kids Resale (Arlington Heights)
September 19, 2021 | 10:00am – 3:00pm

Show and Shine Car Show (Glendale Heights)
September 19, 2021, 10:00am – 3:00pm

Art on the Prairie (Warrenville)
September 19, 2021 | 10:00am – 4:00pm

Monarch Butterfly Celebration (Lake Katherine, Palos Heights)
September 19, 2021 | 10:00am – 5:00pm

Tiger Family Trolley and Picnic (Brookfield)
September 19, 2021 | 11:00am – 1:30pm

Depot Days (Lisle Museum Station Park)
September 19, 2021 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Oktoberfest (Glendale Heights)
September 19, 2021 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm

Oktoberfest (Tinley Park)
September 19, 2021 | 1:00pm – 6:00pm

Celebrate the Gregg House Museum (Westmont)
September 19, 2021 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Fairy Tale Ball (Berwyn)
September 19, 2021 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Sunday Makebreak (Michaels Craft Stores)
September 19, 2021 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm

IHP Car Show (Indian Head Park)
September 19, 2021 | 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Pirate Storytime (Darien)
September 19, 2021 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm

Looking Ahead…

Find even more family-friendly events on our events calendar!

You might also be interested in…

The Big Map of Things to Do with Kids

Guide to Fall Festivals

Ultimate Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in the Western Suburbs

Guide to Farmers Markets and French Markets with Printable Schedule

Updated Guide to the Best Kids Birthday Party Places, Ideas, Entertainment, Decor

Your Local Guide to Kids Eat Free

Find the Right Preschool and Daycare for Your Family

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!