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20 Fun and FREE Things To Do in Chicago April 2024 With Kids

Eclipse photo by Andrew Shirey. Courtesy of the National Park Service
Eclipse photo by Andrew Shirey. Courtesy of the National Park Service
3/31/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Spring has sprung and our favorite things to do in Chicago include being outdoors. One thing to look at this month is the solar eclipse, which will reach 93% totality in some parts of the Chicago area. Check out eclipse-related events at the Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, or Pullman Park.

Get outside for Earth Day; you can help clean up litter in Cook County's forest preserves, make a recycled craft at Dvorak Park, or go for a run in Brookfield. 

For indoor activities, check out some great kids' theater this month, like Cloud Man at the Filament Theatre, Skunk and Badger at Lifeline Theater, or Beauty and the Beast at the Beverly Arts Center.

April weekends are the perfect time to play tourist in your city with our top 25 Chicago tourist attractions or get out of the city for a family hike.  And don't forget to book those summer camps, which are filling up fast in the city and suburbs. 

Here are our top things to do in Chicago with kids this April!

 

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Help with Earth Day cleanup this April. Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Help with Earth Day cleanup this April. Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Best Things To Do in Chicago in April

Poetry Making Playground

East Garfield Park
Daily throughout April
The Poetry Making Playground is an immersive creative installation where original poems, written by some of Chicago’s most renowned poets, have been reimagined and physicalized for audiences to interact with in an entirely new way. The poetry playground fuses poetics, tangible objects, illustration, fabrications/design, multimedia, and life-size interactive and reflective installations for everyone! READ MORE

Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show: Sweet Gnome Chicago

Lincoln Park - FREE
Daily throughout April
From the end of February to Mother's Day, see this flower show that combines flowers and fun to celebrate all that is Spring! Nearly 300 gnomes of many sizes and materials will hang out in all the display houses, with a particular focus on the Show House. There, vignettes of the whimsical creatures are set amongst vibrant and gorgeous spring flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals, and bulbs. READ MORE

Beauty and the Beast

Beverly
Wednesdays through Fridays through April 26
Chicago Kids Company - Theater for Children (CKC) presents Beauty and the Beast.  Don’t miss Chicago Kids Company’s newest show! Full of comedy, romance, and plenty of audience participation! This one-hour musical adaptation will be geared for children ages 2-10.  READ MORE

Local Author Fest

Wheaton - FREE
Saturday, April 6
Families can come see their favorite local authors at Wheaton Public Library as they read and sign their works. Various authors will read their books aloud at the cafe area on the main floor. READ MORE

Filament Theatre presents Cloud Man

Old Irving Park April 6-7 & April 13-14
Filament Theatre is delighted to present the magical Constellation Points’ Cloud Man. The show features exquisite puppetry and invites audience members to follow the clues to the very top of Cloud Mountain, where the views are always surprising. The story is told by cloud expert Cloudia, who always had her head in the clouds.  READ MORE

Lifeline Theater Presents the world premiere of Skunk and Badger

Rogers Park
Saturday, April 6-Sunday, April 7
Lifeline Theater presents the world premiere production of Skunk and Badger based on the book by Amy Timberlake and illustrated by Jon Klassen. Lifeline Ensemble member Alan Donahue teams up with director Brian Tochterman Jr. to bring you this world premiere that navigates the rocky road of two very different roommates. READ MORE

Holi - The Festival of Colors at the Naperville Riverwalk

Naperville
Saturday, April 6
The Vedic Cultural Society invites visitors to celebrate spring, friendship, and forgiveness by throwing bags of colored flour at their friends at the Naperville Riverwalk. The event includes food, music, and shopping. Admission is free, and colored bags are available for $2.50. READ MORE

Girls Build! Day 2024

Downtown
Sunday, April 7
Join the Chicago Architecture Center for a special STEM festival designed just for girls ages 11-17! Girls will build, learn and network with professionals from more than 15 different STEM organizations.   READ MORE

A Partial Eclipse at the Park

Pullman - FREE
Monday, April 8
With 95% totality expected in Chicago, what better place to watch the eclipse than with park rangers and a NASA Ambassador at Chicago's first National Park unit: Pullman National Historical Park? The event features local NASA Ambassador Mark Benson, who will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance on viewing the eclipse. In the Chicago area, the eclipse begins at 12:51pm as the moon moves between the sun and the earth. The height of the event will be at 2:08pm. READ MORE

Eclipse Encounter ’24

Museum Campus - FREE
Monday, April 8
Celebrate the Great North American Eclipse this spring at the Adler Planetarium! On April 8, 2024, everyone’s favorite star (the Sun) and our rocky celestial neighbor (the Moon) are lining up to give families an opportunity to see a partial solar eclipse from Chicago. Enjoy safe solar viewing through telescopes on the telescope terrace, telescopes for solar projection and eclipse photography, free solar viewers, and photo opportunities with big eclipse glasses. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse 2024 at the Museum of Science and Industry

