There is so much going on in the city and suburbs this April that is sure to keep you and your family busy. Celebrate spring with Earth Day events, egg hunts, bunny brunches and sensory-friendly Easter events.
Be sure to check out these museums with your kids. You can also take your kids to an indoor play place, on a scenic hiking trail or to get pancakes in Chicagoland.
If your child wants to try something new, sign them up for an acting class.
Looking for more things to do with kids in Chicagoland? We’ve got you covered to make it a great weekend with kid-friendly events, what’s going around town and even at-home activities.
Events
The city and suburbs continue to offer excellent options for family-friendly events. We picked some of our favorites going on this weekend below. Find more events on our calendar.
Dino Works at Wonder Works Children’s Museum
March 29-April 2, 2023
- Address: 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park
- Cost: $13/members, $26/non-members
Aspiring Paleontologists of all ages will be delighted by the wide array of dinosaur activities, starting with the giant T-Rex skeleton greeting them as they enter. Dino Works is so chock full of activities that families often like to come twice, to maximize their time in this once a year takeover event at Wonder Works Children’s Museum. Registration required.
Ailey Experience: Chicago at Auditorium Theatre, Katten Landau Studio
April 1-2, 2023
- Address: 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $50/one day, $80/both days
Learn choreography from some of Alvin Ailey’s iconic works and train in hip-hop and contemporary techniques. No experience necessary and all levels are welcome; recommended for ages 8 and older.
Brunch with Bunny & Egg Hunt at Palos Park Recreation Department
April 1, 2023
- Address: 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
- Cost: $20, free/2 and under
Hop on over to the Palos Park Recreation Center for an egg-cellent brunch with the Easter bunny. Follow the bunny outside for the annual egg hunt. Hidden on the Village Green are more than 1,000 eggs. Advanced registration required.
Chicago Loves Me at Chicago Children’s Theatre
April 1, 2023
- Address: 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Meet the author, Vanessa Rodriguez and hear book readings, enjoy activities and receive goodies and surprises.
Doggie Easter Egg Hunt at West Main Community Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 40W101 W. Main St., Batavia
- Cost: $15/dog
Dogs hunt for Easter eggs that are filled with doggie treats. All dogs must be leashed during the event. Pre-registration is requested.
Earth-a-Palooza at Linne Woods
April 1, 2023
- Address: W. Dempster St., east of Lehigh Ave., Morton Grove
- Cost: Free
Enjoy an eco-friendly fest that features nature play, native plants, nature walks, animals from the Brookfield Zoo and more. Registration required.
Earth Day Safari at Hidden Oaks Nature Center
April 1-2, 2023
- Address: 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook
- Cost: Free
Explore using their safari gear, including backpack, hat, binoculars, critter containers, journal, magnifying glass, reference books and more. No registration required.
Easter Egg Hunt at Pottawatomie Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 8 North Ave., St. Charles
- Cost: Free
Kids should make sure to bring their own basket to this event. They will be able to collect a maximum of ten eggs and enjoy in on some Easter fun. For ages 9 and under. Registration is not required.
Egg Hunt at Austin Town Hall Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 5610 W. Lake St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-12 can take part in an egg treasure hunt, arts and crafts, activities and dancing with the bunny.
Egg Hunt at Commercial Club Playground
April 1, 2023
- Address: 1845 W. Rice St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
The egg hunt will be broken up into three sections divided by age. This event is great for 10 and under.
Egg Hunt at Galewood Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 5729 W. Bloomingdale Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 5-12 can enjoy a colorful egg hunt, play games, make crafts and get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Baskets will be provided. Registration required. The first 60 children to register in advance will receive a free basket.
Egg Hunt at Grand Crossing Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 7655 S. Ingleside Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 3-10 can join the bunny egg hunt, play games, make arts and crafts and more. Registration required.
Egg Hunt at Hollywood Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 3312 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 10 and under can enjoy fun and games at this annual egg hunt.
Egg Hunt at West Lawn Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 4233 W. 65th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a fun-filled egg hunt in the West Lawn neighborhood. Recommended for ages 3-11.
Filament Theatre’s Think Fast, Jordan Chase! at Filament Theatre
April 1-2, 2023
- Address: 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $10-$15
Enjoy the world premiere of the youth-curated, ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ inspired production, Think Fast, Jordan Chase!
