OCT 26 – NOV 1 Chicago · The Windy City

Things to do with kids in Chicago this weekend, found and checked for you.

Lincoln Park Zoo wraps up Fall Fest this weekend, free to get in, and Chicago Children’s Museum is free for kids on Sunday. On Halloween, Washington Park runs its Upside Down Halloween Parade, and Galewood Park hosts a Boo-tiful Adventure on Friday afternoon. Library branches from Evanston to Naperville have costume parades and story times for little kids. This week has 47 outings, 39 free and 15 indoors.

What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, Boo-tiful Adventure at Galewood Park and Boo Bash at Strohacker Park, plus 16 more.

Last checked · 47 kids events and outings at 41 places · 39 free · 15 indoor · 1 sold out (still listed). Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose

Top 5 picks

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Saturday, sorted

Our plan for Saturday

Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.

  1. MORNINGFall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo10am–5pm · Lincoln Park Zoo · Free
  2. LUNCHAround townPark Place Café (Lincoln Park Zoo)Open 10:30am–4pm · Lincoln Park, inside Lincoln Park Zoo · $$ (opens their site)
  3. NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
  4. AFTER NAPBlodgett House Boo Fest1–4pm · Downers Grove Museum · Free

Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan

Every outing this week

Find your thing

10am–5pmFall Fest at Lincoln Park ZooLincoln Park Zoo · ChicagoFree
Sun 10am–5pmKids Free Day at Chicago Children’s MuseumChicago Children’s Museum · ChicagoFreeIndoor
Thu–Sun from 9:30amThe Roots of Kindness opens at Kohl Children’s MuseumKohl Children’s Museum · Glenview$20 ages 1–64Indoor
Thu–Sun from 10amDía de los Muertos Ofrenda at Brookfield Zoo ChicagoBrookfield Zoo Chicago · BrookfieldFree with zoo admission
Sat 1–1:30pmMonarch Migration Nature Walk at the Nature MuseumPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · ChicagoFree with admission
Fri 4–6pmBoo-tiful Adventure at Galewood ParkGalewood Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 4–5:30pmCommunity Halloween Party at Sauganash ParkSauganash Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 4–5:30pmHalloween Magic Mania at Haas ParkHaas (Joseph) Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 4–6pmHalloween-a-Palooza at Green Briar ParkGreen Briar Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 4–5pmBoo Bash at Strohacker ParkStrohacker (Howard) Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 5–7pmCommunity Halloween Party at Valley Forge ParkValley Forge Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 6–7:45pmHaunted House at Fosco ParkFosco (Peter) Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 6–8pmDay of the Dead Celebration at Vittum ParkVittum (Harriet Elizabeth) Park · ChicagoFree
Sat 11am–3pmHaunted House at Columbus ParkColumbus (Christopher) Park · ChicagoFree
Sat 12–2pmUpside Down Halloween Parade at Washington ParkWashington (George) Park · ChicagoFree
Sun 10am–1pmDía de los Muertos Workshops and Ofrenda Walk at Steelworkers ParkSteelworkers Park · ChicagoFree
Fri 10:30–11:30amHalloween Story Time Party (Rogers Park Library)Rogers Park Branch · ChicagoFree
Fri 3:30–4:45pmHalloween Costume Parade and Candy Giveaway (Hall Library)Hall Branch · ChicagoFree
Sat 10:30–11amHalloween Story Time (Little Italy Library)Little Italy Branch · ChicagoFree
Sat 10:30–11amBoo! Books and Beyond (Obama Presidential Center Library)Obama Presidential Center Branch · ChicagoFree
Sat 10:30am–12pmLittle Boo Bash (Edgebrook Library)Edgebrook Branch · ChicagoFree
Sat 1:30–2:30pmFamily Halloween Stories and Candy Giveaway (Hall Library)Hall Branch · ChicagoFree
Sat 1–3pmKids Halloween Dance Party at Evanston Public LibraryEvanston Public Library, Main Library · EvanstonFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amHalloween Family Storytime in EvanstonEvanston Public Library, Main Library · EvanstonFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11:15amHalloween Parade at Skokie Public LibrarySkokie Public Library · SkokieFree
Fri 10–10:45amMini Monster Mash at Glenview Public LibraryGlenview Public Library · GlenviewFreeIndoor
Sat 1–3pmFamily Movie: Halloweentown in Downers GroveDowners Grove Public Library, Kids Program Room · Downers GroveFreeIndoor
Sat 1–4pmBlodgett House Boo FestDowners Grove Museum · Downers GroveFreeIndoor
Fri 9:30–10amMonster Mash at Elmhurst Public LibraryElmhurst Public Library · ElmhurstFreeIndoor
Fri 6–8pmHalloween Dance in SchaumburgSchaumburg Community Recreation Center · Schaumburg$50 residentsIndoor
Fri 7–9pmKooky Spooky Skate in NorthbrookNorthbrook Sports Center · Northbrook$5 in costume
Fri 9:30–11amMonster Play Dough SculptingDowners Grove Public Library, Kids Program Room · Downers GroveFreeIndoor
Sat 1–1:45pmHalloween Storytime in the Park, NapervilleWagner Family Pavilion, 95th Street Library · NapervilleFree
Sat 4–6pmHalloween Trick-or-Treating at Evanston Public LibraryEvanston Public Library, Main Library · EvanstonFreeIndoor
Sun 2–2:45pmDía de los Muertos: Voyage of the Monarch StorytimeEvanston Public Library, Main Library · EvanstonFreeIndoor
Sat & Sun, hours varyThe Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin HuntSand Ridge Nature Center · South HollandFree
Sold outSat 9am–1pm (one-hour slots)Halloween Party at Palatine Community CenterPalatine Park District Community Center · Palatine$10 kidsIndoor

