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Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago
Free family art-making day inspired by works of Kenzi Shiokava and Mike Cloud.
ASL interpretation provided.
Details at MCA Chicago ↗Want your family-friendly business here? Sponsor this guide
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago
Immersive Great Green Room exhibit based on the classic book, with interactive projections and the science of sleep.
Opens Nov 5, 2026.
Details at Griffin MSI ↗Griffin Museum of Science and Industry — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago
More than 50 trees and displays celebrating holiday traditions from around the world.
Opening day Sat Nov 7 includes the Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival.
Details at Griffin MSI ↗Lincoln Park Zoo — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago
Fridays–Sundays
Details at Lincoln Park Zoo ↗Chicago Botanic Garden — Glencoe · Cook Co. · Suburbs
A 1.3-mile illuminated trail of light displays and music through the Garden after dark.
Opening weekend. Select dates through Jan 3; Family Nights Dec 9 and 16. Non-member parking extra.
Details at Chicago Botanic Garden ↗The Morton Arboretum — Lisle · DuPage Co. · Suburbs
Holiday light show on a one-mile paved path, with four new installations and the new Pine Whistle Railroad model-train add-on.
Opens Sat Nov 14. Pine Whistle Railroad is an add-on ticket.
Details at The Morton Arboretum ↗Thatcher Woods Pavilion — Cook Co. · Suburbs
Learn how to carve a linoleum block and learn about Americana folk art.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗Smart Museum of Art — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago
Free STEAM family day: observe the microscopic world and make cell-inspired drawings with a University of Chicago scientist.
Details at Smart Museum of Art ↗Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
The Naperville Chinese Storytellers share stories and activities.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗Sagawau Environmental Learning Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
Enjoy a leisurely naturalist-led nature hike to view fall color.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗Sand Ridge Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗River Trail Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
What happened here?! Learn how to look for clues to figure out nature’s mysteries.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗Crabtree Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
Meet the animals that call Crabtree home.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗River Trail Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs
Join us at feeding time to learn about our outdoor ambassador animals and their habits.
Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗From Chicago Public Library branches. Some need registration; check the library page.
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This weekend (Nov 13–15) Chicago, IL has 101 kid-friendly events, 96 of them free. Top picks: MCA Family Day: Knock on Wood, America 250: Americana Folk Art and Smart Museum Family Day: Seeing the Invisible World. Rainy-day options: Game Day and Kids Paint and Sip. Plus 87 free library programs.
101 family events across the Chicago area this weekend: 6 big outings (festivals, farms, shows and attractions), museum and garden programs, plus free library programs from Chicago Public Library. Use the filters to narrow it down.
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