What Should We Do This Veterans Day Weekend? Chicago, IL November 8th – 11th, 2019

Looking for things to do in Chicago and the burbs over Veteran’s Day Weekend?
Here are over 45 family-friendly events happening in Chicagoland this weekend!

 

Major Ongoing Events this Weekend:

 

Rhea Lana’s of Fox Valley Holiday / Fall Winter Event

• November 10th – 16th
• Check out the website and see how you can shop early!!!
• “Shop hundreds of families at once and save 60-90% off retail prices! Since each item is inspected you can rely on us for HIGH QUALITY children’s items at unbeatable prices! Admission is always FREE! “

Toys “R” Us Adventure Chicago

• 830 N. Michigan Ave
• October 24th – January 26th
• “Toys“R”Us and Candytopia are excited to present an all-new, totally immersive, fill-up-your-photo-album super-experience! The Toys“R”Us Adventure is a vast indoor playland that celebrates all the whimsy, silly and FUN of toys. Explore over eight mind-blowing rooms and celebrate play with installations designed around brands you know and love.”

Portillo’s Pop Up Experience 

• Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
• November 6th – December 31st
• “Portillo’s Pop Up Experience is coming to town! Visit us at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois from November 6 until December 31 to spread holiday and Portillo’s cheer at our bun-believable Pop Up Shop! Take a ride on our onion ring tire swing or bask in the cheesy glory of our French fry room as you walk through a Portillo’s paradise! Our catering lounge is the perfect spot for you to relax and place your holiday catering orders after taking an a-bun-dance of pictures in our Chicago-style photobooths. The Portillo’s Pop Up Experience will also sell packaged Italian beef, French bread, peppers, and whole chocolate cakes as well as a variety of Portillo’s branded merchandise for holiday gift-giving. Tickets are free to enter.”

Santa HQ at Fashion Outlets of Chicago

• Friday, November 11th – December 24th
• Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont
• “At Santa HQ, children will be “scanned” as they arrive and determined to be “naughty or nice,” enter an observatory where they will use special tablets to choose magical environments – the night sky or the inner workings of a clock on the wall, for instance – and be able to take an “ELFIE” (an image of the child as a dancing elf), among other attractions. Furry family members can join in the fun and be a part of family photos with Santa during Fashion Outlets of Chicago’s pet nights. Every Monday, from November 28 through December 19, families can bring their cat or dog to Santa HQ for photos with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m.”

Aurora Greek Fest

• Friday, November 8th – Sunday, November 10th
• St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church
• Friday and Saturday: Noon-9; Sunday: Noon-7
• Delicious food for all to enjoy! All indoors + heated Beer Garden tent.

36th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival

• “The Festival is the oldest children’s film festival in the Western Hemisphere and is the largest and first Oscar-qualifying children’s film festival in the world. The 36th annual Festival runs from November 1—November 10, 2019 at multiple Chicago-area venues and presents on average 250 new films from 40 countries along with workshops, director presentations, and seminars.”
• Wednesday, November 6th – Sunday, November 10th.
• Access the link for schedule and venue locations.

Morton Arboretum Gnome Hunt

• Daily November 2019 through March 2020
• “The animals may be hibernating, but we still have gnomes. Can you find all of the gnomes hiding in the Children’s Garden?“

 

FRIDAY

 

 

9:00 AM: Free Day at the Adler Planetarium

• “Countless galaxies, unfathomable distances, exploding stars, diamond planets, black holes, there’s no way around it, space is freaking awesome! Come learn more at the Adler Planetarium during our Illinois Resident Discount Days—where Illinois residents receive FREE Musem Entry to the museum. Museum Entry provides access to all exhibitions and experiences (excluding the historic Atwood Sphere Experience and sky shows.*)”

11:00 AM: Arbor Reading Adventures

• Wednesdays and Fridays November 2019 through March 2020
  (except November 29, December 25, and January 1)
  11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
  Sterling Morton Library
• 4$ for member child / 5$ for non member child

5:45: American Girl Holiday Window Unveiling

• 835 N. Michigan Ave.
• “Celebrate the season at American Girl with our special unveiling of this year’s spectacular holiday window!”

6:30 PM: Family Yoga at DuPage Children’s Museum

• “Family Yoga brings mindfulness to the Museum engaging children (and their adults) in joyful movement that supports social & emotional skills. Stretch body AND mind with a trip to DCM.”

