Family events in Downers Grove, IL

Share a creative experience designed for caregivers and children ages 3 to 5. This art group invites little artists and their grownups to create side by side with a variety of engaging materials and thoughtful prompts that spark exploration and connection. Caregivers gain practical strategies to support children’s creativity, independence, and confidence while spending meaningful time together through art and play. Hosted at Create Balance Counseling in Hinsdale.

Enjoy a flexible creative session at Painting with a Twist where you can pop in and pick your project. Options are designed for every age and skill level. Select what you want to make, then follow step by step instructions and browse inspiration guides to bring it to life. Drop in during Pop-In hours or reserve a time in advance. Reservations are needed to hold your preferred Pop-In timeslot, and hours may be adjusted if there are no pre-registrations.

Celebrate American artistic achievement with a free outdoor, walkable exhibition honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary. Presented by the McAninch Art Center and the Cleve Carney Museum of Art in association with the College of DuPage Foundation, Walking With Giants showcases ten painted silhouette sculptures, each about 10 feet tall, placed along a route that circles the MAC on the College of DuPage campus in Glen Ellyn. Designed by contemporary artists with input from the community, these works pay tribute to influential figures in visual art, music, theater, and dance, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dolly Parton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Designed exclusively for homeschool families, this 50 minute Junior Ninjas class at Ultimate Ninjas Academy welcomes ages 6 to 9 for a warm up followed by coached obstacle challenges and courses. Participants tackle kid sized versions of familiar obstacles such as monkey bars, trapeze bars, a rock wall, a warped wall, rings, and laches, with support from a coach or an adult. No prior obstacle experience is required. The curriculum builds on concepts introduced in the Lil Ninjas program, adding bigger and more complex elements while emphasizing safe movement, technique, and confidence. Instructors set new goals and design fresh challenges and course layouts each week to help students steadily develop strong foundational skills while having fun.

Discover a casual, creative Pop In and DIY experience at Painting with a Twist. Choose a project you like and make it your own with easy to follow instructions and inspiration guides, welcoming all ages and skill levels. You can drop in during Pop In hours or reserve a timeslot to fit your schedule. A reservation is required to secure a preferred Pop In time, and hours may change if there are no pre-registrations.

The Simple Remedy Duo marks the start of the fall season with a Concerts by the Campfire performance presented by the Bloomingdale Park District. Enjoy live music at Springfield Park beside a cozy campfire, with s’mores available while supplies last. Pack chairs, blankets, and snacks for comfort. Restrooms are available at the concession stand. Admission is free, and the event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

At Honey Bee Gardens Farm, Buzz Around the Barnyard offers a relaxed, family-friendly outing filled with fresh air, open space, and the simple rhythms of farm life. Designed for families to slow down, explore at their own pace, and connect with nature, it invites unhurried moments together. Each visit feels a little different, with seasonal blooms, playful animals, hands-on activities, and quiet pockets of calm. The Farm Market features local honey, seasonal produce, flowers, handmade goods, and farm-inspired treats to bring a bit of the farm home. Visitors can meet goats, chickens, bunnies, horses, cats, pigs, a llama, and other friendly animals. Stroll through flower gardens and pollinator areas to see how plants, insects, and animals work together across the farm. Creative minds can stop by the Exploration Station for farm-themed crafts and projects. There is plenty of room for outdoor play across open fields and along nature paths, with time to relax by the pond or take a peaceful paddle boat ride. Catch-and-release fishing is available with guidance from experienced anglers, a welcoming introduction for first-timers and young explorers. The Farm Shop and concessions offer local honey, farm-fresh snacks, and seasonal goodies. Every weekend brings new discoveries and seasonal highlights, along with the space to simply be on the farm.

Accredited La Leche League Leaders offer free guidance on infant feeding, with time for questions and conversation among local parents. Anyone who is nursing or pumping is welcome, and babies, young children, partners, and other support people may attend. The meeting takes place in the Storytime Room on the first floor children’s section of the main library in Downtown Oak Park. There is no cost and no RSVP is needed. Free parking is available in the deck beneath the library.

The 23rd Annual Run for the Kids: Superhero Hustle features a 5K and a 1-mile fun run open to participants of all ages and abilities. After the run, participants can enjoy live music, lunch, raffle prizes, and appearances by superheroes.

