We can’t believe it’s the final weekend of July! Don’t worry, it’s going to be a beautiful one. Chicago weather is going to be showing off, and our list of things to do with kids this weekend is filled with plenty of opportunities to soak up summertime.
We see summer festivals, outdoor concerts, or movies in the park scattered all throughout the weekend. Pair these with a trip to a beach or waterpark, and you have a day filled with family fun in the sun. If you’re still working on your summer bucket list, there’s plenty of time to check off a few more items this weekend.
This weekend planner is sponsored by Downtown Downers Grove.
Downtown Downers Grove Sidewalk Sale
Downtown Downers Grove Sidewalk Sale
July 25-27, 2024
Join the Downtown Downers Grove retailers for the SALE of the year! The Annual Sidewalk Sale will be held July 25-27, 2024. You do not want to miss the amazing prices that will be waiting for you at nearly 20 businesses downtown Downers Grove. Take a break from shopping and dine at one of our many restaurants.
Enjoy Live Music at the Main Street Train Station by Briley on Thursday from 5-6pm, & Friday from 1-2pm. The fun continues with Friday Night Live, 5:30-8:00pm at Main Street Station, live music by Feed the Llama Band.
A wonderful excuse to plan a day to visit and explore downtown Downers Grove! Shopping starts at 10am.
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 familyβs 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 Picnic in the Park in La Grange Park or West Chicago’s Fun Fridays. At night, enjoy a Sunset Swim at the Pool on Pacific in Franklin Park or a Sβmore Summer at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.
Community Partner Playdate (Wheaton Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 9:30am – 11:30am
Picnic in the Park (Stone Monroe Park, La Grange Park)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Fridays in the Field (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.
Family Dance Party (Fishel Park, Downers Grove)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:30am
Visit Your Local Park (Johnasen Farm Park, Bolingbrook)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:30pm
Storytime in the Garden (Proksa Park, Berwyn)
July 26, 2024 | 10:30am – 11:00am
Exploration Station (Geneva Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 10:30am – 11:15am
DuPage County Fair (Wheaton)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:00pm
Fun Fridays (Reed-Keppler Park, West Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Hejsan: Story and Craft (Swedish American Museum, Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Geek Week (North Riverside Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Tractor-Drawn Wagon Ride (St. James Farm, Warrenville)
July 26, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Friday Crafternoons (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
July 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Go for the Gold (Lemont Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 2:45pm
Register in advance.
Back to the 80s Bash (Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook)
July 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Meet the EPL Fish Caretaker (Elmhurst Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Roselle Cruise Nights
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Skyline Sessions (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Final Lap Summer Reading Celebration (St. Charles Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Summer Concert Series (Downtown Wheaton)
July 26, 2024 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Moose Cruise Night and Friday Night Live (Downtown Downers Grove)
July 26, 2024 | 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Mammals and More (Nichols Library, Naperville)
July 26, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Kids and Families Boardgame Night (Lisle Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Sunset Swim (Pool on Pacific, Franklin Park)
July 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday Night Concert Series (Kiwanis Park, Brookfield)
July 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sβmore Summer (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville)
July 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
A Night at the Movies: Minions: the Rise of Gru (Rotary Hill, Naperville)
July 26, 2024 | 8:30pm – 10:30pm
Moonlit Movies in the Park: Cool Runnings (Cantigny Park, Wheaton)
July 26, 2024 | 8:30pm – 10:00pm
Included in parking fees.
Saturday
Don’t forget to register for the Free Morning of Play at Wonder Works Children’s Museum! We know the Terrace View Park Celebration in Oakbrook Terrace and SciTech STEM Lab Open House in Batavia will also be great events on Saturday afternoon.
Free Morning of Play (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
July 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.
Geneva Arts Fair (Downtown Geneva)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Museum Campus Exploration Day (Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Supported Storytime (Geneva Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:30am
Register in advance.
