Weekend & Monthly Events for Kids and Families, plus Summer Camp Guides:
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Activities for Kids in
Chicago in September 2025
Family-Friendly Fun for September 2025
German-American Fest
Lincoln Square - FREE
September 5-7
Families can don their dirndls and lederhosen and step out to Lincoln Square for German and American food, music, and gemuetlischkeit. The event features carnival games, the annual Steuben Parade through North Center and Lincoln Square, and traditional German music and dancing. Visit the website here.
Rock the Block Party
Elmhurst - Free
September 5-6
Families can celebrate the end of summer with live entertainment and local food vendors at this annual Elmhurst festival. Kids can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, games, a photo booth, and a performances from local musicians. Adults can enjoy beverages from the beer and wine tent. Visit the website here.
Throwback Music Fest
Gladstone Park - FREE
September 5-7
Introduce kids to the music of the '50s, '60s, '70s, and 80's at this annual northwest side festival. While grownups enjoy tribute bands, a throwback pinup contest, and a classic car show, kids can play games, do crafts, enjoy face painting, or bounce in a bounce house. Visit the website here.
Printers Row Lit Fest
South Loop - FREE
September 6-7
Bibliophiles of all ages are welcome at Printers Row Lit Fest, where they can enjoy talks, demonstrations, and workshops with authors of all genres. Kids authors and books will be featured throughout the fest. Visit the website here.
Midnight Circus in the Parks
Parks throughout the City
September 6, 12-14, 20-21, and 26-28
This small, family-run circus is as sweet as they come, bringing the circus to parks all over Chicago for a small, intimate performance! Families can grab a blanket and get cozy in their favorite park to see talented aerialists, gymnasts, tight rope walkers, clowns, and even a dog put on an energetic and awe-inspiring performance. Visit the website here.
Soap Box Derby 2025 September Rally
Naperville
September 6-7
Build your own car or test run a pre-built car at the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby's track. Visit the website here.
DuPage Comic Con
Wheaton
September 6
Might Con presents the very best new local comic artists along with special guests and deals from comic book and toy vendors at DuPage County Fairgrounds. The legendary cosplay contest starts at 3:30 p.m. Free comics, free parking and free admission for kids make this a great day for comic lovers. Visit the website here.
Bloomingdale Septemberfest
Bloomingdale - FREE
September 6
Celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall at this annual event in Bloomingdale. Families can enjoy a parade, live entertainment, carnival rides and games, food and craft vendors, and the Lions Club Beer Tent. Visit the website here.
Hanover Park Fall Fun Fest Featuring Flavors of Hanover Park
Hanover Park- FREE
September 6
Enjoy all things fall at Hanover Park's annual Fall Fun Fest. Families can go on a hayride, complete an inflatable obstacle course, play BINGO and listen to live music. The event also includes glitter tattoos for kids, food trucks, and fall crafts and games. Families can also taste foods from local restaurants and vendors. Visit the website here.
Elmhurst Touch-a-Truck
Elmhurst - FREE
September 6
Kids can touch and climb into a variety of trucks at Elmhurst's Beren's Park during this annual free event. Food trucks will be on hand to complete the truck theme, with Smallcakes, Brown's Chicken,and Windy City Ice Cream serving treats. Visit the website here.
Migrating Monarchs Celebration
River Forest - FREE
September 7
Learn how monarchs migrate to Mexico, how researchers tag them to research their movements, and see how they are raised and released. Kids crafts and educational displays make this event fun for all ages. Visit the website here.
Retro on Roscoe
Roscoe Village
September 5-7
Roscoe Village is offering up live music, kid's activities, a car and motorcycle show, and much more at this six block street festival for the whole family. Visit the website here.
Fine Arts Festival - Downers Grove
Downers Grove
September 6-7
The 48th Annual Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival will be held September 6-7, 2025. The festival features a diverse range of juried artists across various mediums. In addition to the beautiful art, you can enjoy live entertainment, explore unique boutiques, savor delicious offerings at local restaurants, and partake in a children's art activity. Visit the website here.
Sundays on State
Downtown- FREE
September 7
Chicago's State Street is closed from Madison to Lake for a block party full of surprises. Families can enjoy art, culture, active recreation, food, and specials from local retailers. Visit the website here.
