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Best of September 2024: Top Things To Do in Chicago With Kids

Printer's Row Lit Fest. Photo by Robert Kusel, courtesy of the event.
Printer's Row Lit Fest. Photo by Robert Kusel, courtesy of the event.
8/30/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

We're headed back to school but there are still plenty of fun things to do in Chicago with kids in September. The last of the summer street festivals are wrapping up on Labor Day weekend, so check out Taste of Polonia or Naperville's Last Fling. Or embrace the feeling of fall with Printers Row Lit Fest, Septemberfest in Bloomingdale, or Oktoberfest in Lakeview.

Athletic families might enjoy a chance to Bike the Drive at the annual event that shuts down DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and nostalgia-loving families may enjoy the Throwback Music Fest or a Soap Box Derby in Naperville.

Looking for classes to satisfy kids' interests after school? Our Class Guide has lots of ideas for kids with all kinds of fun hobbies. And don't forget, our family-friendly calendar is filled with plenty of other things to see and do.

Read on to see the best events for kids in Chicago in September 2024...

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Long Grove Apple Fest. Photo courtesy of Enjoy Illinois
Long Grove Apple Fest. Photo courtesy of Enjoy Illinois

Family-Friendly Fun for September 2024

Last Fling

Naperville - FREE
August 30-September 2, 2024
Naperville's annual end of summer festival features live music, food vendors, a carnival and Family Fun Land. The family area includes sack races, water balloon contests, and eating contests featuring cotton candy, spaghetti, and cupcakes. Music, dancing, stilt walkers, and a real live princess round out the family fun. READ MORE

Taste of Polonia

Portage Park
August 30-September 2, 2024
The country's largest Polish festival takes place at the Copernicus Center in Chicago on Labor Day weekend. More than 30 bands will play on four stages throughout the weekend, and families can enjoy inflatables, a climbing wall, face painting, clowns, Disney characters, tastings and cooking classes, carnival rides, and games. READ MORE

African Festival of the Arts

Washington Park
August 30-September 2, 2024
Washington Park hosts the annual African Festival of the Arts, featuring vibrant drumming, museum quality and collectible artifacts, colorful and rich handwoven fabric and textile, family friendly activities, music, and food.  READ MORE

Taste of Melrose Park

Melrose Park - FREE
August 30-September 1, 2024
Summer winds down with this annual festival in the near west suburbs. Families can enjoy a live entertainment, including kids' musicians, bagpipes, the Sabor de Mexico stage, and the Jesse White Tumblers, along with carnival rides and games and a free interactive racing game. READ MORE

Bike the Drive

DuSable Lake Shore Drive
September 1, 2024
Bike the drive is a five hour event where no cars are allowed on Lake Shore Drive so that bikers of all ages and skill levels can ride their bikes and enjoy breathtaking views of the city and the lake!  READ MORE

German-American Fest

Lincoln Square - FREE
September 10-12, 2024
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 annual Steuben Parade through North Center and Lincoln Square, and traditional German music and dancing. READ MORE

Rock the Block Party

Elmhurst
September 6-7, 2024
Families can celebrate the end of summer with live entertainment and local food vendors at this annual Elmhurst festival. Kids can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, games, a photo booth, and a performances from local musicians. Adults can enjoy beverages from the beer and wine tent. READ MORE

Throwback Music Fest

Gladstone Park - FREE
September 6-8, 2024
Introduce kids to the music of the '50s, '60s, '70s, and 80's at this annual northwest side festival. While grownups enjoy tribute bands, a throwback pinup contest, and a classic car show, kids can play games, do crafts, enjoy face painting, or bounce in a bounce house.   READ MORE

Chicago SummerDance

Downtown - FREE
September 6-8, 2024
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

Printers Row Lit Fest

South Loop - FREE
September 7-8, 2024
Bibliophiles of all ages are welcome at Printers Row Lit Fest, where they can enjoy talks, demonstrations, and workshops with authors of all genres. Kids authors and books will be featured throughout the fest. READ MORE

Midnight Circus in the Parks

Parks throughout the City
Saturdays & Sundays, September 7-29, 2024
This small, family-run circus is as sweet as they come, bringing the circus to parks all over Chicago for a small, intimate performance! Families can grab a blanket and get cozy in their favorite park to see talented aerialists, gymnasts, tight rope walkers, clowns, and even a dog put on an energetic and awe-inspiring performance. READ MORE

Soap Box Derby 2024 September Rally

Naperville
September 7-8, 2024
Build your own car or test run a pre-built car at the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby's track. READ MORE

DuPage Comic Con

Wheaton
September 7, 2024
Might Con presents the very best new local comic artists along with special guests and deals from comic book and toy vendors at DuPage County Fairgrounds. Free comics, free parking and free admission for kids make this a great day for comic lovers. READ MORE

Bloomingdale Septemberfest

Bloomingdale - FREE
September 7, 2024
Celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall at this annual event in Bloomingdale. Families can enjoy a parade, live entertainment, carnival rides and games, food and craft vendors, and the Lions Club Beer Tent. READ MORE