Kids Club (Michaels Craft Stores)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Park Play Dates (Lincoln Park, St. Charles)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Beading Bonanza (Westmont Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Terrace View Park Celebration (Oakbrook Terrace)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
SciTech STEM Lab Open House (Batavia)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Taste of Chicago (Marquette Park, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Archery and Games (Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest)
July 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 1:00pm
Tiny Great Performances (DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville)
July 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 12:30pm
Included in general admission.
La Hora de Cuentos (Nichols Library, Naperville)
July 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Dig in to Play: Toddler Sensory Time In-Person (Elmhurst Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:45am
Nature Center Open House (Oakbrook Terrace)
July 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Chinese Storytime (95th Street Library, Naperville)
July 27, 2024 | 11:30am – 12:00pm
That’s A Wrap! Epic Summer Scavenger Hunt (Woodridge Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Gabby’s Dollhouse at Yorktown Center (Lombard)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 7:00pm
DuPage County Fair (Wheaton)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Geek Week (North Riverside Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Willow Springs Blues Fest (Willow Springs)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Summer Drop-In Days (Cantigny Park, Wheaton)
July 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Dave DiNaso’s Reptile Show (Aurora Public Library – West Branch)
July 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Books and Banter: Movie Edition (Lisle Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Register in advance.
Turtles (Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs)
July 27, 2024 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Music on Grand (Brookfield)
July 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 10:00pm
World on the Move Exhibit Opening Event (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Live on the Lake (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 11:00pm
Wave Wall Moves (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Summer Concert Series (Downtown Wheaton)
July 27, 2024 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Cruise Nights and Summer Concert Series (Downtown Lombard)
July 27, 2024 | 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Summer Fireworks (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00pm – 10:30pm
Sunday
Visit The Forge: Lemont Quarries for their Exotic Reptile Show, stop by the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton, get lost wandering the aisles at the Geneva Arts Fair in Downtown Geneva.
Wonder Works for Everyone (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
July 28, 2024 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Register in advance.
Geneva Arts Fair (Downtown Geneva)
July 28, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Summer Sunday Series: Coffee + Music (Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park)
July 28, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Included in general admission.
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Exotic Reptile Show (The Forge: Lemont Quarries)
July 28, 2024 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.
Gabby’s Dollhouse at Yorktown Center (Lombard)
July 28, 2024 | 12:00pm – 6:00pm
DuPage County Fair (Wheaton)
July 28, 2024 | 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Snowflake Swim in the Sun (East End Pool, Elmhurst)
July 28, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Included in general admission.
Plum PokΓ©mon League (Helen Plum Library, Lombard)
July 28, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Live on the Lake (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 2:00pm – 11:00pm
Concerts at the Glen (Glen Ellyn)
July 28, 2024 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Summer Concert Series (Downtown Wheaton)
July 28, 2024 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Summer in the Park (Town Hall, Cicero)
July 28, 2024 | 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Concerts in the Park (Scoville Park, Oak Park)
July 28, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Concerts In Your Park (White Eagle Park, Naperville)
July 28, 2024 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
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 your local parks for fun, including Hoffman Estates’ Fun Day In The Park, Roselle’s Poppin’ Up in the Parks or even a movie in the park on Friday night.
Cuentos en EspaΓ±ol/Spanish Storytime (Elmwood Park Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:45am
Register in advance.
