March is packed with family-friendly activities all around Chicagoland! From Women’s History Month events, Maple Sugaring events and St. Patrick’s Day events, there’s no shortage of things to do this month.
Scroll through our handpicked list of the best March family events in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Looking for even more fun? Don’t miss our packed event calendar filled with activities for every family.
Read more: Find Our Full List of March Events in Chicago Parent’s Events Calendar.
Maple Syrup Hike at Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area
March 1-2, 8-9, 15, 2025
- Address: 21950 Riverwoods Road, Deerfield
- Cost: $7/ages 4-plus resident, $9/ages 4-plus non-resident, free/under 3
Learn how trees produce the sweet sap of sugar maples. Everyone gets a taste of the syrup. Registration required.
Sap’s Rising at River Trail Nature Center
March 1-2, 8-9, 15, 2025
- Address: 3120 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook
- Cost: Free
Families can walk in the sugar maple forest to learn about the sweet process of maple syrup making. Registration required.
Tiny Great Performances at DuPage Children’s Museum
March 1 and 8, 2025
- Address: 301 N. Washington St., Naperville
- Cost: $19/museum admission, free/under 1
Enjoy a special family-friendly performance that varies each week. March 1 is Salt Creek Ballet and March 8 is STEM Music Concert.
Winter Wonderland at Garfield Park Conservatory
March 1 and 15, 2025
- Address: 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Dress for the weather and come out to Garfield Park Conservatory for hot chocolate, s’mores, fort building, fairy furniture, whammy doodles and more.
Marriott Theatre Presents: The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
March 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29, 2025
- Address: 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire
- Cost: $16.75/ticket, free/parking
Families can see this one-hour musical journey, which is based on the beloved children’s book. After the performance, there will be a Q&A. There is an ASL-interpreted performance on March 22.
Float Nights at Challenge Fitness
March 7, 2025
- Address: 2021 Lawrence Ave., Lockport
- Cost: $3/non-members, free/active gym members and ages 24 months and under
Enjoy this monthly pool event and enjoy a night of relaxing in the water with a floatation device.
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade & River Dyeing
March 15, 2025
- Address: Downtown Chicago
- Cost: Free
This annual parade typically features more than 200 floats and marching bands. Chicago will also dye the Chicago River green in celebration.
2025 South Side Irish Parade
March 16, 2025
- Address: 103rd St. and Western Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Alcohol-free parade on Western Avenue from 103rd to 115th on Chicago’s South Side. Expect high school bands, bagpipe bands and more. It is the largest community-based parade on St. Patrick’s Day outside of Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day Event at Gallagher Way
March 16, 2025
- Address: 3635 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Immerse yourselves in all things Irish with traditional live music, face painting, balloon artists, giveaways, lawn games and more.
Together We Grow at Kohl Children’s Museum
Through April 1, 2025
- Address: 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
- Cost: $20/admission, free/ages 12 months and under
Enjoy an interactive exhibit that helps children discover what makes them unique and also what they have in common with others.
This article was updated on Feb. 26, 2025, by Chicago Parent’s Content Writer, Kari Zaffarano. The update added new Chicagoland events to the ChicagoParent.com calendar and highlighted this month’s top family-friendly activities. For questions, contact Kari at kari@chicagoparent.com.
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