May is packed with family-friendly activities all around Chicagoland! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day and enjoy nature walks, kid-friendly performances and more.
Scroll through our handpicked list of the best May 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 May Events in Chicago Parent’s Events Calendar.
Best Things to Do with Kids in May
Book Walk: “An Immense World” at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
May 1-31, 2025
- Address: 12545 W. 111th St., Lemont
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a self-guided walk that will highlight excerpts from the book, “An Immense World” by Ed Yong.”
Go Dog Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve! at Chicago Children’s Theatre
May 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 2025
- Address: 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $42.25-plus
All ages can see these delightful dogs as they drive, swim, play baseball and make their way to the big dog party. This production is a lively blend of English and Spanish.
Imagine U: A Tale of Peter Rabbit at Wirtz Center Mussetter-Struble Theater
May 2-4, 9-11, 2025
- Address: 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston
- Cost: $20/general public, $12/students and children
Ages 3-6 will enjoy the award-winning writer Trista Baldwin adaptation from Beatrix Potter’s timeless tale of Peter Rabbit a modern twist. The sensory-friendly performance is on May 11.
Kohl Children’s Museum Touch a Truck Family Festival
May 4, 2025
- Address: 2300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
- Cost: $25/members, $35/non-members, free/under 1
This event features 40-plus trucks for kids to climb in along with train rides, music, food trucks and more.
Día de Los Niños y Libros: A Celebration of Children and Books at Harold Washington Library Center
May 10, 2025
- Address: 400 S. State St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 13 and under can enjoy an open house celebration with play and art activities, music, storytelling, book giveaways and special guests. And meet Daisy from WTTW Kids’ Nature Cat!
National Science Foundation STEM Day at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
May 10, 2025
- Address: 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free w/general admission
Conduct your own science experiments, learn everything you ever wanted to know about real-life careers in STE(A)M and explore Griffin MSI’s world-class exhibits.
Switch on Summer 2025 at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
May 10, 2025
- Address: 301 S. Columbus Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free
This 11th annual event will feature family-friendly activities, entertainment, local food vendors, fun giveaways and special guest appearances.
Vivid Creatures at The Morton Arboretum
Opens May 17, 2025
- Address: 4100 IL-53, Lisle
- Cost: Free w/Arboretum admission
The exhibit will include five new sculptures from Polish-American artist Olga Ziemska. Using reclaimed tree branches and other materials found at The Morton Arboretum, Ziemska’s work will remind visitors that everything on our planet comes from the same basic materials.
A&A BALLET Presents The Acclaimed Sleeping Beauty at Athenaeum Theater
May 24, 2025
- Address: 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $18.70-$59
See A&A’s spring performance of Sleeping Beauty, which will highlight its most recent internationally acclaimed and award-winning dancers and program. For all ages.
Mole de Mayo Festival
May 24-26, 2025
- Address: 18th St. and Ashland Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Contact for prices
Celebrate Pilsen’s 15th annual Mole de Mayo Fest, which features art, music, lucha libre and muche mole.
This article was recently updated on May 1, 2025, by Chicago Parent’s Content Writer Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding new Chicagoland events to the ChicagoParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best family events this month, aligning with Chicago Parent’s mission to provide the top parenting resources for local families. Questions? Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
