Budding Botanists
Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago
Free Admission for Illinois Residents at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago
Casting on the Pier
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago
FREE Adler at Night Admission for Illinois Residents
Adler Planetarium 1300 S Dusable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
Wild Wednesdays
Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago
Free Admission at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago
Budding Botanists
Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago
Week of Events
Kane County Fair
Kane County Fair
A fair with rides, games, food, and more! Petting Zoo Kiddy Land Swifty Swine Racing Pigs Fantasy Amusements Ride Co. Miller Lite Sound Stage Car Show Saturday and Sunday only Imagination Gallery Woodcarver Magic Show Hours of Operation Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Thursday: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Friday: 12:00 p.m. - 12:00...
Highwood Days Taco Fest
Highwood Days Taco Fest
Recognized as the City’s oldest festival, Highwood Days features one of the area’s largest carnivals, with rides, games, live music and more! The addition of Taco Fest brings together the region’s best taco-centric restaurants, caterers, and food trucks to offer a wide range of mouth-watering creations, along with full booze tents. Attendees will enjoy casting...
Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration
Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration
The 2024 Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Summer Season brings free world-class arts programming to the Midwest’s #1 attraction celebrating its milestone anniversary this season. Thursday, July 18 ¡Súbelo! Headlined by Fruko y Sus Tesos. Friday, July 19 Grant Park Orchestra Featuring Star Wars and More: the Music of John Williams. Saturday, July 20 Common In Performance with the Grant Park...
Tacos y Tamales Festival
Tacos y Tamales Festival
The Best (and most authentic) Tacos y Tamales Chicago has to offer Wide Variety of Tamales from several regions of Latin America Handmade Tortillas Local Art Installations Merchant Vendors Authentic Mexican Chefs Strong Presence of Latin Music and Dance Performances Amazing Arts & Entertainment Beer Garden featuring Modelo’s portfolio of products Suggested Donation benefiting local...
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Local burger restaurants will be competing for Chicago's best burger, and you decide! There will also be two stages with music, arts & crafts, a Kids Zone, and more! Suggested $10 donation
Colombian Fest
Pitchfork Music Festival
Pitchfork Music Festival
One of Chicago's greatest music festivals! Gates will open each day at 12pm. Gate times are subject to change. Main gates for the festival are on Ashland, south of Lake Street, and Washington Blvd./Ogden Ave. You will need a valid photo ID and a digital ticket in order to enter. Children 10 and under can...
Glencoe Festival of Art
Glencoe Festival of Art
The festival, which covers Glencoe’s downtown, features more than 90 juried artists showing and selling paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry and more! Family-friendly (and dog-friendly, too!), there are activities just for kids and live artist demonstrations, as well as non-stop live music along with restaurants and cafes on the festival route offering delicious meals and...
Chicago Food Truck Festival
Chicago Food Truck Festival
Enjoy some of the best food in Chicago at the Summer Food Truck Festival. Admission is free, but then you pay for any food you'd like. There will be games and live music as well!
Campout at the Zoo
Campout at the Zoo
Camp amongst the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo! Enjoy the outdoors, the animals, animal activity stations, and a campfire with s’mores. There is an evening-only option for people who want to participate in the activities but prefer not to camp! Evening-only tickets are $50, overnight tickets are $75, and there are discounts for zoo...
Lake County Fair
Lake County Fair
Celebrating its 95th year, the Lake County Fair is back with a fair of Olympic proportions! From ferris wheels to funnel cakes, the Lake County Fair offers gold medal fun for everyone. Enjoy motocross, monster trucks, demolition derby, bull riding, pig races, livestock competitions and more. All grandstand and arena events are free with admission!...
DuPage County Fair
DuPage County Fair
There is something for everyone at the Fair. Plenty of entertainment, animals, food, exhibits and carnival rides. Fun for all ages. Adults (ages 13 & up): $10 Seniors (ages 62 & up): $5 Children (ages 3-12): $5 Children (2 & under): FREE Active Military Personnel w/ID: FREE Mega Pass (in advance): $30 Includes admission +...
Lincolnwood Fest
Lincolnwood Fest
Lincolnwood Fest is a four-day event focused on bringing family and friends together for traditional fun. Enjoy daily live music from local and regional bands, a business expo, carnival rides, games, bingo, a Classic Car Show, and much more! HOURS Carnival Rides, Games, Midway: THURSDAY, July 25 — 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. FRIDAY, July...
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
One of Chicago's best street fests! An amazing line-up from bands all over the Midwest. Local food favorites Arts & crafts Kids’ Carnival is BACK with non-stop activities for your littles including inflatables, arts/crafts and performances.
Wicker Park Fest
Wicker Park Fest
"As one of Chicago’s most anticipated summer festivals, and dubbed "Chicago's Best Street Festival of the Summer " by the Chicago Tribune, Wicker Park Fest is one of Chicago’s top-drawing festivals, attracting visitors from across Chicagoland and the country with its fantastic music line-up. Wicker Park Fest reflects the neighborhood’s rich musical heritage, vibrant nightlife...
