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35 Best Things to Do in Chicago June 2024 With Kids

Family dancing! Photo courtesy of the Grant Park Music festival
Family dancing! Photo courtesy of the Grant Park Music festival
5/31/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in June 2024 in Chicago? We have a list of festivals, outdoor movies, and more things to do with kids.

Two words come to mind when looking for things to do in June in Chicago—summer festivals. They come in all colors and flavors here and dozens are happening in different neighborhoods this month. Families can choose internationally themed fests in Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Wheaton, or Chinatown.

Chow down at the Windy City Hot Dog Fest, or enjoy local musicians during PorchFest in Lakeview. Don't forget Juneteenth (June 19) and Father's Day (June 16)! You can celebrate the former at an event at DuSable Museum, and the latter at Take Me Fishing! in Westmont. 

Beat the heat with one of our favorite splash pads or swimming lakes in the Chicago area. Or, head out to the far suburbs or rural areas to pick strawberries. School's out and fun is in with this list of top things to do with kids in Chicago this June 2024.

DuPage Children's Museum's Mess Fest photo courtesy of the Museum.
DuPage Children's Museum's Mess Fest photo courtesy of the Museum.

Top Kid Friendly Events in Chicago in June

Lincoln Park Greek Fest

Lincoln Square - FREE
Thursday, May 30-Sunday, June 2
Chicagoans can experience "filoxenia" or Greek hospitality at this annual event benefiting St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lincoln Park. The event includes authentic Greek food, music, dancing, and fun. READ MORE

Cori's Kids Triathlon

Oak Brook
Thursday, May 30-Sunday, June 2
Kids ages 6-14 can participate in a triathlon sponsored by the Cori Sikich Foundation in Oak Brook. The race promotes exercise in a fun and energetic way. READ MORE

Cream of Wheaton

Wheaton - FREE
Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2
Celebrate the best parts of living in Wheaton at this annual summer festival. Enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts, a carnival, kids activities, and a 5K or 10K race. Tower Mini Golf will also have buy one get one free admission. READ MORE

LaGrange Carnival

LaGrange
Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2
Rides, games, LED light displays, and concessions are highlights of this family-friendly weekend in LaGrange. Families can also participate in a pet parade on the Sunday of the festival. READ MORE

PorchFest Lakeview

Lakeview
Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2
Local musicians will perform on front porches in the Lakeview neighborhood at this post-COVID annual festival. Buy a ticket on EventBrite to get a map, support local artists, and enjoy fun suggestions for things to do in the neighborhood before and after the festival. READ MORE

Maifest Chicago

Lincoln Square - FREE
Thursday, May 30-Sunday, June 2
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 crowning of the Maifest Queen and decorating the May Pole. READ MORE

Do Division Family Fun Fest

Wicker Park - FREE
Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout June
As part of Do Division Fest, kids and their caregivers can enjoy this family-friendly section of the festival, including a petting zoo, mega slide, kids' music, and other fun activities!  READ MORE

Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier

Downtown - FREE
Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout June
Fireworks fans of all ages can enjoy a spectacular display, synchronized to music, for FREE every Wednesday and Saturday night at Navy Pier.  READ MORE

Frontier Kite Fly Fest

Naperville- FREE
Saturday, June 1-Sunday, June 2
Families can go fly a kite or watch professionals perform kite stunts at this Naperville Park District event. The event includes live music, a bounce house, crafts, giveaways, and, of course, a family kite flying area and kite demonstrations. The skate park will also be open for demos and open skating. READ MORE

Movies in Cantigny Park

Wheaton- FREE
Sunday, June 2
Cantigny Park hosts weekly movies at its bandshell every Friday at sunset throughout the summer. Seating is first come, first served and visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and bug spray. Concessions can be purchased at Mamie's Toffee and Treats. READ MORE

Windy City Hot Dog Fest

Six Corners - FREE
Saturday, June 1-Sunday, June 2
Taste all the hot dogs Chicago has to offer at this Six Corner festival. In addition to classic Chicago hot dogs from Byron's and Chicago Doghouse, families can taste internationally inspired hot dogs from Baked Cheese Haus, Indian hot dogs from Tikka Masala Dogs, and Asian inspired hot dogs from Lee Concessions. Live music rounds out the fun. READ MORE