Buzz Around the Barnyard at Honey Bee Gardens Farm offers a relaxed weekend outing where families can slow their pace, breathe in fresh air, and explore together. Every visit brings something a little different, from seasonal blooms and playful animals to hands-on activities and quiet moments around the farm. The Farm Market features local honey, seasonal produce, flowers, handmade items, and farm-inspired treats to take home. Guests can meet goats, chickens, bunnies, horses, cats, pigs, a llama, and other friendly barnyard animals. Stroll through flower gardens and pollinator spaces to see how plants, insects, and animals work together across the farm. Creative minds can stop by the Exploration Station for farm-themed crafts and projects, while outdoor discovery includes open fields, nature paths, time by the pond, and peaceful paddle boating. Catch and release fishing is available with guidance from experienced anglers, making it a welcoming option for first-timers and young explorers. The Farm Shop and concessions offer local honey, farm-fresh snacks, and seasonal goodies to enjoy or bring home. Each weekend highlights new discoveries, seasonal shifts, and plenty of space to simply be.

Kids ages 7 to 17 can dive into pinball at The Pinball Capital with the Fliptastic Youth Pinball Club, learning how to play and spending time with others who enjoy the hobby. The arcade features 130 machines set to free play, offering plenty of opportunities to practice and explore. Children accompanied by a parent may arrive before opening, with special pricing available during that early period of $5 per child and $10 per adult. A four round match play tournament is held in the back room for any interested kids. The Pinball Capital awards prizes to the winner, and every participant receives a prize.

Chat with CILRA Lab Rescue volunteers and meet dogs from the organization. Learn about adopting and how to volunteer with this Midwest focused Lab rescue.

Now in its 36th year, the Greatest Ferret Show On Earth, also known as GFSOE, is the nation’s longest running ferret show. Exhibitors travel from many places to present their ferrets in judged classes that focus on color, pattern, and structure. This event is the Greater Chicago Ferret Association’s largest annual fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting homeless ferrets cared for by the GCFA Shelter, established in 1987. The organization has helped more than 10,000 ferrets, and each year approximately 250 to 350 arrive through rescue or relinquishment. All ferrets are welcome to participate. Any ferret entering the show hall must have proof of a distemper vaccination or titer completed within the past year. A rabies vaccination is encouraged but not required, and ADV testing is not required. The show is not sanctioned by the American Ferret Association, so placements and points from this event do not apply to the AFA system or Ferret of the Year.

A judged car show rolls into Orland Park Crossing with live music from Dog Caller. The event is open to the public and features food, wine, and beer vendors. Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to relax and take in the atmosphere. Vehicle registrants are asked to make a $25 donation that benefits event vendors, and the first 100 participating cars receive a complimentary T-shirt and dash plaque. Proceeds will support Chicago Soldiers and the Orland Township Food Bank. For exhibitor, vendor, or general information, contact Michele Cruse at (708) 473-0556 or michele@edwardsrealtyco.com.

Presented by The Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 974, the fifth annual Reith Radnitzer Memorial Car Show highlights standout vehicles while honoring its namesake. Car owners can participate for a $10 entry fee, with awards recognizing top selections. Food and drinks will be available on site, a cash bar will be open, and a 50/50 raffle will take place. Proceeds support veterans and Legion programs that assist their families. For more information, contact Ted Rabey at 847-507-1086.

Open play at Ultimate Ninjas Academy welcomes children ages 3 to 9 to take on bigger ninja-style challenges with support from an adult or a coach. Participants can try monkey bars, trapeze bars, a rock wall, a warped wall, and other obstacles similar to those seen on TV, sized for younger athletes. Online sign-up is available. For questions, call 312-500-2040 or email melissa@ultimateninjas.com.

Little villains, budding potion makers and mischievous magic lovers can step into a lightly spooky world at Dash of Dust Studio. This interactive mystery adventure features a character meet and greet with photo time, hands-on potion crafting with glow glitter, sensory story time and other immersive moments of make-believe. Treats include a candy apple bar, spooky themed sweet snacks and pretzel rods decorated like magic wands. Every child leaves with a cauldron to take home, a spooky dumpling squishy and a personal drink elixir. Costumes are encouraged, whether a full outfit or a favorite Halloween look. Admission is $100 for one adult and child pair, plus $25 for each additional sibling. Advance registration is required and space is limited.

