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30 Best Things to Do in Chicago August 2023 with Kids

This August is full of fun things to do in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Howard Street Chalk Fest
This August is full of fun things to do in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Howard Street Chalk Fest
7/30/23 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for things to do this August in Chicago? Here are some great things to do in Chicago with kids.

Summer is not over yet! August in Chicago is a great time to enjoy outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days. This August is also full of races: Enjoy a duck race in the Chicago river, a kids track race in Palatine, or bike race in Pulaski Woods. There are also two fun festivals celebrating chalk this month in Des Plaines and Rogers Park. Watch some amazing dancing at the India Day Celebration in Naperville or learn to dance yourself at Chicago SummerDance. 

This is the last chance for many families to get outdoors on a weeknight, so outdoor movies and concerts are a must before we break out the books again. Try to get out to one of the last neighborhood street festivals, too! If you need to beat the heat again this month, get out to one of our favorite beaches or spraygrounds.

Here are the best things to do with kids in and around Chicago this August 2023.

Photo courtesy of Chicago SummerDance
Photo courtesy of Chicago SummerDance

Top Things to Do With Kids in Chicago in August

Rockin' in the Park in Rosemont

Thursdays through August 31, 2023—Rosemont
Listen to a different local band every Thursday and select holidays throughout the summer at Parkway Bank Park in Rosemont. Fireworks follow select shows. READ MORE

Northbrook Days

August 2-6, 2023—Northbrook
North Suburban residents and visitors can enjoy rides, games, live music, food, beer, and wine at this annual festival in Northbrook's Metra Commuter Lot West. Special Friends morning is Saturday, August 5, from 9:30- 11:30 a.m. READ MORE

Fast Track Racing Team Kids Night

August 3, 2023—Palatine
Kids can test their speed and race others at this free Fast Track Racing Team event. Compete in the 100, 400 or 1600 meter races and enjoy post-race fun. READ MORE

Chicago Ducky Derby

August 10, 2023—Downtown
The Ducky Derby is an event that benefits the Special Olympics of Illinois by encouraging spectators to "adopt" a yellow rubber ducky (or many duckies) to send racing down the Chicago River. It is a fun spectacle for a great cause!  READ MORE

Tuesdays on the Terrace

Tuesdays through August 29, 2023—Mag Mile
Museum of Contemporary Art showcases some of Chicago's favorite musiciansin a weekly concert on its terrace. This year’s series includes the jazz music always featured at MCA, along with other Chicago favorite genres like hip-hop, house, blues, bomba, and more. READ MORE

Movies on the Lawn at Oakbrook Center

Wednesdays through September 6, 2023—Oak Brook
The magic of the movies moves outdoors at Oak Brook Center with the Movies on the Lawn series each Wednesday. Movies are shown on a 32' by 18' screen in the shopping center's courtyard. All movies are shown in their original, unedited format and are rated G, PG, or PG-13. READ MORE

CAMBr Meltdown

August 6, 2023—Palos Heights
Watch or participate in the Chicago area's premier mountain biking event. Pulaski Woods welcome kid racers, junior bikers, amateurs, and professionals to try out challenging courses. The event is free to watch. READ MORE

Festa Italiana

August 4-6, 2023—Naperville
Food and fun are on tap at Naper Settlement for Festa Italiana. The festival includes live musical performances, a meatball eating contest, artisans, and—of course—food. Dancers and singers perform each day. READ MORE

Bugapalooza

August 6, 2023
Celebrate invertebrates at this annual bug festival at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Check out insect specimens up close, interact with native spiders, craft your own insect, and see a bug pinning demonstration. READ MORE

Latinxt Music Festival at Navy Pier

August 5-6, 2023—Downtown
Navy Pier hosts LatiNxt, a two-day Latin music and art festival featuring performances from Latin artists around the globe, as well as art, crafts, and plenty of dancing! READ MORE

Chicago Bears Family Fest

August 6, 2023—Museum Campus
The Chicago Bears are inviting everyone to Soldier Field for Family Fest! Guests can celebrate the start of the Bears' upcoming season by enjoying a team practice, family-friendly activities such as pony rides, facepainting, fireworks, and more! READ MORE

World of Faeries Festival: Healing Earth

August 5-6, 2023—South Elgin
Faeries of all ages can enjoy music, story telling, and crafts at this annual festival in South Elgin. Fairy tea times will allow fairy lovers to talk and enjoy refreshments with fairies. Tatiana, fairy queen, will blow bubbles in the clearing, or visitors can join Alanna MerBubbles for story telling and coloring pages. Og The Balloon Twister will provide balloon twisting fun for kids. READ MORE

Chicago SummerDance

Wednesdays through Saturdays through September 6, 2023—Parks Citywide
Grant Park hosts Chicago SummerDance, where kids of all ages can enjoy music in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park and dance to the sounds of different live bands and DJs all summer long!  READ MORE