6:30 PM: Taste of Ravenswood

• Ravenswood Event Center
• “Join us on Friday, November 8th for an evening of live entertainment and handcrafted bites and sips in the gorgeous Ravenswood Event Center! Along with being home to Malt Row, Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood boasts a vibrant community of culinary dynamos and decorated restaurants. For our 5th “Taste,” these chefs, brewers, bakers, and distillers have conjured up a menu of one-night-only dishes that showcase the diversity of Ravenswood’s culinary scene. Guests will also enjoy live musical performances, plus games!”

 

SATURDAY

 

 

07:30 AM: Breakfast Book Club w/ Pete The Cat

• DuPage Children’s Museum
• “Storybook characters come to life during this fun literary experience at the Museum. Enjoy a hot breakfast provided by Bean Sprouts Café, a photo op with Pete the Cat, a special story time, and exclusive time to play in Museum exhibits.
  Stay and continue to play after the Museum opens; each ticket includes Museum admission.”

10:00 AM: Fox Valley Mall Welcomes Santa Claus

• Fox Valley Mall, Aurora
• “Families are invited to view Santa arriving by trackless train on the mall’s Upper Level and descend to take his place in the mall’s beautiful Santa set on the Lower Level in Macy’s Court.”
• Includes:
  • Professional photos taken with Santa (photo prices vary)
    Delicious cookies and milk from Panera*
    Santa door hanger craft activity*
    Balloon twisting**
    Face painting**
    Live reindeer from the North Pole
    Musical performances by The Lamplight Singers
    Special appearances by Holiday Belle, Holiday Tinkerbell and more!
• This event is FREE (Santa photos not included) and open to the public; it is recommended for families with children 9 years old and younger. All event attendees will also receive a coupon for 20% OFF ($8 value) photo package B.

10:00 AM: Saturday Morning Cartoon Brunch

• Carbon Arc Bar
• “Every weekend morning Carbon Arc Bar & Board takes over Theater 1 of the Davis Theater and shows cartoons! We serve brunch at the bar/restaurant. Using our direct-connect to the theater your children can hang and watch cartoons while you enjoy some delicious grub & drinks! The shows start by 10:00AM and end at 1:00PM on Saturdays and 12:00PM on Sundays. For anyone caught between end of cartoon and end of brunch they will continue to play in the Dining Room of the restaurant. Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 2PM. *RESERVATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED!”

10:00 AM: Family Saturday’s Nutcracker Tea

• Ballet 5:8 Studios Orland Park
• “Join us for a special in-studio performance of excerpts from Ballet 5:8’s Beyond the Nutcracker designed just for kids ages 3-12! After the performance, meet the characters and enjoy light refreshments. The total event running time is 60 minutes. Tickets are just $5 while space remains!”

10:00 AM & 11:45 AM:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The Boy and the Violin

• “Vibrant music, engaging storytelling and enchanting visuals blend together in a playful concert experience designed especially for our youngest audience members. With Once Upon a Symphony, we invite you to share your love of music with the young children in your family and begin an exciting journey with the CSO.”

11:00 AM: Mom & Me Superhero Party

• River Forest Park District
• “Dress as your favorite superhero at this new event for kids and their favorite female role model.  Fun activities and lunch will be included, along with a special character visit.”

11:00 AM: Family Day: Hypertext

• Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
• “Chicago artists transform the museum for children and their grown-ups. Play with the power of language in projects inspired by “Direct Message: Art, Language, and Power.” 
• Family Days are free monthly programs for kids and their grown-ups. Enjoy free admission while taking part in workshops, open-studio sessions, gallery tours, and performances, all designed and led by Chicago artists.”

12:00 PM: Fiddleheads

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• “Join us most weekends for activities and projects that get kids and grown ups wondering about the plants and the natural world. Come visit on Saturday or Sunday in the colder months to get a dose of the tropics and keep kids connected to nature throughout winter. And in the summer, join us to explore the beautiful outdoors in our nature play space, Play & Grow. Each week we provide a different science-based activity, like tinkering with plants and blocks, playing games, participating in collaborative art projects, and exploring plants around the world.”

1:00 PM: Johnny Pumpkin & Dulce Maria Calaca-Encuentro de Dos Culturas

• National Museum of Mexican Art
• “Come and learn about the love story of Johnny Pumpkin and Dulce Maria Calaca, two adolescents from different cultural traditions, Halloween and the Day of the Dead. This bilingual puppet play features original music and puppets exploring the themes of respect and tolerance. These charming young people fall in love while learning about each other’s cultures.”

1:00 PM: Origami Open House

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• “Origami is a fascinating, fun-filled creative activity for children as well as adults. With a minimum of folds and creases, you can transform a flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional form like a swan, a boat, a flower or even a hat. So, if you’re interested in creating animals, dinosaurs, flowers, decorative boxes and various other models, please join us. Every second Saturday of the month, the Chicago Area Origami Society presents a free drop-in Origami Open House to our visitors.”

