Family events in Savanna, IL

Kids can dive into creative building at Lego Club using new tables set up for hands-on play. Favorite creations may be entered in a monthly contest for a chance to win prizes. The library supplies Lego and Duplo bricks, so personal sets should be left at home.

Discover a fairytale-like castle built around a love story, set atop a wooded hill in Savanna, Illinois near the Mississippi River and close to Galena. Explore at your own pace through rooms filled with thousands of antiques, artwork, and historic objects. A complimentary audio tour app narrated by the owner is included with admission, or follow the clearly marked signs throughout the property. Open on weekends, it makes a scenic fall outing for a country drive. Tickets are available in advance or at the door, and owner-led VIP tours are also offered.

Young children can dive into hands-on, play-based exploration at sensory stations that engage touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. Each session features activities that nurture early childhood development, spark creativity, and build social skills, with a focus on shared experiences between caregivers and children. Designed for ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers, and held on the lower level.

This all-ages club brings together chess enthusiasts of every experience level to connect over the board in a welcoming setting. Children, teens, adults, and seniors take part, with newcomers finding plenty of support to learn and improve while experienced players enjoy spirited games and the chance to share strategies. The emphasis is on community, inclusivity, and a shared love of chess. Activities take place on the lower level.

This fall VIP tour at Havencrest Castle spotlights a hilltop home created as a lifelong expression of love by owner and artist Alan St. George for his wife of more than three decades. Led by St. George, the experience explores the first and second floors, adds exclusive access to the fifth-floor Crystal Tower, and includes a stop in the Giant Chippendale Chair Room for photos. In total, 29 rooms are featured, and attendance is limited to 10 people.