This weekend in Chicago entails lots of fall fun for families and their kiddos in tow. Whether you are looking for something indoors or out, this list has got you covered. Some outdoor options include a free telescope observatory at Adler Planetarium, outdoor kids concert at Millennium Park or maybe a haunted house at Sheridan Park. Some indoor events include free entry at The Field Museum, free story time and free artist studio at the Art Institute of Chicago. Take a look below for a curated list of events. For a more comprehensive listing, check out the events calendar page on KidTrail. Have a lovely fall weekend!
FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016
Doane at Dusk
What: Home to the largest aperture telescope available to the public in the Chicagoland area, the Adler’s Doane Observatory provides visitors a unique opportunity to see a variety of celestial objects like the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and more! After museum hours.
Date/Time: Friday October 14, 2016 from 7 – 9 pm.
Cost: FREE and open to the public on a first come, first served basis. No tickets are needed.
Age: All Ages
Location:
Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
For the Love of Stars
What: Join the Chicago Astronomer for a quarter moon and night sky viewing.
Date/Time: Friday October 14, 2016, from 6 to 9 PM
Cost: FREE
Location:
The 606
Exelon Observatory
Little Kids Rock Concert
What: Little Kids Rock serves 120 schools in the Chicago area with donated instruments and more. Come rock out with them and the CPS Department of Arts Education during this lunchtime event.
Date/Time: Friday 10/14/2016 at 11 AM to 2:30 PM
Cost: Free
Age: All Ages
Location:
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
201 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
312-742-1168
Parent & Tot Yoga Drop in Session
What: Parent and Tot Yoga class for babies that are crawling to age 2.
Date/Time: Friday 10/14/2016 at 10:15 AM to 11:15 PM
Cost: $18 per drop in class
Location:
Bloom Yoga Studio
4663 N. Rockwell St.
Chicago, IL 60625
773-463-9642
Kids Eat FREE at Hutch Restaurant
What: Hutch Chicago offers a take on American classics including appetizers like the Hutch board, skillet shrimp and tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons. It is a warm and inviting place for families with kids in tow.
Date/Time: Friday 10/14/2016 at 5 PM to 6:30 PM
Age: Limited to kids 12 and under.
Cost: 2 FREE kids meals per one paid adult entree.
Location:
Hutch Chicago
3301 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
773-248-1155
Haunted House at Sheridan Park
What: Sheridan Park is hosting its annual Haunted House. Come and have fun and get scared at the same time at this year's spooky and terrifying Haunted House.
Recommended Age: 8 and up
Date/Hours: Friday, October 14, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Cost: $2
Location:
Sheridan Park
910 S. Aberdeen St.
Chicago, IL
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15, 2016
Free Story Time
What: Looking for something fun to do with your small kiddos. Join us for stories, songs and crafts every Wednesday and Saturday at 10AM. StoryTime is with our owner (and former pre-K teacher), Miss Kimberly!
Date/Time: Saturday October 15, 2016 at 10 AM
Cost: FREE
Location:
Volumes Bookcafe
Neighborhood:
1474 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773-697-8066
Riverwalk Pumpkin Patch
What: Located at Chicago's Riverwalk, this is the place for fall fun! Fun rides, games, pumpkins, food & more await you! You'll be able to pick out the perfect pumpkin, play some games, & enjoy a sweet snack!
Date/Time: 9 AM to Sunset on weekends
Cost: 10 Tickets for $20 ($10 Savings). 1 Ticket for $3.
Activities:
Bounce House - 2 Tickets, Super Slide - 1 Ticket, Games - 1 Ticket
Location:
Chicago Riverwalk
305 East Riverwalk
Chicago, IL 60611
877-300-6746
Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest
What: Fall fest at Lincoln Park Zoo is country fun without leaving the city! This 2nd annual fall festival features a variety of family fun activities across the main zoo grounds and at the Farm in the Zoo. This free family celebration features animal chats, musical entertainment, a pumpkin carver and fall-themed enrichment for the animals.
Attractions: Corn Maze, Hay Mountain, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Ride, Ferris Wheel, Pumpkin Bounce House, Fun Slide & more.
Date: October 14-16, 2016 (all weekend)
Time: 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission: Free to enter. Activity tickets are $3 for 1 ticket, $27 for 10 tickets and $51 for 20 tickets.
Location:
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Pumpkin Patch at Skinner Park
What: The Chicago Park District brings a little bit of country to the city with its annual Pumpkin Patches. You can pick your personal favorite pumpkin and personalize it at the pumpkin decorating station. Enjoy Halloween themed carnival games, petting zoo, pony rides, tattoos, harvest photo station and much more!
Date and Time:
Saturday, October 15, 2016, 11 AM to 3 PM
Cost: Free entrance. Activities will have various per ticket fees, tickets are $1 each. Activities range in price from $2 to $4.
Location:
Skinner Park
Neighborhood: Near West Side
1331 W Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60607
312-746-5560
Seadog Chicago Haunted River Tours
What: Experience the sights, lights, and frights of Chicago this Halloween! Through the month of October, discover Chicago’s spookier side aboard Seadog along the beautiful Chicago River.
Date/Time: 75-minute tours available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October.
Cost: From $36.95 per adult, $19.95 per child.
Location:
Navy Pier
Kids Improv Show
What: From superheroes to undersea adventures, princesses to dinosaurs, Storytown takes you on an interactive, fully improvised adventure. The actors use audience suggestions and ideas to create a different story every week.
Date/Time: Shows are every Saturday at 10:30 AM.
Age: Ages 3-10 and their whole family.
Cost: Children under 2 are free. All other tickets are $10.
Location:
Storytown Improv
1225 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, Il 60657
773-245-3443
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016
Artist Studio at Art Institute of Chicago
What: Drop in at the Artist’s Studio in the Ryan Learning Center, and work as a family on an art project that you can take home. Activities are thematically linked to artwork in the museum’s collection and special exhibitions.
Date/Time: Daily, 10:30 AM to 5 PM, drop in anytime
Cost: FREE museum entry for kids under 14
Location:
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60603
312-443-3600
FREE Day at Field Museum
What: On Free Days, basic admission is free for Illinois residents. Must show valid proof of residency. Additional Free Days for 2016 will be announced in late spring.
Cost: Free with valid IL resident ID
Location:
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
Kids Eat Free at Pizzeria Frasco
What: Frasca is a neighborhood Italian restaurant that is very kid friendly. Their specialties include pizzas, hearty pastas and an extensive selection of wine.
Date/Time: Kids eat FREE Daily from 4:30 to 6 PM.
Cost: Kids eat FREE for ages 12 & under. Two kids meals free w/each paying adult.
Location:
Frasca Pizzeria
3358 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60657
773-248-5222
FREE Fiddleheads
What: Each weekend we cook up projects that get kids and families wondering about the plants and the natural world. Come visit over the weekend to get a dose of the tropics and keep your kids connected to nature throughout Chicago’s colder months.
Date/Time: Sunday, October 16, 2016 from 12 PM to 4 PM
Cost: FREE
Location:
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624
312-746-5100
Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago