Celebrate the Planet with These Earth Day Events for Chicagoland Families

Families can celebrate Mother Earth this year with these fun, family-friendly Earth Day events in Chicagoland.

Looking for fun and meaningful ways to celebrate Earth Day with your kids? Earth Day is right around the corner — happening on April 22 — and it’s the perfect time to teach children about protecting the planet while having fun together. From hands-on recycled crafts to creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle at home, there are plenty of eco-friendly family activities to explore.

To help you plan, we’ve rounded up the best local Earth Day events for families in Chicagoland, so you can get outside, learn about nature, and make a positive impact.

Read more: Celebrate Earth Day with These Fun Recycled Crafts

Earth Day events in Chicagoland

Earth Day Cleanup at Jerome Huppert Woods

April 18, 2025

  • Address: Thatcher Avenue, south of West Fullerton Avenue, River Grove
  • Cost: Free

Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up litter at Jerome Huppert Woods. There will be supplies for individuals or families to check out during the afternoon. 

Earth Day: Bike Ride at Sauk Trail Woods-Central

April 19, 2025

  • Address: Forest Preserve Drive, south of West 26th Street, South Chicago Heights
  • Cost: Free

Enjoy a five-mile-long guided bike ride around Sauk Trail Woods. Bring your own bike and helmet.

Earth Day Celebration at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

April 19, 2025

  • Address: 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs
  • Cost: Free

Celebrate Earth Day with art and educational activities, stewardship and free plant giveaways.

Earth Day Celebration at Sauk Trail Woods-Central

April 19, 2025

  • Address: Forest Preserve Drive, south of West 26th Street, South Chicago Heights
  • Cost: Free

All ages can celebrate Earth Day at Sauk Trail Woods Central with interactive games, art-making and activities.

Earth Day Hike & Plant ID at Schiller-Woods East

April 19, 2025

  • Address: W. Irving Park Road, west of N. Cumberland Ave., Chicago
  • Cost: Free

Join the American Indian Center on a hike through the woods to identify trees and plants, discuss sustainable practices and learn how Native people view plants as relatives.

Earth Day, Nature Play at Crabtree Nature Center

April 19, 2025

  • Address: 3 Stover Road, Barrington
  • Cost: Free

Families can enjoy playing, planting, painting and pretending with family-fun activities.

Helen Cuprisin Earth Day Celebration at Evergreen Park Public Library

April 19, 2025

  • Address: 9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park
  • Cost: Free

This Earth Day event features a kids craft, free Zinnia seeds, a craft swap, a plant swap and a presentation from a Master Gardener.

Earth Day at Caldwell Woods

April 22, 2025

  • Address: West Devon Avenue and North Nagle Avenue, Chicago
  • Cost: Free        

Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up litter at Caldwell Woods. There will be supplies for individuals or families to check out during the afternoon.  

Earth Day Celebration at Lincoln Marsh- Prairie Patch Play Area

April 22, 2025

  • Address: 1000 W. Lincoln Ave., Wheaton
  • Cost: Free

Children can celebrate Earth Day by enjoying open play at the Prairie Patch Play Area, crafts and activities. Registration is encouraged.  

Celebrating Earth Day at Main Park

April 26, 2025

  • Address: 400 W. Nebraska St., Frankfort
  • Cost: Free

Families can enjoy an afternoon of Earth Day fun with learning activities, crafts, kid-friendly games, giveaways and more. 

Earth Day Clean Up at Humboldt

April 26, 2025

  • Address: 1440 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago
  • Cost: Free

All ages can participate in the annual clean up event and join the celebration afterward.

 Earth Day Park Clean Up Events at Chicago Park Districts

April 26, 2025 

All ages can meet at the park entrances and participate in an Earth Day Park Clean Up. Registration required.

The Good Festival at Westfield Old Orchard

April 26-27, 2025

  • Address: 4905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie
  • Cost: Free

Drop off a bag of textiles for recycling and get a $25 AMEX gift card, plus enjoy spin-to-win prizes, live music, wreath making, and animal adoptions.

Earth Day Celebration at Emily Oaks Nature Center

April 27, 2025

  • Address: 4650 Brummel St., Skokie
  • Cost: Free

Earth Day Celebration: Music of the Earth allows visitors to experience the many different genres of music found in the natural world. Earth-friendly foods will be available for sale.

This article was recently updated on April 16, 2025 by Chicago Parent’s Content Writer, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding Earth Day events to the ChicagoParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best events on this list. Questions? Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.


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Kari Zaffarano
Kari Zaffarano
Kari Zaffarano is a mom of one and Chicago Parent's Content Writer. She tracks down the best events every week and shares the inside scoop with families online. She enjoys reading, traveling and exploring new places with her son.
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