Free weekend picks every ThursdayWe never sell your email.
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.
Nothing matches those filters — try widening them.
101 events for the weekend of Nov 13–15, with 96 free and 91 indoors.
Updated
Optional measurement stays off until we confirm this visit.
Optional measurement uses Google to understand site visits and measure our ads. The guide and email signup work either way. This choice is not a statement about which privacy laws apply. Privacy policy