Free things to do with kids in Chicago, IL this weekend

Filter by age, area, cost, day

Top picks this weekend

Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.

Sat, Nov 14 · 11am–3pm

MCA Family Day: Knock on Wood

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago — Chicago · Cook Co. · Chicago

Free family art-making day inspired by works of Kenzi Shiokava and Mike Cloud.

Ages 0-2
Ages 3-5
Ages 6-10
11+
Big outing
Free
Indoors

ASL interpretation provided.

Details at MCA Chicago ↗

Museums, gardens & more

Sat, Nov 14 · 10am–12pm

America 250: Americana Folk Art

Thatcher Woods Pavilion — Cook Co. · Suburbs

Learn how to carve a linoleum block and learn about Americana folk art.

Ages 6-10
Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Sat, Nov 14 · 10am–1pm

Smart Museum Family Day: Seeing the Invisible World

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.

Ages 0-2
Ages 3-5
Ages 6-10
11+
Free
Indoors

Details at Smart Museum of Art ↗

Sun, Nov 15 · 11am

Autumn Stories in Chinese

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

The Naperville Chinese Storytellers share stories and activities.

Ages 0-2
Ages 3-5
Ages 6-10
11+
Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Sun, Nov 15 · 1pm

Fall Color Walk

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

Enjoy a leisurely naturalist-led nature hike to view fall color.

Ages 0-2
Ages 3-5
Ages 6-10
11+
Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Sun, Nov 15 · 1pm

Wee Wonders: Snakes

Sand Ridge Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking.

Ages 6-10
Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Sun, Nov 15 · 1:30pm

Nature Detective

River Trail Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

What happened here?! Learn how to look for clues to figure out nature’s mysteries.

Ages 6-10
Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Nov 14 – Dec 5 · 11am

Meet Our Ambassador Animals

Crabtree Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

Meet the animals that call Crabtree home.

Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Nov 14 – Dec 13 · 3pm

What’s On The Menu?

River Trail Nature Center — Cook Co. · Suburbs

Join us at feeding time to learn about our outdoor ambassador animals and their habits.

Free

Details at Forest Preserves of Cook County ↗

Library storytimes & programs (84, free)

From Chicago Public Library branches. Some need registration; check the library page.

Friday, Nov 13

9amSeed Library: Seeds Available · Austin Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

9:30amMultilingual Playgroup / 多语言游戏小活动 · Chinatown Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10amBook Builders · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10amCommunity Cinema: Happy Feet (2006) · Back of the Yards Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

10amFilm Screening: Toy Story 5 (2026) · Brainerd Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

Fri, Nov 13 · times varyOpen Play Time · At 2 Chicago Public Library branches 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

See all 2 branches

Jefferson Park Library Fri, Nov 13 · 10am
West Loop Library Fri, Nov 13 · 10:30am

Library event page →

10amStay and Play · Canaryville Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10:30amFall Preschool Story Time · Little Italy Library, Chicago 3-5 · Free

10:30amFamily Story Time Featuring Live Cello with Kelsey · Rogers Park Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10:30amLittle Learners Story Time · McKinley Park Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10:30amStory Time · Logan Square Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

11amMusic and Movement Story Time with Ms. My · Uptown Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

11amQuilting · Austin Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

11:30amStory Time · Logan Square Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

2pmMake a Holiday Greeting Card · Wrightwood-Ashburn Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2:30pmCrochet Club / Club de Tejer · Little Village Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2:45pmYOUmedia Takeover · Wrightwood-Ashburn Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

3pmGame Day · Douglass Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

3pmKids Paint and Sip · Back of the Yards Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

Fri, Nov 13–Sat, Nov 14 · times varyLEGO® Club · At 2 Chicago Public Library branches 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

See all 2 branches

Toman Library Fri, Nov 13 · 3pm
Douglass Library Sat, Nov 14 · 2pm

Library event page →

3pmSecond Friday LEGO® Club · West Belmont Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

3:30pmSeason of Changes: Autumn Tree · West Englewood Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

3:45pmMayfair Improv Club · Mayfair Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

4pmAI Safety Discussion · Canaryville Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

5pmFamily Trivia Night with Think Outside Da Block · Kelly Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

Saturday, Nov 14

Sat, Nov 14 · times varySaturday Story Time · At 2 Chicago Public Library branches 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