Mayfair Fest

Mayfair - FREE
September 7, 2024
Mayfair Park Advisory Council host a full day of games, food trucks, vendors, drinks, and more for northwest side families. Entertainers and a kids zone round out the fun. READ MORE

Hanover Park Fall Fun Fest Featuring Flavors of Hanover Park

Hanover Park- FREE
September 7, 2024
Enjoy all things fall at Hanover Park's annual Fall Fun Fest. Families can go on a hayride, complete an inflatable obstacle course, play BINGO and listen to live music. The event also includes glitter tattoos for kids, food trucks, and fall crafts and games. Families can also taste foods from local restaurants and vendors. READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ

Glen Ellyn - FREE
September 7, 2024
Enter your barbecue recipe, or come taste some of Glen Ellyn's best barbecue while listening to live local bands. Contestants will enter their chicken, ribs, and sauce for judging. Kids' musicians will play at various times throughout the day while kids enjoy Piglet Playland, which features inflatables, arts and crafts, and face painting. READ MORE

Renegade Craft Fair

Wicker Park - FREE
September 7-8, 2024
Arts and crafts fans can enjoy Renegade's largest event of the year, featuring over 400 incredible makers and designers from all over the US, as well as live entertainment, local DJs, workshops, art installations, food trucks, nonprofits, cocktails, craft beers, and more. READ MORE

Elmhurst Touch-a-Truck

Elmhurst - FREE
September 10, 2024
Kids can touch and climb into a variety of trucks at Elmhurst's Beren's Park during this annual free event. Food trucks will be on hand to complete the truck theme, with Smallcakes, Sugar Mama's Mini Donuts and Windy City Ice Cream serving treats. READ MORE

Misericordia Family Fest

West Edgewater
September 11, 2024
Food, games, and fun for the whole family will raise money for Misericordia, a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities. READ MORE

Revolutionary War Reenactment

Wheaton
September 10-11, 2024
The 18th century comes alive at Cantigny at this weekend-long battle reenactment. The event will include a fife and drum corp, tomahawk competition, children's games, heritage dance, reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and a battle reenactment.  READ MORE

Migrating Monarchs Celebration

River Forest - FREE
September 11, 2024
Learn how monarchs migrate to Mexico, how researchers tag them to research their movements, and see how they are raised and released. Kids crafts and educational displays make this event fun for all ages. READ MORE

Memorial Park Summer Entertainment Series

Wheaton
September 13-14, 2024
The Wheaton Park District presents a series of local bands in Memorial Park on select weekends this summer.  READ MORE

Glow in the Park Lantern Walk

Glen Ellyn - FREE
September 15, 2024
Glen Ellyn Park District is partnering with Charlie's Corner Foundation for a lantern walk around Lake Ellyn to benefit Lurie Children's Hospital. The event will include live music by Tres Moustache, face painting, balloon artists, and a bubble show. READ MORE

Norwood Park Fall Fest

Norwood Park
September 13-14, 2024
Celebrate fall with live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and kids' activities for all ages. Kids can enjoy carnival games, a magic show, tattoos and henna, an inflatable corn maze and kids' music and dance performances. READ MORE

Spring Road Fall Fest

Elmhurst - FREE
September 17, 2024
Families can enjoy fall-themed entertainment at the intersection of Spring Road and the Prairie Path in Elmhurst. Activities include a petting zoo, pony rides, a moon jump, temporary tattoos, carnival games, and musical entertainment. Kids can also paint pumpkins and enjoy concessions. READ MORE

Long Grove Apple Fest

Long Grove
September 20-22, 2024
How do you like them apples? Long Grove will make them any way you want—baked in pies, dipped in chocolate or caramel, or chopped up in sangria. Families can also enjoy a carnival and live music with their apple treats. READ MORE

St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest

Lakeview
September 23-25, 2024
Bring your lederhosen and dirndls for some German family fun. Enjoy some bratwurst, some live music, and all things Bavarian, as well as music from favorite Chicago acts. READ MORE

Parkway Bank Park's Family Fall Fest

Rosemont - FREE
September 29, 2024
Parkway Bank Park entertainment district will kick off the fall season with this annual family-friendly event featuring a variety of free activities including bounce houses, face painting, a petting zoo, balloon sculptors, and more! READ MORE
Photo courtesy of The Orchards at Royal Oak Farm
Photo courtesy of The Orchards at Royal Oak Farm

Day Trips from Chicago and Seasonal Activities

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

Best Places to Hike with Kids Near Chicago

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

Guide to the Best Classes for Kids in Chicago

Have fun with great classes for kids in Chicago. READ MORE

Robot Restaurants and Other Fun Automated Spots in Chicago

Futuristic fun for everyone. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Naperville Central High School
Lake Shore Drive
Parks Citywide
Hanover Park Community Center
Lake Ellyn Park & Boathouse