Free things to do with kids this weekend in Chicago (August 14–16)

"I Can Bike There!" Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

For adults, families, and teens We’re teaming up with the Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove to encourage you to add more biking to your summer.

Craftpalooza

National Grove-South · Chicago · Ages 5–12

Kids, get creative! Help decorate a large canvas with stamps, paint and markers. Presented with the North Riverside Public Library.

Sand & Stories

Lee Street Beach · Evanston · Ages 1–12

Baby Play

Hanover Park Branch - Meeting Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

0-18 months with caregiver Ages:0-18 months with caregiver Come play with your baby and chat with other caregivers.

Lyman Woods at the Library

Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room · Downers Grove · Ages 1–12

Friend of the Forest A naturalist from the Lyman Woods visits the library to teach us about our local wildlife and their natural world.

Game On! Team Tabletop Game Design Challenge

Main Library · Evanston · Ages 5–12

バイリンガルお話し探検家 / Japanese Bilingual Story Explorers

Central Library - Craft Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

5～9年 / 5-9 years Ages: 5-9 years 日本語と英語のお話し歌で一緒に楽しく遊びましょ。今月のお話はわらしべ長者です Enjoy popular stories, songs, and activities in Japanese and English.

Gaming Group

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Grades 6-8 This program will offer modded Minecraft and Roblox play for experienced gamers, and Feed the Beast to learn new skills and enhance your Minecraft play.

Wellness in the Woods: Fitness Walk

Yankee Woods · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Join a Master Naturalist for a brisk walk around this 3-mile paved trail.

Java Coding Workshop

Central Library - Program Room · Schaumburg · Ages 10–13

12-15 Years Ages: 12-15 Practice coding in Java.

Gaming Group

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Darlene Greaves Conference Room · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Grades 6-8 This program will offer modded Minecraft and Roblox play for experienced gamers, and Feed the Beast to learn new skills and enhance your Minecraft play.

"I Can Bike There!" Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

For adults, families, and teens We’re teaming up with the Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove to encourage you to add more biking to your summer.

Food and Toiletry Drive

Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby · Downers Grove · Ages 3–13

For the Cupboard Bring donations for the library's free pantry, The Cupboard, which supports housing & food-insecure community members.

Bird Walk

Eggers Grove · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Join a naturalist as we explore this preserve while looking for local birds.

Hummingbird Fest

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center · Lemont · Ages 3–12

Let’s celebrate hummingbirds and learn how they connect nature, people and culture.

Watercolor Workshop with Berry-based Paints

Crabtree Nature Center · Barrington Hills · Ages 3–12

Join Navraaz Basati of Wandering Paths, LLC on a forest therapy walk, then paint using plant-based inks on seed paper.

Forest Therapy Walk

Thatcher Woods · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Enjoy a mindful and mediative guided nature walk.

Fun Factory Saturday

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 1–12

Children of all ages Drop by the library to make a simple craft on your own or with the help of a parent/caregiver.

Sketchbook Saturdays

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Grades 5-8 Drop in to Youth Services and spend some time this Saturday creating art!

Ask a Master Gardener - in Partnership with Illinois Extension

Robert Crown Branch Library · Evanston · Ages 3–12

Back to School Extravaganza at Hamilton

Hamilton · Chicago · Ages 5–12

Soap Making: Custom Molds

Downers Grove Public Library - Training Room · Downers Grove · Ages 10–13

Use vacuum forming to make honey-scented honeycomb soap.

Weekend Storytime

Downers Grove Public Library - Kids Program Room · Downers Grove · Ages 1–12

Join us for picture books, songs, and activities to promote early literacy and vocabulary skills.

Ralph's World

Downers Grove Public Library - Meeting Room Both (Max Capacity 100) · Downers Grove · Ages 1–12

Family Concert Experience the "Paul McCartney of kids' music" in an interactive show featuring story-songs, dancing, and silliness.

Back to School Fun Day & Bookbag Giveaway at Moore

Moore · Chicago · Ages 5–12

What’s On The Menu?

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

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

Backpack Decorating

Downers Grove Public Library - Teen Central · Downers Grove · Ages 10–13

Grades 6-12 Go back to school in style with a freshly decorated backpack.

Trust Your Gut: Teen Safety and Peer Pressure

Central Library - Program Room · Schaumburg · Ages 10–13

Schaumburg Police Department Social Services Division Ages: 12-19 and their parents Recognize and avoid potential danger in any situation.

Cultural Presentation and Dance Exhibition

Schiller Woods-East · Chicago · Ages 3–12

A showcase of Native dance forms and cultural presentations.

The Write Stuff: Dear Future Me

Central Library - Craft Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

6-8 years Ages: 6-8 years Explore various writing styles.

"I Can Bike There!" Summer Challenge - June 1-August 31

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · All ages

For adults, families, and teens We’re teaming up with the Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove to encourage you to add more biking to your summer.

Food and Toiletry Drive

Downers Grove Public Library - First Floor Lobby · Downers Grove · Ages 3–13

For the Cupboard Bring donations for the library's free pantry, The Cupboard, which supports housing & food-insecure community members.

Restoration Workday

Trailside Museum of Natural History · River Forest · Ages 5–13

Help us restore our natural communities of woodland and prairie.

Intro to Kayaking Class

Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch · Chicago · Ages 3–12

Learn basic skills for beginner kayakers.

Summertime Stories

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center · Willow Springs · Ages 5–13

The Naperville Chinese Storytellers share stories in Chinese followed by nature-based art and activities.

River Monsters

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

Search for and study the aquatic life of the Des Plaines River.

Wee Wonders: Hummingbirds

Sand Ridge Nature Center · South Holland · Ages 3–12

Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking.

Storybook Cinema

Elk Grove Village Public Library - Kids Korner A/B · Elk Grove Village · All ages

Families with children of all ages No registration required—just drop in and watch classic storybooks come to life on screen!

What’s On The Menu?

River Trail Nature Center · Northbrook · Ages 3–12

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

Book Explorers: The World's Best Class Plant

Central Library - Craft Room · Schaumburg · Ages 5–12

5-8 years Ages: 5-8 years Join us as together we read and discuss The World's Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon.

Crochet Corner

Elk Grove Village Public Library · Elk Grove Village · Ages 5–13

Crochet experience is required. Drop on into the Sunday Crochet Corner where you can work on personal projects with your own supplies, or…