Set at the Lombard Community Building, this PurpleLight event offers an evening dedicated to honoring and remembering.

The Cheesy Pretzel returns in 2026 with a 5K and a 1 Mile Walk at The Promenade Bolingbrook. Every participant receives an order of STAR Cinema Grill pretzel bites with cheese, and the first 550 people to register receive a customized Cheesy Pretzel finisher medal and a dry-fit long sleeve shirt. The United States Track and Field certified 5K course, ID IL23028NM, winds through The Promenade Bolingbrook and nearby neighborhoods. Strollers and walkers are welcome. Stroller riders participate for free, however they do not receive a race shirt or medal. Registered runners must be at least 5 years old. The 1 Mile Walk follows a route within The Promenade Bolingbrook and is untimed. After the 5K there is an awards presentation with trophies for the fastest overall male and female. Medals for first, second, and third place are awarded to the top male and top female in each age group, including 10 and under, 11 to 14, 15 to 19, 20 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34, 35 to 39, 40 to 44, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, 60 to 64, 65 to 69, 70 to 74, and 75 plus. Proceeds support Heart Haven OutReach, helping provide free mentoring, support groups, leadership programs, and safe spaces for local teens. Through the Charity of Choice program, participants are also encouraged to raise funds for another local nonprofit that matters to them, which helps strengthen the community and empower teens.

This 5K at Waubonsie Creek Trail in Aurora, IL supports St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines. Promoted as the organization’s biggest race yet, it welcomes runners, walkers, families, and their four-legged companions. Look forward to a pet-friendly atmosphere with vendors, activities, and surprises, along with race swag for participants. Every registration helps save homeless cats through St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines.

Ninja Open Play at Ultimate Ninjas Academy invites children ages 3 to 9 to explore a course of kid sized ninja challenges. Young athletes can try favorites like monkey bars, trapeze bars, a climbing wall, and the warped wall, along with additional obstacles inspired by what they might have seen on TV. Bigger skills are made approachable with guidance from a parent or a coach, creating a supportive environment for movement, confidence, and fun.

Marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, the McAninch Art Center and the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, in association with the College of DuPage Foundation, present Walking With Giants, a free outdoor, walkable exhibition that celebrates American creativity. Ten painted silhouette sculptures, each about 10 feet tall, are placed along a walking path around the McAninch Art Center on the College of DuPage campus in Glen Ellyn. Shaped by community input and brought to life by contemporary artists, the installation salutes influential Americans in visual art, music, theater, and dance, with figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dolly Parton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda represented.

At Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, a live concert brings the world of My Hero Academia to the stage. A 15 piece band performs composer Yuki Hayashi's music while vivid scenes from the anime illuminate Deku's early steps, deep friendships, and the high stakes battles that unfold across all eight seasons. The production blends dynamic live performance with on screen visuals to spotlight courage, heartbreak, and heroism from Class 1 A and beyond. Welcoming both longtime followers and first time viewers, it honors ten years of storytelling with a musical journey through the series' defining moments.

Reserved for homeschool families, this Junior Ninjas session welcomes ages 6 to 9 for a 50 minute class that starts with a warmup and continues with coached obstacle challenges and course runs. Kids take on bigger elements with guidance from an adult or coach, encountering features like monkey bars, trapeze bars, a rock wall, a warped wall, rings, and lache skills, along with other scaled versions of obstacles seen on TV. No prior obstacle experience is needed, and the program builds on concepts introduced in Lil Ninjas. The emphasis is on learning safe movement, sharpening technique, and gaining confidence while having fun. Instructors introduce fresh goals, challenges, and course layouts each week to help students steadily develop strong foundational skills. Held at Ultimate Ninjas Academy in Naperville.

Several times each year, The Morton Arboretum hosts Dog Admission, dedicated opportunities for visitors to explore the Arboretum’s 16 miles of trails and a variety of natural areas with their dogs. Outside of these dates, only service dogs may be on the grounds. Service dogs are welcomed every day at no charge and should be identified at the gatehouse upon entry. During Dog Admission Days and Dog Admission Afternoons, dogs are permitted on the Arboretum’s trails. Members receive exclusive early access on Dog Admission Days, and this benefit is not offered for Dog Admission Afternoons.