2:30 PM: Dinosaur & Mineral Adventures

• Hidden Oaks Nature Center – Bolingbrook
• “All ages welcome
  Journey back to the age of dinosaurs, excavate tyrannosaurs rex bones, make a fossil, and much more!”

2:30 PM: Goldfish FREE Family Swim 

• Goldfish Swim School Glen Ellyn
• “Enjoy a family swim from 2:30-4:30pm; children still in diapers must use an iplay reusable swim diaper (iplay brand only – you may purchase one at Goldfish Swim School for $7); all pool toys and tools will be available for use as well. Goldfish will provide juice boxes for children. There will be a brief swim test for those children that do not want to wear a life jacket.“

6:00 PM: Parent’s Night Out

• Funtopia Naperville
• “If you are looking for a fun event for your child this upcoming weekend, then look no further. Funtopia in Naperville is hosting a Parent’s Night Out event. Bring your child or children to Funtopia and let them enjoy a fun-filled night of activities, snacks & a movie! Parents can kick their feet up and allow us to take care of the rest! Stop by Funtopia any time or give us a call before Nov 9th and take advantage of our “Pre-Sign-Up” price or you can simply pay at the door the night of the event.”

 

SUNDAY

 

 

10:00 AM: Loose Parts Nature Play

• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Free, but preregistration recommended. Free parking included with preregistration.
• Nature Play Garden on the Regenstein Learning Campus
• “Build with sticks, crawl through logs, run on hills, create with natural materials like rocks, pinecones, leaves, and mud. This event will run rain or shine—we will move indoors if weather doesn’t permit to be outside.”

10:00 AM: Sunday Morning Cartoon Brunch

• Carbon Arc Bar
• “Every weekend morning Carbon Arc Bar & Board takes over Theater 1 of the Davis Theater and shows cartoons! We serve brunch at the bar/restaurant. Using our direct-connect to the theater your children can hang and watch cartoons while you enjoy some delicious grub & drinks! The shows start by 10:00AM and end at 1:00PM on Saturdays and 12:00PM on Sundays. For anyone caught between end of cartoon and end of brunch they will continue to play in the Dining Room of the restaurant. Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 2PM. *RESERVATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED!”

11:00 AM: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Ft. The Music of Prince

• Thalia Hall
• “Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show!”

11:00 AM: The Boogers perform at Beat Kitchen

• “The Boogers are the brainchild of Dr. Paul Crowe. Fatherhood, a PhD in Developmental Psychology, and 20 
  years of sloggin’ it in wretched clubs as a punk rocker – even opening for Dee Dee Ramone and Marky 
  Ramone – formed Paul’s vision of the Boogers. 

  As Crusty Booger, he marries these experiences to make developmentally appropriate rock and punk rock 
  for kids and their families to enjoy together. As about.com kids’ music expert Warren Truitt said, “the 
  Boogers bring a breath of fresh air to the kids music scene.”

• Doors open at 11, concert begins at noon!

12:00 PM: Fiddleheads

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• “Join us most weekends for activities and projects that get kids and grown ups wondering about the plants and the natural world. Come visit on Saturday or Sunday in the colder months to get a dose of the tropics and keep kids connected to nature throughout winter. And in the summer, join us to explore the beautiful outdoors in our nature play space, Play & Grow. Each week we provide a different science-based activity, like tinkering with plants and blocks, playing games, participating in collaborative art projects, and exploring plants around the world.”

12:00 PM: Konow’s Corn Maze Veteran’s Day Celebration

• “Join us for a day of fun, family and food to Honor and Recognize all of those who are serving or that have served our country and their families!”

1:00 PM: Book Club: A Soup Opera

• Soup & Scoops
• “Calling all Pre K thru 2nd grade kids! Come join us for some interactive fun with the book A Soup Opera by Jim Gill. Read the book then watch it come alive while you make your own s’mores or ice cream sundae. This is an experience not to be missed! Event is free. Call to reserve your spot. Need to borrow the book? We have books for loan at Soup and Scoops based on availability.”

1:00 PM: Johnny Pumpkin & Dulce Maria Calaca-Encuentro de Dos Culturas

• National Museum of Mexican Art
• “Come and learn about the love story of Johnny Pumpkin and Dulce Maria Calaca, two adolescents from different cultural traditions, Halloween and the Day of the Dead. This bilingual puppet play features original music and puppets exploring the themes of respect and tolerance. These charming young people fall in love while learning about each other’s cultures.”