See all 2 branches

Daley, Richard J.-Bridgeport Library Sat, Nov 14 · 9:30am
Legler Regional Library Sat, Nov 14 · 11am

Library event page →

10amFall Game Day · Blackstone Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

10amFamily Story Time · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10amGrab and Go Kits: Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft · Canaryville Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

10amInternational Games Day Mini Gaming Convention · Clearing Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

10amKelly Kouture Community Closet · Kelly Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

10amKidCinema: Thankful with Blue (Blues Clues & You) · North Pulaski Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

10amRepair Cafe: Forward Chicago · Sulzer Regional Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

10amSaturday Stories and Drop-In Play · Lincoln Belmont Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10amSaturday Story Time and Snuggles · Austin Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

10amService Learning Club · Sulzer Regional Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

10amWTTW Kids Learn & Play · Albany Park Library, Chicago 3-5 · Free

10:30amBrick by Brick: LEGO® Library Builders · Oriole Park Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

10:30amDinovember Story Time and Play · Little Italy Library, Chicago 3-5 · Free

11amFrom the Archives: Reimagining Chicago: Brick by Brick Gallery Tour · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 11+ · Free

11amKids Assemble · Beverly Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

11amMad Hatters Story Time · Humboldt Park Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

12pmCommunity Building: Audio Book + Craft · Little Village Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

12pmFamily Craft: Bead Art · South Chicago Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

12pmOBOC Young Readers Club: The Lion of Mars · Hegewisch Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

1pmCoding Club / Club de Programación · West Lawn Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1pmCreate Your Path: Turning Talent into Opportunity with Joy Joshua · Obama Presidential Center Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1pmMeet Chester Commodore: Drawing and Illustration 101 · West Town Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1pmPuzzle Exchange · Near North Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1pmScience Club · Blackstone Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

1pmTrans Community Clothing Swap · Bucktown-Wicker Park Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1:30pmTabletop Gaming Open Shop · Sulzer Regional Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmBilingual Story Time · Back of the Yards Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

2pmChicago's Electric Blues Heritage and History: Diddley Bow Workshop · West Belmont Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmHidden History of Native Americans on the Blue Island Ridge · Walker Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmLEGO Robotics and Coding Workshop · Roden Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmPeriod Party · Uptown Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmPulitzer on the Road Exhibit: A Guided Tour · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmShrinky Dink Art · Dunning Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

2pmSkilled Trades Exploration Fair · Chinatown Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmWhen Studs Terkel Interviewed Me: What I Learned from Being Interviewed by the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Master Conversationalist · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 11+ · Free

2:30pmChildren's Craft: Junk Journals · Whitney M. Young, Jr. Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

3pmStitch and Knit Club · Toman Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

3pmTape Resist Art · Daley, Richard J.-Bridgeport Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

Sunday, Nov 15

1pmFamily Fun Fest · Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1pmVIVO (2021) · Toman Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1:15pmIntro to Cricut Sticker Making or Heat Transfer · Gage Park Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1:30pmCard Processing with Cardz For Kidz · Humboldt Park Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1:30pmDungeons & Dragons Club · Lincoln Belmont Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

1:30pmFamily Reading Time and Craft · North Pulaski Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1:30pmFilm Screening: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) · Scottsdale Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1:30pmFilm Screening: Minions & Monsters (2026) · King Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

1:30pmScience Club: Neutrons, Protons and Electrons · Logan Square Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmEarring Making for Beginners · Merlo Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmFamily Film Screening: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) · West Lawn Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmFamily Flicks: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) · Oriole Park Library, Chicago 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmFilm Screening: Goat (2026) · Back of the Yards Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmFilm Screening: Zootopia 2 (2025) · Vodak-East Side Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmMeet Calvin B. Jones: Make a Mini-Mural · Near North Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

2pmMusic Teachers of Hyde Park Artist Series: Romance in Black Part 2 · Blackstone Library, Chicago 6-10 · 11+ · Free

2pmStitch Circle · Budlong Woods Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

3pmFamily Birthday Story Time Celebration with Ms. My · Uptown Library, Chicago 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · Free

3pmSit, Stay, Read · Little Italy Library, Chicago 6-10 · Free

3pmYoung Reader’s Book Club: The Lion of Mars · Jefferson Park Library, Chicago 11+ · Free

About this page · weather

96 events listed as free by their source for the weekend of Nov 13–15. Some may still need registration or venue entry; check the source link. Back to the full Chicago, IL weekend guide.

Updated November 12, 2026