Hold a Baby Lamb at Enjoy Pioneer Farm
April 1-2, 2023
- Address: 17N400 Big Timber Road, Hampshire
- Cost: $9/person
The farm is open weekends in March, April and May for holding baby lambs, goats, chicks, piglets, calves, bunnies and ducklings. Also, “rent” a chick or duck for two weeks.
Peppa’s Spring Adventure at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago
April 1-2, 2023
- Address: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
- Cost: $32.99-plus/person
Children can enjoy meeting, dancing and singing with Peppa, themed activity sheets and other memory-making fun at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago.
Step Back Into a 1950s Easter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church
April 1, 2023
- Address: 227 Monee Road, Park Forest
- Cost: $5/suggested donation for ages 13-plus, free/ages 12 and under
See an antique Easter on display and the classroom decorated for a 1950s Easter party.
Wonderland Egg Hunt at at The Preserve of Highland Park
April 1, 2023
- Address: 1207 Park Ave. West, Highland Park
- Cost: Free
This Easter egg hunt features scenes and characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The hunt will include 60,000 plastic eggs filled with treats and is broken into different age groups. Ages 1-2 will take place at 9-9:10 a.m. Ages 3-5 will take place at 9:15-9:25 a.m. Ages 6-9 will take place at 9:30-9:40 a.m. Registration required.
Ballerina Breakfast at Museum of Illusions Chicago
April 2, 2023
- Address: 25 E. Washington St., Chicago
- Cost: $24/ages 13-plus, $22/senior ages 60-plus, $19/ages 5-12, free/ages 4 and under
Ballet 5:8’s talented ballerinas will perform at Museum of Illusions while guests explore the museum enjoying breakfast and mimosas (for those 21-plus). For all ages. Reservations required.
Community Egg Hunt at Hamlin (Hannibal) Park
April 2, 2023
- Address: 3035 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Kids can bring their own basket to collect colorful, filled eggs at this annual egg hunt.
Easter Egg Hunt at Cantigny Park
April 2, 2023
- Address: 1 S. 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
- Cost: Free; $5/parking
Join in on the fun at Cantigny Park for their annual egg hunt. Bring your own bag or basket and return them to the redemption area for prizes.
The Negro Motorist Green Book at Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Through April 23, 2023
- Address: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie
- Cost: $18/adults, $6/ages 5-11, free/under 5
This exhibit explains the history of “The Green Book” and included different artifacts from that time period – such as images, business signs, postcards and other firsthand accounts.
The Underworld Visits North Riverside Park Mall – Alebrijes
Through May 7, 2023
- Address: 7501 W. Cermak Road, North Riverside
- Cost: Free
See select Alebrijes from the 2022 Cantigny Mexican art exhibition on display at the North Riverside Park Mall.
Harry Potter: Magic at Play at Water Tower Place
Through May 14, 2023 (Thursdays-Mondays)
- Address: 835 Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $42.50/adult, $34/child ages 3-9, free/under 2
Enjoy the first-of-its-kind interactive experience, which allows fans of all ages to engage with the Wizarding World like never before. It’s 30,000 square feet of hands-on magical interactivity including games, exploration, sensory activations and more that celebrate Harry’s own journey in discovering the wizarding world.
Mozart Immersive: The Soul of A Genius at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago
Through May 29, 2023
- Address: 108 W. Germania Place, Chicago
- Cost: $18-plus/adult, $8-plus/child
See the world premiere of this immersive experience. Visitors will see Mozart’s compositions in a new way, with captivating visuals built around the auditory experience with the assistance of Midjourney AI.
Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears at the Art Institute of Chicago
Through June 12, 2023
- Address: 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free w/general admission
This exhibit focuses on the pivotal decade of the 1930s, when Salvador Dalí emerged as the inventor of his own personal brand of Surrealism. It features 25 paintings, drawings, and surrealist objects.
Around town
Spend the weekend exploring Chicagoland with your family with these ideas. Find more things to do on our website.
- Take your kids to enjoy an indoor play place.
- Check out these acting classes for kids.
- Go out to eat for pancakes in Chicagoland.
- Visit these museums in Chicagoland with your family.
- Take your family on a scenic hiking trail.
At-home activities
If your family wants to stay home this weekend, you can try the following activities with your kids.
- Use this recipe to make a crazy and fun milkshake.
- Read these spring books with your kids.
- Celebrate April Fools’ Day with these pranks.
- Watch Zootopia and try these activities.
- Make this easy paper flower craft.
This post is updated weekly.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
