This August, be sure to check out the summer festivals and back-to-school events happening this month. Also, find movies in the park and music in the park events great for your family.
Keep on scrolling to see our top picks of kid-friendly August 2024 events in Chicago and the suburbs. You can also find more family events listed in our calendar. Be sure to tag us on Instagram @chicagoparent if you check any of them out!
This article was recently updated July 30, 2024, by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding new Chicagoland events to the ChicagoParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best family events this mont. Questions? Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.
Best August family events in Chicago
There are still a lot of great summer festivals to check out with your kids this month. Be sure to enjoy the summer fireworks at Navy Pier happening until Aug. 31. Find even more Chicago family events in August on our calendar.
Bugapalooza at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Aug. 4, 2024
- Address: 2340 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $30/non-member adult, $25/member adult and child non-member, $20/member child, free/under 3 (tickets includes museum admission) | Get tickets
Stop by the bug zoo to get up close and personal with native insects and spiders and make sure to visit the petting zoo while you’re there. Speak with their entomologist, watch insect pinning demos and learn to dance like a bee. For all ages.
Broadway in your Backyard at Washington Square Park
Aug. 6, 2024
- Address: 901 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Join Porchlight Music Theatre at various Chicago Park Districts for a free summer series that will feature hits from the Broadway songbook.
Movies on the Midway
Aug. 7, 2024
- Address: 1130 Midway Plaisance, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Come out to UChicago’s annual Movies on the Midway summer event series and watch The Little Mermaid. There will also be family-friendly, interactive programming. Movies begin at sunset.
Retro on Roscoe
Aug. 9-11, 2024
- Address: 2000 W. Roscoe St., Chicago
- Cost: $10/suggested donation
There will be live music on three stages, antique vendors and merchants and a family area. The family area features inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, rides, crafts and more.
Street Love Ride at St. Agatha Catholic Church
Aug. 17, 2024
- Address: 3147 W. Douglas Blvd., Chicago
- Cost: Free | Register
Enjoy a community expo with music and snacks from 6-8 p.m. The celebration continues with a festive 9-mile slow ride through the West Side starting at 8 p.m., featuring bikes decked out in lights and glow-in-the-dark accessories to spread joy. Registration required.
Taste of Polonia Festival at Copernicus Center
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $10-plus | Get tickets
Features live music, authentic Polish food, carnival rides and games, inflatables, casino, vendors, face painting, a climbing wall and more.
West Loop Art Fest
Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2024
- Address: Fulton St. and N. Sangamon St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy four blocks of art in all different mediums as talented artists showcase and sell creative work. Plus, enjoy interactive art, live music, children’s crafts and more.
Best August family events in the North/Northwest Suburbs
Enjoy plenty of great kid-friendly music in the park events including Laurie Berkner at Ravinia and Wednesdays in the Woods: Children’s Concerts at Winnetka Park District. Also, Port Clinton Art Festival is celebrating its 41st year. Find even more North/Northwest Suburbs family events in August on our calendar.
Laurie Berkner at Ravinia
Aug. 3, 2024
- Address: 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park
- Cost: $20 | Get tickets
See Laurie Berkner in concert at the pavilion at Ravinia. This kid’s concert has a pop/rock genre.
Peppa’s Dance Party at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago
Aug. 3-4, 10-11, 2024
- Address: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
- Cost: $17.59-plus/ages 1-8, $6.39-plus/ages 9-plus | Get tickets
Book your tickets to see Peppa and get into the best dance party of the year on the first two weekends in August.
DOGwood Day at Lambs Farm
Aug. 4, 2024
- Address: 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville
- Cost: Free for visitors and dogs
Enjoy one day of puppy love at this annual event for you and your doggie at Lambs Farm.
Wednesdays in the Woods: Children’s Concerts at Winnetka Park District
Aug. 7, 2024
- Address: 540 Hibbard Road, Winnetka
- Cost: Free
Pack a picnic lunch, play in the splash pad at the park and enjoy a free, interactive children’s concert. Aug. 7 is Leonardo Music. Pre-registration recommended.
Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival
Aug. 16-18, 2024
- Address: 800 Church St., Evanston
- Cost: Free
Shop the works of art from 150 juried artists from around the country at their annual art fest. There will also be selfie stations, face painting, a kids art zone, live music, food trucks and more.
Movie in the Park at Frontier Park
Aug. 16, 2024
- Address: 1933 N. Kennicott Drive, Arlington Heights
- Cost: Free
Enjoy watching the movie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PG) with your family at Frontier Park. Bring your own chairs, blankets and movie snacks.
Port Clinton Art Festival
Aug. 24-25, 2024
- Address: 600 Central Ave., Highland Park
- Cost: Free
This annual fest offers fine art from more than 260 of the world’s most celebrated artists.
