Free events in Des Plaines, IL

Experience a community-wide celebration of global cultures at the Performance Pavilion at Heritage Park, featuring live performances, international cuisine, and family-friendly activities. This free, all-ages festival highlights the rich diversity and traditions that shape the community.

Probable Cause performs a rock set at Northbrook Days in the Beer Tent. This five-member group includes former members of CounterPoint and the WiseGuys and plays high-energy music spanning the 1960s through the 1990s. Admission is free.

Unwind at sunset with live music on the Esplanade during the Garden’s evening performances, a family-friendly way to enjoy the evening. The concerts are free, and regular parking and Garden admission fees apply for nonmembers. Seating is limited, so please bring your own chairs. Picnicking is welcome during the concerts, or visit on-site dining locations for food and drinks. Beer and wine are available for purchase in the Garden View Café, and per Cook County Forest Preserve District regulations, alcohol not purchased on the premises is prohibited. In the event of inclement weather, check online for daily cancellation updates.

The Studio offers opportunities for volunteers to support the making and preparation of angel gowns. Sewists with intermediate or higher skills can learn gown construction and should bring a portable sewing machine. There are meaningful roles for non-sewers as well, including tracing and cutting pattern pieces, assembling sewing kits, cutting ribbon, carefully deconstructing donated wedding dresses, packaging gowns for delivery, checking in wedding dress donations, photographing wedding dresses or finished gowns, and other similar tasks. A break is included, bottled water and snacks are provided, and personal lunches are welcome. Participation can be for the full session or a shorter portion.

Wendy & DB, an award-winning children’s music duo from Chicago, share original tunes with uplifting lyrics and catchy melodies that spark curiosity and imagination. Their music gets families singing, dancing, and moving together for joyful, lasting memories. Admission is free.

Pastimes hosts a free Cookie Run TCG open play night. Players who sign in at the event receive a Cookie Run Promotion Pack as a thank you for taking part.

Play Book Sports Bar hosts a lively trivia competition with no entry fee. Teams test their knowledge across a range of questions, and the highest scorers earn prizes. Participants can also sign up to receive three free clues before the game for an extra boost.

Union Ale House hosts a lively take on bingo where songs replace numbers. Listen for each tune, find it on your card, mark it, and be the first to shout bingo to claim a prize. Sign up when you arrive to pick up a card and get ready for quick rounds that ramp up the excitement. It is free to play, and every round awards a prize, so friendly competition tends to spark quickly as the music keeps rolling.

This outdoor, free, all-ages concert features Chicago’s disco and funk tribute band The Disco Circus, bringing a three-ring sense of spectacle to the grooviest hits of the 1970s. Three lead vocalists, two women and one man, front a tight ensemble on drums, bass, guitar, percussion, and horns for a full live sound. Built around members of the Chicago group Libido Funk Circus, the expanded lineup, fresh stage production, and vibrant costumes come together for a high-energy, nostalgia-filled show presented with the Niles Park District.

Starting point is Lions Park by the tennis courts. This social ride keeps a leisurely pace of 10 to 12 mph.

A relaxed maker meetup where crafters settle in with embroidery, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, cross stitch, weaving, or any other favorite project. Bring a beverage to sip while you create, share ideas, and get inspired by fellow makers. There is no fee to participate, and advance registration is strongly encouraged and appreciated.

Green White marks 70 years of soccer with a festive picnic that honors the past and celebrates the present. Admission is free. The celebration features plenty of soccer, games for kids, a pig roast, GW sausage, a food truck, a beer truck, lively music, and time with friends.