Glow in the Park Lantern Walk
Glen Ellyn - FREE
September 12
Glen Ellyn Park District is partnering with Charlie's Corner Foundation for a lantern walk around Lake Ellyn to benefit Lurie Children's Hospital. The event will include live music, face painting, balloon artists, and a bubble show. Visit the website here.
Revolutionary War Reenactment
Wheaton
September 13
The 18th century comes alive at Cantigny at this weekend-long battle reenactment. The event will include a fife and drum corp, tomahawk competition, children's games, heritage dance, reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and a battle reenactment. Visit the website here.
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
Lakeview
September 13-14
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts offers over 150 artists, featuring paintings, sculptures, photography furniture, jewelry, and more. In addition to live music on two stages, the festival includes live demonstrations, family activities and a garden oasis. Visit the website here
Norwood Park Fall Fest
Norwood Park
September 13-14, 2024
Celebrate fall with live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and kids' activities for all ages. Kids can enjoy carnival games, a magic show, tattoos and henna, an inflatable corn maze and kids' music and dance performances. Visit the website here.
Parkway Bank Park's Family Fall Fest
Rosemont - FREE
September 14
Parkway Bank Park entertainment district will kick off the fall season with this annual family-friendly event featuring a variety of free activities including bounce houses, face painting, a petting zoo, balloon sculptors, and more! Visit the website here.
Spring Road Fall Fest
Elmhurst - FREE
September 20
Families can enjoy fall-themed entertainment at the intersection of Spring Road and the Prairie Path in Elmhurst. Activities include a petting zoo, pony rides, a moon jump, temporary tattoos, carnival games, and musical entertainment. Kids can also paint pumpkins and enjoy concessions. Visit the website here.
Open House: Merit School of Music – South Shore
South Shore - Free
September 20
Join Merit School of Music’s South Shore Open House on Saturday, September 20! Bring the whole family for a fun, music-filled morning of performances and hands-on activities. Stop by the open house to: Explore an instrument petting zoo Enjoy live performances, including a musical storytime Tour Merit's building Learn about fall programming and more. Visit the website here.
Taste of Egypt Festival
Burr Ridge
September 20-21
St. Mark Coptic Church of Burr Ridge invites families for its annual Taste of Egypt Festival! Enjoy camel rides, bouncy houses, inflatables, a petting zoo, church tours, live music, henna tattoos, a craft corner, jewelry, souvenirs and personalized hieroglyphics. Egyptian food will also be available for purchase, including kufta, grilled chicken, grape leaves, falafel, baklava, Turkish coffee, and Egyptian fruit drinks. Visit the website here.
St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest
Lakeview
September 20-22
Bring your lederhosen and dirndls for some German family fun. Enjoy some bratwurst, some live music, and all things Bavarian, as well as music from favorite Chicago acts. Visit the website here.
World Music Festival
Various Chicago locations - Free
September 26-October 5
World music fans can enjoy FREE concerts throughout the City of Chicago during the 23rd Annual World Music Festival. This city-wide, multi-venue, 10-day festival will include 34 bands representing 22 countries. Experience music from all regions of the world including Brazil, South Korea, and Senegal. Visit the website here.
Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest
Lincoln Park - Free
Starts September 26
Families can enjoy a walk through the pumpkin patch, a pumpkin-carving demonstration, and pumpkin-themed treats like a caramel apple station and a s'more station at Lincoln Park Zoo throughout October. Visit the website here.
Long Grove Apple Fest
Long Grove
September 26-28
How do you like them apples? Long Grove will make them any way you want—baked in pies, dipped in chocolate or caramel, or chopped up in sangria. Families can also enjoy a carnival and live music with their apple treats. Visit the website here.
Leo Lionni's Frederick at Chicago Children's Theatre
West Loop
Opens September 27
While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. But when fall weather comes, it is Frederick who has stored up something special for the long cold winter in a celebration of the idea that there is a place for all of us in this world. Originally a world premiere in CCT’s 10th birthday season, this charming musical based on Leo Lionni’s classic, much-loved Caldecott Award-winning book features a book by Suzanne Maynard Miller and a spirited folk and rock blues music score by Sarah Durkee and Paul Jacobs, performed live, on-stage by a talented cast. Visit the website here.
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