Pretty soon, your kids will be going back to school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in one more summertime celebration before the school year gets too busy.
What are your plans for Labor Day weekend? To help you fill your days in the last fling of the summer with the best festivals and events, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Labor Day events that you can enjoy with your family in Chicagoland.
Don’t forget to check our roundups of fall festivals to find family fun through the end of the month, as well.
This article was recently updated on July 11, 2024, by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding Labor Day events to the ChicagoParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best Labor Day events for families to check out in Chicagoland. Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.
Naperville Last Fling
Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 100 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville
- Cost: Free admission; fees for activities
The festival includes an entertainment stage, food vendors, business expo vendors, family activities, Labor Day parade and a carnival.
Frankfort Fall Festival
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: Historic Downtown Frankfort, Kansas and White streets, Frankfort
- Cost: Free admission
This fest features more than 300 artisans, live entertainment, a carnival, food, beverages and a parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Schaumburg Septemberfest
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg
- Cost: Free admission
This outdoor festival features entertainment, arts and crafts show, a carnival, pony rides, fireworks and more.
Taste of Polonia
Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $10-plus
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. 2, 2024
- Address: West Fulton and Nort Sangamon streets, 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.
Bike the Drive
Sept. 1, 2024
- Address: Grant Park’s Butler Field, 235 S. Columbus Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $68, $18 kids ages 17 and under
This annual event shuts down DuSable Lake Shore Drive so riders of all ages can bike down the expressway. Helmets are required.
Cantigny Summer Concert Series
Sept. 1-2, 2024
- Address: Cantigny Park, 1 S. 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
- Cost: $20/car
Families can enjoy an outdoor concert which features lawn seating. Bring your own chairs, blankets and picnics. Sept. 1 is The Lovettes: A Salute to the Female Icons of the 40s, 50s, and 60s and Sept. 2 is Elvis My Way, starring Brandon Bennett.
Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival
Sept. 1-2, 2024
- Address: Island Park, 2 IL-25, Geneva
- Cost: Suggested admission donation (Adults – $35/day; Students and Seniors – $20/day; Families $80/day; Free/under 12)
This fest offers six stage areas fun both days with over 30 acts, workshops, dancing, spine-tingling tales and food vendors. There is also a kids zone co-sponsored by Science and Surplus of Geneva IL.
Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches
Through Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $16/member exhibit adult, $12/member exhibit child
See larger-than-life models of bloodsucking creatures and learn how different bloodsuckers earned their titles in this exhibit.
Bristol Renaissance Faire
Through Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Cost: $40/adults, $15/ages 5-12, free/ages 4 and under; $10-plus/parking (cash only)
Travel back in time to the year 1574 and enjoy 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, music, food, drinks and more. Nearly 200 artisans display their work here and the Kids Kingdom offers more than an acre of kid-friendly fun.
Evergreen Park Recreation Department’s Summer Concerts
Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: James J. Sexton Park, Rockwell St., Evergreen Park
- Cost: Free
Families can come out to James J. Sexton Park to see The City Lights Orchestra.
Water for Life 5K
Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: VitaLife, 352 W. Maple St., New Lenox
- Cost: $25-plus
This annual 5K fun run race, “Water is Life,” helps raise money for building wells in South Africa. Registration required.
Wonder Woods Mini Golf
Through Sept. 2, 2024
- Address: The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
- Cost: $10/adult non-members, $8/ages 4-17 non-members, free/under 4 (must purchase general admission to the museum, as well)
This summertime attraction was created by the Arboretum’s in-house exhibitions and design teams along with the science and conservation staff. The nine-hole pop-up course tells a story about trees and Illinois ecosystems while being a fun and interactive experience. For all ages.
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