Fun Day In The Park (Hoffman Estates)
July 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Tots in the Park (Buffalo Grove)
July 26, 2024 | 10:30am – 11:15am
Hejsan: Story and Craft (Swedish American Museum, Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Scales-N-Tales Storytime (Franklin Park Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:30am
Friday Fun Day (Wood Dale Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 11:00am – 4:30pm
Kids Entertainment Series (Homola Picnic Shelter, Bloomingdale)
July 26, 2024 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Poppin’ Up in the Parks (Goose Lake Park, Roselle)
July 26, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Great Checkers Challenge (Barrington Area Library)
July 26, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Crafternoon (Wood Dale Public Library)
July 26, 2024 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Downtown Block Party (Mount Prospect)
July 26, 2024 | 4:00pm – 11:00pm
Streamwood Summer Celebration (Hoosier Grove Park, Streamwood)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Skyline Sessions (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 26, 2024 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Family Craft Fridays (Indian Trails Public Library – Indian Trails Branch, Prospect Heights)
July 26, 2024 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Rockin’ in the Park (Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont)
July 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Summer Concert at Hodges Park (Park Ridge)
July 26, 2024 | 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Sounds of Summer (Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, Palatine)
July 26, 2024 | 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Movies in the Park: Trolls Band Together (Elk Grove Village)
July 26, 2024 | 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Movies Under The Stars: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Buffalo Grove)
July 26, 2024 | 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday
Celebrate at Christmas in July in Itasca or at Mount Prospect’s Downtown Block Party. We love Cars, Trucks and Heroes in Bloomingdale or Wildwood Nature Center’s Country Farm Fair for family-friendly fun, too!
Art at the Glen (Glenview)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Family Yoga Storytime (Park Ridge Public Library)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:45am
Register in advance.
Kids Club (Michaels Craft Stores)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Christmas in July (Springbrook Nature Center, Itasca)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Giving Garden (Indian Trails Public Library β Indian Trails Branch, Prospect Heights)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Tickets distributed 30 minutes before program begins.
Taste of Chicago (Marquette Park, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00am – 10:00pm
Streamwood Summer Celebration (Hoosier Grove Park, Streamwood)
July 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 10:00pm
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Science at the Library (Rolling Meadows Library)
July 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Downtown Block Party (Mount Prospect)
July 27, 2024 | 11:00am – 11:00pm
Country Farm Fair (Wildwood Nature Center, Park Ridge)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Car Show (Heritage Park Performance Pavilion, Wheeling)
July 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Cars, Trucks and Heroes (Chik-fil-A, Bloomingdale)
July 27, 2024 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Live on the Lake (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 11:00pm
Bluesmobile Cruise Nights (Downtown Mount Prospect)
July 27, 2024 | 2:00pm – 9:00pm
Whatβs On The Menu? (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
July 27, 2024 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Wave Wall Moves (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
German Beer Gardens and Summer Concerts (Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg)
July 27, 2024 | 4:00pm – 7:30pm
Summer Reading Pool Party (Prospect Heights)
July 27, 2024 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Summer Fireworks (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 10:00pm – 10:30pm
Sunday
Soak up summertime fun at Streamwood Summer Celebration, Wicker Park Fest in Chicago, or Park Ridge’s Sunday Yoga in the Park.
Bloomingdale Maker’s Market (Bloomingdale)
July 28, 2024 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Art at the Glen (Glenview)
July 28, 2024 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday Yoga in the Park (Hodges Park, Park Ridge)
July 28, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:00am
Budding Botanists (Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Streamwood Summer Celebration (Hoosier Grove Barn, Streamwood)
July 28, 2024 | 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Wicker Park Fest (Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Maker Space for Nature Play (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
July 28, 2024 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration is required.
LEGO Building Challenge: Treehouses (Schaumburg Township District Library)
July 28, 2024 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Live on the Lake (Navy Pier, Chicago)
July 28, 2024 | 2:00pm – 11:00pm
Whatβs On The Menu? (Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington)
July 28, 2024 | 3:00pm – 3:30pm
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…
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 havenβt already.)
We love local businesses, libraries, park districts, villages, and organizations β 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 youβll always see so many weekend events listed. It would definitely be easier to just list the details for a few events and call them βthe best weekend events for familiesβ, but we recognize that everyone has different interests. Not to mention, sometimes Iβm in the mood to go to a huge festival, and sometimes Iβd rather go to a low-key storytime at the library. Iβm sure Iβm not the only one who feels that way. Thatβs why we work hard and spend a lot of time to find everything going on in our area so you donβt 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!