Chicago Gospel Music Festival

Downtown - FREE
Saturday, June 1
Music fans of all ages can enjoy free performances during the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, which features a range of gospel music, from traditional choirs to contemporary urban gospel mixed with hip-hop and house music. There will also be kids activities and vendors in Millennium Park on Saturday.  READ MORE

Morton Arboretum's Arbor Evenings

Lisle
Wednesdays throughout June
Families can enjoy an evening of music and activities at the Morton Arboretum's Frost Hill on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. A different local band and various food trucks will be featured each week. READ MORE

Run for the Zoo

Lincoln Park
Sunday, June 2
Run for the Zoo is back! This annual event brings everyone from toddlers to elite athletes together for an exciting day of healthy activity in support of Lincoln Park Zoo. Every race registration helps keep the zoo free 365 days a year. Funds raised through this beloved family-friendly tradition also go to save species, from gorillas in the Congo to parrots in Puerto Rico. READ MORE

Franklin Park Fest

Franklin Park - FREE
Thursday, June 6-Sunday, June 9
Franklin Park closes its downtown streets for live entertainment, food vendors, and a beer and wine garden from June 6-9. The event includes a carnival and five live bands throughout Friday and Saturday. Railroad Day will be on Saturday, June 8, and feature train-themed activities. READ MORE

Chicago Park District Movies in the Park

Citywide - FREE
Thursday, June 6-Sunday, June 9
Hollywood comes to Chicago this summer with hundreds of movies throughout city parks! Bring your own blanket or chairs for retro favorites, kids' classics, and recent box office hits. READ MORE

Uptown Art Walk

Uptown - FREE
Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 9
See some or all of the 30 new works of public art going up on buildings around the neighborhood starting June. Visit the Uptown Art Procession at Winthrop Family Historical Gardens to see a real-life, merrymaking procession with musicians, fire-dancers, tumblers, costumes, instruments, and all sorts of silliness. Attendees can also watch artists create new murals in several Uptown locations and create their own art at several different activities. READ MORE

Midsommarfest

Andersonville - FREE
Saturday, June 8-Sunday, June 9
Visitors to traditionally Swedish Andersonville can enjoy Swedish traditions such as dancing around the May Pole, making floral crowns, and wearing Viking hats. Kids can visit the Kids and Family area at Clark and Summerdale to enjoy activities such as coloring, dancing, music, and art. READ MORE

Old Canal Days

Lockport - FREE
Saturday, June 8
Families can celebrate Lockport's past and present at this annual festival. A carnival, museum exhibits, food court, live music, magic show, car show and duck races will entertain families and bring out the region's heritage. Antique appraisers will give families a chance to find out what their antiques are worth, or families can travel on a trolley or go on a cemetery tour to learn more of the town's history. READ MORE

Movies at Gallagher Way

Citywide - FREE
Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning June 11
Visit Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field to see a variety of blockbusters on the big screen. Food trucks from local favorite restaurants like Big Star and West Town Bakery sell their goodies at the park. READ MORE

Rotary Grove Fest

Downers Grove - FREE
Thursday, June 20-Sunday, June 23
Downers Grove celebrates summer with live music and entertainment, a carnival, a food and business expo, craft beer fest, and car show in its downtown. The festival is free, but a $5 cover charge applies to those 16 and over entering the entertainment area. READ MORE

Grant Park Music Festival

The Loop
Friday, June 14-Saturday, June 15
Chicagoans of all ages can enjoy the Grant Park Music Festival, a 10-week celebration featuring world-class classical music concerts and community engagement—a Chicago tradition for more than 80 years. READ MORE

Scottish Festival and Highland Games at DuPage County Fairgrounds

Wheaton
Friday, June 14-Saturday, June 15
Illinois’ oldest non-profit is bringing back the beloved two-day Scottish extravaganza featuring cooking demonstrations by the National Chef of Scotland, North America’s largest and most prestigious pipe band competition, the crowd-pleasing heavy athletics, The Dogs of Scotland with a rescue dog agility show, and much more. READ MORE

Take Me Fishing!

