Boo at the Zoo is one of our favorite Halloween events in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Brookfield Zoo
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Trunk-or-Treat in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Winnetka Park District
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Chicago's affordable afterschool programs are located around the city. ​Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
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Oktoberfests, Little Amal, and More Fun Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend with Kids

Drift into Sleep with Little Amal at Maggie Daley Park. Photo courtesy of the event.
Drift into Sleep with Little Amal at Maggie Daley Park. Photo courtesy of the event.
9/27/23 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

September ends and October begins this weekend! So check out the last big weekend of Oktoberfests in North Center, Lakeview, and Downtown. World music and cultures are all around the city this weekend at World Music Fest in multiple locations or Global Peace Picnic in Humboldt Park. Have you heard of Little Amal? She's the 12-foot tall animatronic puppet making her way across the country to remind people of the plight of Syrian refugees. And she's stopping through Chicago this week. You can catch her making stone soup at Margate Park or drifting off to sleep at Maggie Daley Park.

And since fall officially began last week, it's time to take a look at apple picking, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes. And check out our full list of free fall events!

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids 

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Check out one of the many festivals in Chicago this weekend. Photo courtesy of the South Side Science Festival
Check out one of the many festivals in Chicago this weekend. Photo courtesy of the South Side Science Festival

Things To Do This Weekend in Chicago with Kids

West Town Art Walk

Friday, September 29- Sunday, October 1—West Town
The West Town Art Walk is an annual event celebrating art in all its forms, including visual, musical, culinary, and more, within shops along Chicago Avenue. There will be a public art walking tour listed on the map, live art making at Chicago Truborn, art installations along Chicago Ave, live music in various locations, trunk shows, wine tastings, and a raffle.  READ MORE

Lucha Teotl

Opens Friday, September 29—Downtown
The Goodman Theatre transforms into a wrestling ring for Lucha Teotl, a show about the high drama and rich cultural history of lucha libre. Actors and luchadores (wrestlers) in masks representative of Aztec gods play out an exciting wrestling story about family, honor, tradition and redemption. READ MORE

Outdoor Nature Skate

Friday, September 29—Beaubien Woods
Bring your skates or other non-motorized wheels to move to the music at Beaubien Woods. Skating contests will be held throughout the event, or you can just bring a chair to enjoy the music. READ MORE

River Forest Family Campout

Friday, September 29-Saturday, September 30—River Forest
Families can enjoy a cool fall night together at Priory Park with the River Forest Park District. Bring your own tent and sleeping bags. A bonfire and supplies to make s'mores will also be provided. READ MORE

World Music Festival

Ends Sunday, October 1—Downtown and Humboldt Park
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. READ MORE

St. Benedict's Oktoberfest

Friday, September 29- Sunday, October 1—North Center
St. Ben's Parish Oktoberfest includes live entertainment, traditional German food, a carnival, and games. Proceeds will benefit local outreach programs and church operations. READ MORE

Lakeview East Oktoberfest

Friday, September 29- Sunday, October 1—Lakeview
Prost! East Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and Our Lady of Mount Carmel host their first annual Oktoberfest with live music and German treats. Carnival games, a raffle, and a stein tapping ceremony round out the fun. READ MORE

Brick or Treat Monster Party

Starts Friday, September 29—Schaumburg
LEGOLand Discovery Center invites kids to get in the Halloween spirit with a 4D LEGO movie, Glow Fun Zone, haunted MINILAND scavenger hunt, and not-so-scary giveaways. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Little Amal Makes Stone Soup at Margate Park

Saturday, September 30—Andersonville
Little Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk. She has visited more than 97 towns in her 9,000-kilometer walk across the country to draw attention to the huge numbers of children fleeing war, violence and persecution, each with their own story. Chicago Children's Theatre, The Chicago Park District, The Chicago Civic Orchestra, CircEsteem, Nourishing Hope, Soup and Bread, and The Syrian Community Network sponsor Amal as she teaches families to make her special stone soup in Margate Park. READ MORE

Little Amal Drifts Off to Sleep at Maggie Daley Park

Saturday, September 30—Downtown
Little Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk. She has visited more than 97 towns in her 9,000-kilometer walk across the country to draw attention to the huge numbers of children fleeing war, violence and persecution, each with their own story. Tiahui NEIU, Bilingual School Programs, Palenque LSNA, Opera-Matic, the Chicago Park District and Transwestern invite families to see her fall asleep in Maggie Daley Park. READ MORE

