Spring Festivals and Fairs for Chicago Families

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on

Head to the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier for Holi, a Hindu spring festival celebrated in India and Nepal, also known as the “festival of colors” or the “festival of love.” Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Kid-Friendly Celebrations, Parades, Festivals, and Fairs in Chicago

While spring festival season in Chicago isn't quite as jam-packed as the summer or fall, there's still lots of fun to be found downtown and out in the suburbs. From St. Patrick's Day parades to maple sugar festivals, from Easter to Holi to Earth Day, and from kites to flowers to Star Wars, Chicago kids have no shortage of reasons to make the most of warmer weather on the way...most of them FREE. Plus there are can't-miss Chicago neighborhood celebrations like the Greek Heritage Parade, the Polish Parade, and the Festival Mole de Mayo. Get your calendars out and start making plans—spring is here!

Explore the Spring Flower Show: Understory: Layers of Light and get to know the plants that thrive below the forest canopy. Photo courtesy of the Garfield Conservatory
Ongoing Spring Fairs and Festivals
In the Tropics: The Orchid Show
Through Sunday, March 24 — Glencoe
Spring Flower Show: Understory: Layers of Light
Through Sunday, May 12 — Garfield Park (FREE)
Troll Hunt
Through Saturday, August 31 — Lisle
Macy's Flower Show
Sunday, March 24 - Sunday, April 7 — Chicago Loop (FREE)
Celebrate the first day of spring in Millennium Park with the Arts in the Dark Lantern Procession. Photo courtesy of Luma8
Fairs and Festivals in March
St. Patrick's Day Family Festival
Saturday, March 16 — Lisle (FREE)
The Dyeing of the Chicago River
Saturday, March 16 — Chicago Loop (FREE)
Kiwanis Pancake Festival
Saturday, March 16 — Naperville
Naperville St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 16 — Naperville (FREE)
Get Sticky! Maple Syrup Day
Saturday, March 16 — Oak Brook
Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 16 — Chicago Loop (FREE)
St. Patrick's Festival at the Irish American Heritage Center
Saturday, March 16 — Mayfair
Forest Park Public Library STEAM Fair
Saturday, March 16 — Forest Park (FREE)
Sugar Bush Fair
Saturday, March 16 - Sunday, March 17 — Schaumburg (FREE)
South Side Irish Parade
Sunday, March 17 — South Side (FREE)
St. Patrick's Day at Gallagher Way
Sunday, March 17 — Wrigleyville (FREE)
47th Annual Maple Syrup Festival
Sunday, March 17 — Northbrook (FREE)
Northwest Side Irish Parade
Sunday, March 17 — Norwood Park (FREE)
Arts in the Dark Lantern Procession in Millennium Park
Wednesday, March 20 — Millennium Park (FREE)
Chicago Flower & Garden Show: Flowertales
Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24 — Navy Pier
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24 — McCormick Place
Global Connections: Holi
Saturday, Mar 23 — Navy Pier (FREE)
Maple Syrup Festival
Sunday, March 24 — North Park Village (FREE)
Good Food Festival
Saturday, March 23 — Little Italy (FREE)
Maple Syrup Festival
Sunday, March 24 — North Park (FREE)
Randolph Street Market
Saturday, March 31 — West Chicago (FREE)
Join in a fun-filled day of behind-the-scenes exploration of the Lyric Opera House! Photo courtesy fo the Lyric Opera House
Fairs and Festivals in April
Hop Into Spring at Park No. 571
Friday, April 5 — Bridgeport
Flashlight Egg Hunt at Garibaldi Park
Friday, April 5 — Little Italy (FREE)
Family Day at Lyric
Saturday, April 6 — Chicago Loop
Star Wars Celebration
Thursday, April 11 - Monday, April 15 — South Side (FREE)
I Heart Halal
Friday, April 12 - Sunday, April 14 — Navy Pier
Pool Egg Hunt at Sheridan
Friday, April 12 — Little Italy
Flashlight Egg Hunt at Sheridan
Friday, April 12 — Little Italy
Bunny Egg Hunt at Commercial Club
Saturday, April 13 — Noble Square (FREE)
Earth Day at Jesse White Park
Saturday, April 20 — Cabrini-Green (FREE)
Egg Hunt at Brainerd
Saturday, April 20 — Brainerd
Spring One of a Kind Show and Sale at the Mart
Friday, April 26 - Sunday, April 28 — River North (kids under 12 FREE)
Festival del Niño
Sunday, April 28 — Brighton Park (Kids are FREE)
The 128th Chicago Polish Parade is celebrating the Polish Constitution of 1791 in honor of the first democratic constitution in Europe. Photo courtesy of the organizers
Fairs and Festivals in May
Lilac Time
Thursday, May 2 - Sunday, May 19 — Lombard (FREE)
Kids and Kites Festival
Saturday, May 4 — Lincoln Park (FREE)
Polish Parade
Saturday, May 4 — Grant Park (FREE)
Art in Wilder Park
Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 — Elmhurst (FREE)
Fairy Festival
Saturday, May 4 — Joliet
Country in the Park
Saturday, May 4 — Downers Grove (FREE)
Go Fly A Kite
Saturday, May 4 — Wheaton (FREE)
Lemont Touch-A-Truck
Saturday, May 4 — Lemont (FREE)
Glen Ellyn Touch-A-Truck
Saturday, May 4 — Glen Ellyn (FREE)
Tails on the Trails
Saturday, May 4 — Lisle
Great Midwestern Train Show
Sunday, May 5 — Wheaton (kids under 12 FREE)
Chicago Greek Heritage Parade
Sunday, May 5 — Greektown (FREE)
International Family Equality Day
Sunday, May 5 — Navy Pier
Spring Festival at the Trailside Museum of Natural History
Sunday, May 5 — River Forest (FREE)
Switch on Summer with ComEd
Sunday, May 5 — Chicago Loop (FREE)
Math Spring Carnival
Sunday, May 5 — Naperville (FREE)
Party in the Park: O'Brien Park Playground Opening
Wednesday, May 8 — Downers Grove (FREE)
Bolingbrook Food Truck Rally
Friday, May 10 — Bolingbrook (FREE, with fees for food)
Kids Day at Lilacia Park
Saturday, May 11 — Lombard (FREE)
Family Festival at the Shedd Aquarium
Sunday, May 12 — Museum Campus
Community Fun Night at Skinner Park
Friday, May 17 — Near West Side (FREE)
Kids Day at Kilbourn Park
Sunday, May 19 — Kilbourn Park (FREE)
150th Lombard Lilac Parade
Sunday, May 19 — Lombard (FREE)
Vintage Rides Car Show
Fridays, May 24 through August 23 — Wheaton (FREE)
Festival Mole de Mayo
Friday, May 24 - Sunday, May 26 — Pilsen
Chicago Memorial Day Parade
Saturday, May 25 — Chicago Loop (FREE)
Randolph Street Market
Saturday, May 25 - Sunday, May 26 — West Chicago (FREE)
Mayfest
Thursday, May 30 - Sunday, June 2 — Lincoln Square (FREE)
Fairs & Festivals
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