Draw Des Plaines Chalk Fest

August 12 ,2023—Des Plaines
Chalk artist Erik Greenwalt will create a 3D chalk and tempura work of art outside the Des Plaines Public Library. Families can work on their own chalk art on designated sidewalks surrounding the building. Butterbean will provide live entertainment. READ MORE

Retro on Roscoe

August 11-13—Roscoe Village
Artisans, antique vendors, and merchants join three stages of entertainers at this North Side street festival. Local restaurants featuring street fest-friendly foods and classic cars round out the line-up for this old-fashioned family fun event. READ MORE

Edison Park Fest

August 11-13, 2023—Edison Park
Since 1972, Chicago families have enjoyed shopping from local vendors at Edison Park Fest. Since then, the festival has grown to include music from local bands, street festival food, and kids' entertainment. READ MORE

Bud Billiken Parade

August 12, 2023—Bronzeville
The Bud Billiken Parade is the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States, and this year marks its 94th anniversary! Guests of all ages can enjoy a procession of bands, dance groups, and floats marching down King Drive, commemorating the community's past and celebrating its future. READ MORE

Thirsty Ears Festival - Classical Music Street Festival

August 12-13, 2023—Ravenswood
The sounds of Beethoven, Shostakovich, Reich, and more will fill Wilson Ave. during Chicago's only classical music street festival. READ MORE

Kelvyn Park Back-to-School Fair and Mercado

August 12, 2023—Hermonsa
Kids can enjoy vendors, food, face painting, a raffle, music and dancing before going back to school for the fall. Parents, don't forget to pick up some free school supplies and get a free COVID-19 vaccine or flu shot for kids going back to school. READ MORE

India Day Parade and Celebration

August 13, 2023—Naperville
A colorful parade and celebration will take over Naperville's north side to celebrate India Day. Families can enjoy a colorful parade Indian Food Court, dancing, a children's park, talent show, and a performance from Daler Mendhi. READ MORE

Ribfest Chicago

August 18-20, 2023—North Center
Barbecue-loving families can enjoy ribs, music and a kids' play area at this North Center street festival. Kids and their grown-ups can taste and vote on many different local restaurants' rib offerings, and kids can play games, jump on inflatables, and enjoy kid-friendly entertainment at North Center Town Square. READ MORE

DarienFest

August 10-13, 2023—Darien
Celebrate the last weekend of summer with a carnival in the QBar parking lot in Darien. The event also includes Bingo, food, a beer garden, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Air and Water Show

August 19-20, 2023—Old Town
Chicago hosts its annual Air and Water Show featuring the US Navy Blue Angels. This is the largest free show of its kind in the United States. The event is located at North Avenue Beach, but viewable all along the coast of Lake Michigan. READ MORE

Highwood Garlic Fest

August 16, 2023—Highwood
Join the stinkiest festival in town to celebrate garlic in Highwood in conjuction with the Evening Gourmet Market. Families can sample traditionally garlicky foods like pasta, sandwiches, sauces and spreads, or wilder garlic infused items like chocolate, cookies, ice cream, funnel cakes, and cocktails. Vote for your favorites and stay to see who wins the People's Choice Award. Live entertainment and breath mints will also be on hand. READ MORE

Millennium Park Summer Film Series

Tuesdays through August 29, 2023—Downtown
Millennium Park hosts free movies in the park throughout July and August. Films are shown on a state-of-the-art 40-foot LED screen READ MORE

Hummingbird Fest

August 19, 2023—Lemont
Celebrate hummingbirds with viewings and activities at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center. Hummingbirds will be banded for tracking and research. READ MORE

Villapalooza/Little Village Music Fest

August 26, 2023—Little Village
Celebrate Latinx art and culture at a neighborhood music festival in Little Village. Performers and artists will take over the neighborhood on August 26. READ MORE

Chalk Howard Street

August 26, 2023—Rogers Park
Food, live music, outdoor chalk art gallery, and a creative space for aspiring chalk artists are all at Chalk Howard Street. READ MORE

Bucktown Arts Fest

August 26, 2023—Bucktown
Families can enjoy the arts in Bucktown at this annual festival that includes a juried arts show, kids art area, live musical entertainment, and food. Proceeds from the fest benefit arts education programming in the neighborhood. READ MORE

Romanian Food & Folk Festival

August 26-27, 2023—North Park
Holy Nativity Romanian Orthodox Church invites Romanians and non-Romanians to enjoy live Romanian music, folk dancing and food on Chicago's northwest side. The event also includes inflatables and games for kids! READ MORE
Paradise Bay Waterpark photo courtesy of the Lombard Park District
Paradise Bay Waterpark photo courtesy of the Lombard Park District

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Places featured in this article:

Northbrook Metra Station Parking Lot
Museum of Contemporary Art
Parks Citywide
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion & Great Lawn
Holy Nativity Romanian Church
31st Street Harbor Playground Splash Pad