Harvest Fest at Fischer Farm

Saturday, September 30—Bensenville
Bensenville celebrates fall with this annual event that includes pumpkin yoga, inflatables, a straw pyramid, pony rides, pumpkin painting, hay rides, and live entertainment . Adults may also enjoy a beer tent and craft sale. READ MORE

South Side Science Festival

Saturday, September 30—Hyde Park
Explore the fascinating world of science at the second annual South Side Science Festival. This free festival will feature an afternoon and evening of fun science, inspiring exchanges, live experiments and demonstrations, food, and music! READ MORE

Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest

Saturday, September 30- Sunday, October 1—Lincoln Square
The 34th annual Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest offers activities for apple lovers of all ages. Food vendors and farm vendors will be on hand for families to buy fall-themed foods! Kids can enjoy apple themed activities like an apple sensory bin and an apple slime kit, as well as activities from Fit City Kids, Itsy Bitsy Play & Cafe, Nonku's Corner, and several local schools. READ MORE

Brookfield Fine Arts Festival

Saturday, September 30—Brookfield
More than 50 artists take to Kiwanis Park in Brookfield to show off their work. The event includes live music, food trucks, a sidewalk chalk art contest, community art, and yoga. READ MORE

Indie Park Fest

Saturday, September 30—Irving Park
Visit local musicians and artists at Independence Park. In addition to live music and an art market, kids can enjoy a kids corner with face painting, crafts, bounce houses, and Glowby the Bubbler in the early afternoon. READ MORE

Global Peace Picnic at Humboldt Park

Saturday, September 30—Humboldt Park
Celebrate global music, culture, and peace at Humboldt Park with family-friendly activities. The Global Peace Picnic returns to Humboldt Park with two stages—the ¡Súbelo! Stage featuring six Latine dance companies, and the Global Stage presenting three bands headlined by Amayo. READ MORE

Autumn Jubilee

Saturday, September 30—Villa Park
Celebrate autumn in Villa Park! Families can enjoy food trucks, local vendors, music, henna tattoos, face painting, kids crafts, photo booths, and more at this local festival. READ MORE

Wheaton October Fest

Saturday, September 30—Wheaton
Enjoy s pumpkin painting, food and beer garden, small rides, and live performances by Vest Dance Troupe, The Wayouts and Wurst Kase Scenario at this family friendly event in Wheaton. proceeds benefit the DuPage Historical Museum Foundation. READ MORE

The Last Straw

Sunday, October 1—Westmont
Decorate a pumpkin, make a scarecrow, pan for gold, or make rope at this fall-themed festival in Westmont. Kids can learn about life in the past as they play old-fashioned games, take a hay ride, or buy goodies from a bake sale. READ MORE

Oktober Family Fest at Northman Chicago Riverwalk

Sunday, October 1—Downtown
Kids can get a taste of Oktoberfest at The Northman at the Chicago Riverwalk. The event includes fun Oktoberfest food and drinks, as well as balloon twisting and face painting, and live music from School of Rock Oak Park, Joints Creek, and the Luna Blues Machine. Friends of the Chicago River will receive 25% of all sales. READ MORE
Just about an hour from Chicago, kids can pick apples at Apple Holler through November. Photo courtesy of the farm
Just about an hour from Chicago, kids can pick apples at Apple Holler through November. Photo courtesy of the farm

More Fun Things To Do in Chicago Right Now

Best Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago for Families

Pick from over 20 pumpkin patches and pumpkin farms near Chicago for a day of fall family fun. READ MORE

Amazing Corn Mazes Near Chicago for Kids

A corn maze is the most fun you can have getting (sort of) lost. READ MORE

Apple Picking near Chicago: Best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids

We’ve selected 14 of the best apple orchards within a two-hour drive of Chicago for your apple-picking pleasure, many with seasonal extras like hayrides, corn mazes, train rides, and activities for kids READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treats in Chicago for Halloween 2023

These fun Halloween events offer many opportunities for toddlers and small children to show off their costumes and get candy. READ MORE

Top Halloween Events in Chicago for Kids and Families: Pumpkins, Trick-or-Treat, Movies, and More

Your guide to the best Halloween events near Chicago for kids in 2023. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Various sites throughout Chicago
University of Chicago Hyde Park Campus
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