Hyde Park
Monday, April 8
Join the Museum of Science and Industry to celebrate science in action with activities inside and out. Check out the eclipse up close with telescopic viewing of the Moon crossing the Sun's path through solar telescopes, watch a NASA livestream with the Museum's own NASA Solar System Ambassador, or participate in family- and student-friendly hands-on activities. READ MORE

Triton Troupers Circus

River Grove
Thursday, April 11-Saturday, April 13
Local residents learn and perform various circus acrobatics and clowning acts to entertain their friends and neighbors. The Triton Troupers are back in action with stilts, trampoline, swinging trapeze, teeterboard, tightrope, and unicycle, and features several legacy Troupers. READ MORE

Smart Museum of Art Family Day

Hyde Park - FREE
Saturday, April 13
Kids and their caregivers can drop in for a new Family Days centered around creating art related to the exhibits on display at the Smart Museum of Art. With new projects every month, Family Days offer opportunities for kids and their caregivers to create together and connect with one another.  READ MORE

Earth Day Fair at Dvorak Park

Pilsen - FREE
Saturday, April 13
Dvorak Park hosts a special Earth Day event, where kids and their caregivers can learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint through interactive displays, demonstrations, and arts and crafts projects. Families can also sign up for Earth Day clean ups. READ MORE

One Earth Film Festival

Oak Park - FREE
Wednesday, April 17-Wednesday, April 24
Kids can learn more about the environment and threats to it through films. The One Earth Film Fest includes both in-person and virtual offerings for kids ages 3 and up. Animated and live action films provide education and entertainment for families. READ MORE

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Earth Day Cleanup

Forest Preserves throughout Cook County - FREE
Friday, April 19-Saturday, April 20
Do your part to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up litter in Cook County Forest Preserves. Each preserve will have pick up supplies available for families. Some preserves will have activities for families. READ MORE

The Let's Go Science Show

Naperville
Saturday, April 20
Since 1982, Todd Victor and Lizette Guy have been together entertaining families, first as jugglers and physical comedians performing throughout the world. They have now combined their theater skills with their love of science and teaching to create this fun-filled science show. READ MORE

Oak Park Conservatory Kids' Fest

Oak Park - FREE
Sunday, April 21
Kids can learn more about plants and bees at the Oak Park Conservatory's annual Kids Fest. The event includes a celebration of bees and bee keeping, hands-on educational activities, a scavenger hunt, and crafts. This year's theme, Life Under a Log, will be highlighted by a visit from The Frog Lady, as well as partners from Trailside Museum, Field Museum, and Illinois Master Naturalists. READ MORE

Brookfield Zoo Earth Day 2.2 Mile

Brookfield
Sunday, April 21
This non-competitive 2.2-mile run around Brookfield Zoo is geared toward runners and walkers of all ages. Celebrate Earth Day during the pre-opening hours to see the animals at the zoo. READ MORE

C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo at McCormick Place

McCormick Place
Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28
Get geeky at C2E2, Chicago's annual comic and pop culture convention at McCormick Place. Kids might be the most interested in the Family Play Zone, where they can play interactive games, learn to draw their favorite characters, and have fun in the free play zone. Favorite characterswill be there to meet and greet with kids. READ MORE
It's finally time to start playing outside again. Photo courtesy of Maggie Daley Park
It's finally time to start playing outside again. Photo courtesy of Maggie Daley Park

More Things To Do in Chicago This Season

What's New at Chicago Zoos: Cute Cubs and a Primate Forest at the Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos

Get ready for cute cubs and a primate forest! READ MORE

Chicago Summer Camp Guide

Find a summer camp for every age and interest around Chicagoland! READ MORE

Best Places to Hike with Kids Near Chicago

Soak up nature in these forest preserves and parks near the Windy City. READ MORE

Top Attractions in Chicago: Best Things to See and Do With Kids

It may be called The Second City, but Chicago is second to none when it comes to urban vacation destinations for families. It's easy to get around using public transportation and taxis, and there are lots of kid-friendly activities in Chicago with the Loop, giving families the chance to visit multiple tourist attractions in Chicago in one day. For example, you can check out Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, and the Art Institute without ever getting in a cab or train. Or, visit the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium all on foot.  There are also plenty of... READ MORE

Best Chicago Museums For Kids and Families

Museums abound in the Chicago area. Here are the most entertaining ones for kids. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

west side justice center
Chicago Architecture Center
Triton College Gymnasium
Cook County Forest Preserves