1:00 PM: 360 Sunday Funday

• John Hancock Observatory – Sky Deck
• “360 Sunday Funday returns! Bring the kids to the observation deck every Sunday for a little magic by The Magical Myster AJ, a little music by Mr. Dave Music instructor Miss Beth and a lot of magnificent views of Chicago! Chicago residents receive a 50% discount! Free TILT admission for kids 9am-4pm.”

4:00 PM: Family Sunday

• Twisted Hippo Chicago
• “FAMILY DAY SUNDAY- Bring the whole fam and come hang with the Hippos! Beginning at 4pm every Sunday- we will be screening a Family Friendly film to help keep the kiddos occupied while the adults enjoy some tasty brews. Our awesome Coloring/Activity sheets will also be available for those who need more hands-on activities. Plan on having a solid family meal together- Our Bitty Bites Menu has plenty to offer for the little ones.”

 

MONDAY – VETERANS DAY

 

9:00 AM: Free Day at the Adler Planetarium

• “Countless galaxies, unfathomable distances, exploding stars, diamond planets, black holes, there’s no way around it, space is freaking awesome! Come learn more at the Adler Planetarium during our Illinois Resident Discount Days—where Illinois residents receive FREE Musem Entry to the museum. Museum Entry provides access to all exhibitions and experiences (excluding the historic Atwood Sphere Experience and sky shows.*)”

9:30 AM: Adult / Tot Open Climb Drop In

• Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, Glen Ellyn
• “Keep your little ones (ages 2-5) from climbing the walls at home – bring them to climb the indoor rock climbing wall at Ackerman SFC instead! Drop-in on Mondays from 9:30AM-11AM for Adult/Tot Open Climb. Free for Ackerman SFC members, $5 for non-member children. Parents are welcome to climb, too! There will also be other age-appropriate activities to keep your tot engaged.”

10:00 AM: Morning Glories

• Garfield Park Conservatory
• Children aged 5 and under
• “Adults and little ones can enjoy learning together during this free, donation-based weekly drop-in session. Activities are fun, interactive, and encourage children’s curiosity about the natural world. Children and their caregivers can explore different areas of the Children’s Garden in the winter and the Play and Grow Garden in the summer.”

10:00 AM: Chicago Veteran’s Day Ceremony

• Soldier Field, Gate 0
• Free public parking at the Waldron Parking Deck
• Local and national veterans honored at this years ceremony.

10:15 AM: Aurora Veteran’s Day Parade

• Downtown Aurora, corner of Benton & Broadway
• “The City will honor those who have fought for our country’s freedom. The parade steps off at the corner of Benton and Broadway at 10:15 a.m. ending at the GAR Memorial Hall, where the “Honoring All Who Served” ceremony takes place. The ceremony includes a military rifle salute by veteran organizations at 11:00 a.m., the exact time the armistice was signed that ended WWI.A ceremony honoring local veteran organizations will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Veterans Island and will be concluded with a military rifle salute.”

11:00 AM: National Veterans Art Museum

• NVAM will have special open hours to visitors in honor of our veteran community. Join us to celebrate our military service members. We will have drop-in activities during the day including guided tours of the current exhibition and poppy making workshops.

11:00 AM: Brookfield Zoo Veteran’s Day Celebration

• “To honor the men and women who have proudly served our nation, the Chicago Zoological Society invites the public to a special Veterans Day ceremony at Brookfield Zoo’s Discovery Center. On Veterans Day admission to the zoo is FREE for all guests.”
• Parking is also FREE for all veterans.
• From 11 am – 2 pm: – A display of Military Memorabilia in the Founders Room in the Discovery Center
  – A Military Vehicle Display at the Discovery Center Plaza
  – Learn about the Cook County Military and Honor Flight Chicago
• At 1 pm: See the posting of colors, a performance of the National Anthem, and remarks by Chicago Zoological Society president, Dr. Stuart Strahl.

11:30 AM:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The Boy and the Violin

• “Vibrant music, engaging storytelling and enchanting visuals blend together in a playful concert experience designed especially for our youngest audience members. With Once Upon a Symphony, we invite you to share your love of music with the young children in your family and begin an exciting journey with the CSO.”
• Buntrock Hall

4:30 PM: Wheaton Veteran’s Day Commemoration

• Cantigny: First Division Museum Lobby
• 5:00 PM Veterans Day Remembrance and Quilts of Valor Quilt Ceremony
  Help Quilts of Valor celebrate and honor four veterans during a special quilt presentation award ceremony.6:00 PM Trickster Art Gallery Native Veteran Drum Circle and Dance
  Honor our Veterans with Native American song and dance from the Trickster Art Gallery.