Holiday season in Chicago

Around town

Chicago favorites

A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.

NAVY PIER, 700 E. GRAND AVE.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Hands-on play on Navy Pier.
Kids $21 Illinois residents, $25 non-residentsUnder 1Indoor
This week: Kids Free Day at Chicago Children’s Museum
LINCOLN PARK, 2400 N. CANNON DR.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Free and open every day.
Free
This week: Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo
MUSEUM CAMPUS, 1400 S. DUSABLE LAKE SHORE DR.
Field Museum
SUE the T. rex and big dinosaur halls.
Indoor
LINCOLN PARK, 2430 N. CANNON DR.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Butterflies next to the zoo.
Kids $8 Illinois residentsAdults $15 Illinois residentsIndoor
This week: Monarch Migration Nature Walk at the Nature Museum
BROOKFIELD, 31ST ST. AND GOLFVIEW AVE.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
A full day west of the city.
Kids $20.95Adults $29.952 and under
This week: Día de los Muertos Ofrenda at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
See the full Chicago guide →Visiting with little kids
On the horizon

Coming up

NOV 26Thanksgiving weekend4 outings for Thanksgiving weekend so far, including Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble and Turkey Day 5K at Danada. Plus what’s open on Thanksgiving Day.See the list → FROM NOV 14Christmas lights5 light displays on our list so far. Illumination opens first, on Nov 14.See the list → NOV – DECSanta visits10 places to see Santa so far, with dates, times and prices.See the list →
Good questions

What to do with kids this weekend in Chicago: the FAQ

What can we do with kids this weekend in Chicago?

This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo (all weekend); Kids Free Day at Chicago Children’s Museum (Sun, Nov 1); Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park (Sat, Oct 31); Boo-tiful Adventure at Galewood Park (Fri, Oct 30). That’s four of 36 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.

What are kid-friendly things to do in Chicago this weekend?

This week we found 47 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, and 36 of them are this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, Kids Free Day at Chicago Children’s Museum, Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park. See the full list.

Where are the Halloween events for kids in Chicago this week?

24 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park, Boo-tiful Adventure at Galewood Park, Community Halloween Party at Sauganash Park and Halloween Magic Mania at Haas Park. Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.

Are there free things to do with little ones in Chicago this week?

Yes, 39 of this week’s 47 picks are free, including library storytimes and Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in Chicago in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in Chicago. Regular free days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts for 2027 are on free museum days in Chicago.

What are good indoor activities for kids in Chicago when it rains?

15 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in Chicago.

Where is storytime for little kids in Chicago this week?

5 storytimes are on this week’s list, including Halloween Story Time Party (Rogers Park Library) (Fri 10:30–11:30am), Halloween Story Time (Little Italy Library) (Sat 10:30–11am), Halloween Family Storytime in Evanston (Sat 10:30–11am, Evanston Public Library, Main Library) and Halloween Storytime in the Park, Naperville (Sat 1–1:45pm, Wagner Family Pavilion, 95th Street Library). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Chicago.

What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Chicago this week?

There’s no baby-only program on this week’s list, but 32 picks welcome kids from birth, including Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, Kids Free Day at Chicago Children’s Museum and Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park. See the full list.

How do you pick what goes on the Chicago list?

We go through Chicago’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check listings.

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