Schaumburg Septemberfest
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 101 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg
- Cost: Free admission
This outdoor festival will feature entertainment, arts and crafts show, a carnival, pony rides, fireworks and more.
Best August family events in the South Suburbs
If you’re looking for some great outdoor movies in the South Suburbs, check out Movie Nights at Village Commons Lawn and Watch Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG) at Centennial West Park’s Outdoor Movie Series. Find even more South Suburbs family events in August on our calendar.
The Taste of Orland Park at Centennial Park West
Aug. 2-4, 2024
- Address: 15609 Park Station Blvd., Orland Park
- Cost: Free/admission; $10/parking
Come out to the 21st Taste of Orland Park to try food from local restaurants, enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities and more.
Summer Concert Series at the Village Green
Aug. 4, 18, 2024
- Address: 9446 Raymond Ave., Oak Lawn
- Cost: Free
Gather at the Village Green for good music and fun with the whole family. Aug. 4 is Coax and Folk. Aug. 18 is Strung Out.
Movie Nights at Village Commons Lawn
Aug. 7, 14, 2024
- Address: 1 Veterans Pkwy., New Lenox
- Cost: Free
Families can enjoy a movie night at Village Commons on the lawn. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. Watch Cars (G) on Aug. 7 and Wonka (PG) on Aug. 14.
Outdoor Movie Series at Centennial West Park
Aug. 12, 2024
- Address: Jillian Road and Park Station Blvd., Orland Park
- Cost: Free
Watch Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG) at Centennial West Park. Bring blanks and lawn chairs. The movie begins at dusk.
Back-to-School Bash at Chicago Ridge Mall
Aug. 16, 2024
- Address: 444 Chicago Ridge Mall, Chicago Ridge
- Cost: Free admission
Come out for custom Chicago Ridge lunch bags with goodies, photo opportunities, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, giveaways and more.
Frankfort Fall Festival in Historical Downtown Frankfort
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: Kansas St. & White St., Frankfort
- Cost: Free admission; $10 donation/parking
This fall fest features over 300 artisans, live entertainment, a carnival, food, beverages and a parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Best August family events in the Western Suburbs
This month, music in the park and movies in the park events are all the rage in the Western Suburbs. Also, be sure to check out Festa Italiana at Naper Settlement Aug. 2-4 and Naperville Last Fling beginning Aug. 30. Find even more Western Suburbs family events in August on our calendar.
Festa Italiana at Naper Settlement
Aug 2-4, 2024
- Address: 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
- Cost: $5/residents on Saturday and Sunday before 5 p.m., $10/general admission
Families can enjoy live Italian and rock music, pasta making class, shopping, meatball eating contest, Italian food and kid’s activities and rides.
Moonlit Movies in the Park at Parade Field
Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2024
- Address: 1 S, 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
- Cost: $10/first adult, $5/second adult, free/ages 0-15
Bring the family and watch a movie on their 40-foot inflatable screen and enjoy pre-show activities including interactive games, crafts and guest appearances. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks. There will be food and drinks available to purchase. Aug. 2 is Shrek (PG), Aug. 9 is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire, Aug. 16 is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG), Aug. 23 is Migration (PG) and Aug. 30 is Monsters Inc. (G).
Destination Asia Festival at the Morton Arboretum
Aug 3-4, 2024
- Address: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
- Cost: Free w/general admission
Pay homage to Asia with food tastings and by experiencing new music and traditional dances and performances.
Check out our family guide to Morton Arboretum.
Summer Concert Series in Fishel Park
Aug 6, 13, 2024
- Address: 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove
- Cost: Free
Families can come out to Fishel Park on Tuesday evenings for concerts that will feature rock, country, blues and oldies. Aug. 6 is Industrial Drive and Aug. 13 is Valius.
Movies on The Lawn at Oakbrook Center
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024
- Address: 100 Oakbrook Center
- Cost: Free
Every Wednesday, Oakbrook Center will host a free outdoor movie series, with refreshments provided by The Table at Crate. Aug. 7 is Wish (PG), Aug. 14 is Wonka (PG), Aug. 21 is 13 Going on 30 (PG-13) and Aug. 28 is Boys in the Boat (PG-13).
Back To School Bash at Yorktown Center
Aug. 10, 2024
- Address: 203 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard
- Cost: Free
Come out to Center Court at Yorktown Center for family-friendly fun to celebrate going back-to-school. There will be a book drive, live entertainment, spin-to-win, pop-ups and more.
Movies in the Park at Scoville Park
Aug. 16, 2024
- Address: 800 W. Lake St., Oak Park
- Cost: Free
Grab a blanket and snacks to watch movies at Scoville Park. Watch Barbie (PG-13) on Aug. 16.
Naperville Last Fling
Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 100 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville
- Cost: Free admission; fees for activities
The festival will include an entertainment stage, food vendors, business expo vendors, family activities, Labor Day parade and a carnival.
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