Westmont - FREE
Saturday, June 15
Teach a kid to fish at Bernas Park in Westmont for a special Father's Day weekend outing. Prizes and giveaways available while supplies last. READ MORE

Long Grove Strawberry Fest

Long Grove
Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23
Enjoy strawberries in a variety of recipes at this annual festival celebrating the fruit. Loads of food, live entertainment, children's games and activities, and a classic carnival complete the strawberry-themed fun. READ MORE

DuPage Children's Museum's Mess Fest

Naperville
Saturday, June 22
Get extra messy in the parking lot of the DuPage Children's Museum! Kids can enjoy a giant paint pendulum, mud kitchen, shaving cream block building, polymer playground, slime station, body painting, and a wash station at this extra ooey gooey event. READ MORE

Swedish Days

Geneva
Thursday, June 20-Sunday, June 23
Geneva's "Swede" annual summer festival began in 1949. It includes music, food vendors, carnival rides, and a Swedish celebration called a Vast that hosts traditions such stories, dancing around the Maypole, and a festival queen. On Kids' Day, children can watch a parade, play in a basketball or dodgeball tournament, participate in a music contest, and visit a display of fire trucks and ladders. READ MORE

Eldridge Adventure Day

Elmhurst - FREE
Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23
Adventure-loving kids and their parents can participate in bug hunts, a fishing derby, nature bingo, and balloon twisting in Elmhurst's Eldridge Park. Food trucks will serve lunch and treats. READ MORE

DuSable Museum of African American History's Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom

Bronzeville - FREE
Wednesday, June 19
Visit the DuSable Museum of African American History to celebrate Juneteenth. The event will include food, vendors, musical entertainment and children's activities. READ MORE

Juneteenth Celebration: Unity Rising

Bronzeville - FREE
Saturday, June 15
Bronzeville's annual Juneteenth celebration features keynote speakers including Alderman Lamont Robinson, Political Pioneer Ms. Delmarie Cobb, Bronzeville Historian Myiti Sengstacke - Rice and performing artists from the Chicagoland area, who willl come together to showcase their depictions, share stories, educate residents and entertain attendees. The village-themed community event will highlight youth and adult creative artists as well as local small businesses with fun and educational activities. READ MORE

Dragon Boat Race for Literacy

Chinatown
Saturday, June 22
The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Dragon Boat Race for Literacy in Ping Tom Memorial Park, featuring a lion dance opening ceremony, dragon boat races, cultural performances, exhibition booths, and children's activities. READ MORE

Rockin' in the Park in Rosemont

Rosemont - FREE
Thursdays throughout June
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

Taste of Grayslake Family Picnic and Fireworks

Grayslake - FREE
Saturday, June 29
Live music, local food vendors, and carnival rides lead up to the annual fireworks display in Grayslake. This kicks off the Fourth of July fireworks season in Chicago READ MORE

Navy Pier Pride

Downtown - FREE
Saturday, June 29
Chicago's favorite LGBTQIA+ performers will put on a show for Chicago families at Navy Pier throughout the afternoon and evening with music, stories, and dance performances. READ MORE
It's beach time in Chicago! Photo courtesy of Centennial Beach in Naperville
It's beach time in Chicago! Photo courtesy of Centennial Beach in Naperville

Other Fun Summer Activities for Chicago Kids

Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in Chicago

The fun is as wet as it gets at these nearby sprinkler parks. READ MORE

11 Swimming Lakes Near Chicago To Cool You Off This Summer

Take a trip to one of these swimming lakes and cool off this summer. READ MORE

Drive-In Movie Theaters In and Around Chicago for Outdoor Movie Nights with Kids

Head outside and see a movie this summer. READ MORE

Best Water Parks and Amusement Parks for Toddlers Near Chicago

If you have a toddler, don't miss out on one of these fun amusement parks this summer. READ MORE

Best Strawberry Picking in Chicago and Summer Strawberry Festivals

Pick-your-own berries taste even sweeter! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Multiple parks citywide
DuSable Museum of African American History
Absolutely Anything Essential
31st Street Harbor Playground Splash Pad