Bantu Fest
Bantu Fest
The Bantu Fest is Chicago's biggest multi-cultural festival that brings over 50,000 people from over 30 different countries to celebrate Love, Peace & Unity. Bantu Fest is a one-of-a-kind event that promotes cultural exchange and diversity among nations. The event is designed to entertain, as well as educate people of all nations on countries featured,...
Campout at the Zoo
Campout at the Zoo
Camp amongst the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo! Enjoy the outdoors, the animals, animal activity stations, and a campfire with s’mores. There is an evening-only option for people who want to participate in the activities but prefer not to camp! Evening-only tickets are $50, overnight tickets are $75, and there are discounts for zoo...
Budding Botanists
Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 2:30pm, Nature Educators will provide activities for kids of all ages at our Budding Botanists station. These programs are drop in and no preregistration is required. You can stop by and interact with the materials at the station for as long as you want to. Budding Botanists station will...
Live on the Lake
Navy Pier's live outdoor music series is returning this summer in the Bier Garden! Enjoy some rides on the pier, some live music, and some delicious food. 2-4:30PMÂ Surabhi Ensemble 4:30PM & 6:30PMÂ DJ Papa G 5:30PM & 7:00PMÂ The Drastics (Reggae) Â
Water Flicks: Elemental
Navy Pier's popular "Water Flicks" is returning this year with FREE outdoor movie showings. Bring a picnic, a blanket, and enjoy! Movies are shown at Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park, just before the pier. All films are presented in English with closed captioning.
Wiggleworms/Movie at Gallagher Way
Chicago's famous Wiggleworms from the Old Town School of Folk Music are back with free performances at Gallagher Way. There will be music, movement, bubbles, and plenty of fun for kids and parents! Each week will feature different performers and a different kids' movie will play after the performance. Performers: Rachael Botz & Will Fancher...
Free Admission for Illinois Residents at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Illinois Residents receive FREE admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Usual Rates: Adults: $22 Students, teachers, and anyone 65+: $14 Note: Anyone under 18 is always FREE The following Discounts always apply as well: $3 tickets for up to six individuals when visitors present their LINK (EBT) Card as part of the Museums...
Free Resident Day at the Field Museum
"Free Admission Days are the perfect opportunity for Illinois residents to explore our general admission exhibitions with your family or a group of science-loving friends. Or, use these days to check out special ticketed exhibitions or a 3D movie with a discounted Discovery or All-Access Pass. Tickets for Free Days are only available to Illinois...
Play! at Farm-in-the-Zoo
Kids can explore the sights, smells, and textures of nature. Listen to stories, participate in arts and crafts, play in the sensory bin, and make music. Designed for children ages 1–5, Caregivers must stay with their children.
Casting on the Pier
The team of skilled and friendly volunteers will be outside on the pier to teach both spin and fly casting every Wednesday this summer and fall through August 28. Participation is on a first come, first serve basis and the volunteers always do their best to accommodate everyone depending on demand.
FREE Adler at Night Admission for Illinois Residents
The Adler Planetarium is open late on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm–10:00 pm (last admission 9:00 pm). Every Wednesday is free Museum Entry for Illinois residents with proof of residency! To show proof of residency, you can use a valid Illinois driver’s license or photo ID, Illinois student ID with photo, or a photo ID plus a...
Wild Wednesdays
Wild Wednesdays are back for the season at Garfield Park Conservatory! Join Family Programs staff outdoors in Play and Grow Garden for free, drop-in activities, such as fort building, bug hunts, chalk drawing, and more! Find us every Wednesday evening from 4:00-7:30 pm. Just head outside through our Desert House doors and follow the giant...
Free Admission at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Illinois Residents can enjoy FREE admission to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. A $10 suggested donation per household is greatly appreciated.
Morning Glories
Morning Glories is a free, drop-in program designed for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers! The lessons will follow themes of science and nature with modifications to focus on motor skill development, sensory exploration, and social interactions between families. A typical Morning Glories session can be expected to include story times, a sensory bin, lots...
Budding Botanists
Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 2:30pm, Nature Educators will provide activities for kids of all ages at our Budding Botanists station. These programs are drop in and no preregistration is required. You can stop by and interact with the materials at the station for as long as you want to. Budding Botanists station will...
Taste of Marquette Park
A one-day neighborhood pop-up from Taste of Chicago. There are no food tickets, and all vendors accept cash or credit card. The following vendors will be there: Aaron’s BBQ African Food Palace Burp Catering ChefLife 19 Chillafry Cool N Smooth Smoothies Cynthia’s Gumbo Express (food truck) Decadent Flavor (food truck) Delicia’s (food truck) Fiftyone 50...
Live on the Lake
Navy Pier's live outdoor music series is returning this summer in the Bier Garden! Enjoy some rides on the pier, some live music, and some delicious food. 2PM-11PMÂ House Calls Â
