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Labor Day Weekend 2024 in Chicago: Festivals, Fireworks, and More Things to Do With Kids

Hanging out with friends! Photo courtesy of Last Fling in Naperville
Hanging out with friends! Photo courtesy of Last Fling in Naperville
8/28/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

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

Labor Day Weekend 2024 in Chicago is a sweet, last taste of summer. There are many things to do this weekend in Chicago, like listen to music in Hyde Park, Highwood, and Navy Pier, or burn off the calories from the Labor Day barbecue in Elmhurst by biking the drive. This is a good weekend to blow the kids' bedtime with the final summer fireworks show on the lake or head out to a more distant suburb for a variety of end-of-summer, start-of-fall celebrations in Naperville, Buffalo Grove, Melrose Park, and Schaumburg.

You can use the long weekend for a staycation that includes one of our favorite tours of Chicago or get in one last trip to Galena. Then get ready for fall: Apple picking season is already underway at orchards around Chicago, and our event calendar is filling up with fall fun. Have a great holiday weekend!

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Chicago Navy Pier fireworks. Photo Credit Nick Ulivieri Photography, courtesy of the Pier.
Chicago Navy Pier fireworks. Photo Credit Nick Ulivieri Photography, courtesy of the Pier.

Things To Do in Chicago this Weekend with Kids

Chicago Onscreen Film Festival

Various parks citywide
Monday, August 26-Saturday, August 31
Local filmmakers present their tales of Chicago on the big screen at showings at 10 parks throughout the city. Different short films are shown in each park each evening. READ MORE

Buffalo Grove Days

Buffalo Grove
Thursday, August 29-Monday, September 2
Celebrate the northwest suburbs with a carnival, food trucks, live music for kids and grown-ups, bingo, a family fun walk, a pancake breakfast, and a rotary duck race. Fun and games are available for kids in the children's area. READ MORE

Last Fling

Naperville
Friday, August 30-Monday, September 2
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

Nashwood

Highwood - FREE
Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1
North suburban Highwood celebrates country music on Labor Day weekend with live country, bluegrass, blues and Southern rock music. Southern inspired food and drinks will also be available. Families can take a hayride through downtown to get between venues. Some stages will feature family friendly music throughout the festival. READ MORE

Taste of Polonia

Jefferson Park
Friday, August 30-Monday September 2
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
Friday, August 30-Monday, September 2
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
Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1
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

Schaumburg September Fest

Schaumburg - FREE
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Septemberfest offers arts & crafts, live music, kid's activities, carnival, and much more. READ MORE

Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier

Downtown - FREE, last event of the season
Saturday, August 31
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

Long Grove Irish Days

Long Grove
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Experience the luck of the Irish on Labor Day weekend in historic Downtown Long Grove. Visitors can see Irish dancers, hear Irish music, sample Irish inspired food and beverages, and judge contests for best Irish dog and best looking men's legs in a kilt. READ MORE

West Loop Art Fest

West Loop
Saturday, August 31
Shop for art, experience interactive art, make art with your kids, or enjoy live music in the West Loop at this annual street festival celebrating the arts. The fest features four blocks of art and 12 bands over two days. READ MORE

Chicago Labor Day Parade

East Side
Saturday, August 31
Celebrate Labor Day on Chicago's far Southeast Side, the birthplace of many Midwestern labor movements and unions. The parade honors the contributions of working class people as it marches south on Ewing Avenue from 104th Street to 112th Street, then proceeding east to Eggers Grove Forest Preserve. READ MORE

Live on the Lake!

Downtown - FREE
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening, Navy Pier presents local musical acts performing live for families. From cover bands to jazz to DJs to country music—there is something for everyone at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. READ MORE

'Cue for a Cause

Elmhurst
Sunday, September 1
Elmhurst's annual barbecue competition and family festival highlights backyard grill masters as they prepare ribs and chicken for the judges. This year's contest will also include a pie and cookie bake-off. Families can purchase beer, barbecue, and root beer floats and enjoy live entertainment throughout the day. READ MORE

Batavia Block Party & Taste of Batavia

Batavia
Sunday, September 1
Enjoy a taste of Batavia with tastings from the suburban downtown's favorite restaurants. Live music will accompany a family fun zone and a pie bake off. READ MORE

Bike the Drive

Lake Shore Drive
Sunday, September 1
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

Keepataw Day Parade

Lemont- FREE
Sunday, September 1
Southwest suburban Lemont celebrates Labor Day by honoring Potawatomi Chief Keepataw, who settled the region before the town was founded. A parade and family fun fest, including live entertainment, face painting, a balloon twister, and a magician, bring out the fun at the end of summer. READ MORE

Cantigny Outdoor Concerts

Wheaton - Last of the season
Sunday, September 1 & Monday, September 2
Families can enjoy a series of tribute bands, military music, and bluegrass groups at the bandshell at Cantigny every Sunday at 3pm. READ MORE

Bristol Renaissance Faire

Kenosha, WI - Final weekend
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Families can travel back to a 16th century English village to cheer on knights in a jousting tournament and feast on savory treats and tempting sweets. Kids may want to dress up to see fairies and acrobats or play games of chance and skill. READ MORE

Frankfort Fall Fest

Frankfort - FREE
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2
Celebrate fall in the southwest suburbs at this annual event featuring concerts, a carnival, food vendors, and more. A parade steps off on Sunday at 1pm, and families can visit the KidWork Children's Museum or Frankfort History Museum nearby. READ MORE
S'mores at Starved Rock! Photo by Maureen Wilkey
S'mores at Starved Rock! Photo by Maureen Wilkey

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

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Places featured in this article: