Weekend Windup: 22 Family Fun Events in the Chicago Suburbs October 9-11, 2020

22 Family Fun Events in the Chicago Suburbs October 9-11, 2020

Tons of fall fun ahead this weekend! There are plenty of fall experiences, scarecrow fun and even spooky fun to be had on this fall weekend. Here are my picks in the Chicago suburbs:

Ongoing:

Ongoing Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Outdoor Tours; it is preferred that you order tickets online: https://flwright.org/

Ongoing through October 11 Model Railroad: Landmarks of America at Chicago Botanic Garden, 10AM-5PM daily, enjoy trains as they travel through vignettes of iconic spots in America, the display incorporates a fantastic number of plants within the scenes, please reserve timed entry for the gardens, parking $30 per car on weekends (free for members), there are separate admission fees for the railroad garden.

Ongoing Dunn Museum Timed Entry, Libertyville, 10AM-3:30PM, must reserve timed entry, nonresident $10, $6 seniors, $6 kids, resident $6, $3 and $3 respectively, under 4 free, learn about the history and culture of Lake County, museum open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only

Ongoing through October 31 Naperville Settlement timed entry, Naperville, $5 per person, residents free, register online, must follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask, open Tuesdays-Sundays

Ongoing Apple Picking and Amaze 'N Apples Maze, Royal Oak Farm Orchard, See Facebook for details and COVID precautions

Ongoing Richardson Corn Maze -- Did you know that the Chicago area is home to the World's Largest Corn Maze? We certainly are! One of our favorite corn mazes is Richardson's Corn Maze which is the World's Largest and features a new theme each year. This year's maze celebrates Earth Day's 50th Anniversary.  This year's maze is open September 12-November 8. Don't forget the apple cider donuts! 

Ongoing Shades of Autumn Festival --  This year, Stade's Shades of Autumn Festival will look a little different. While the play area will not be open, families will still be able to pick apples and pumpkins! Please check website for information and u-pick dates.

Ongoing Pumpkin Daze -- Abbey Farms in Aurora hosts family fun on the farm during Pumpkin Daze each year. Abbey Farms delights with a corn maze, pumpkin picking, a rope maze and much more. Take a peek at the live music on the farm options as well! Please check website for more information on COVID protocols. Pumpkin Daze runs through November 1. Don't forget to snag some apple cider donuts!

Ongoing through November 1 Scarecrow Trail -- Stroll around Meadow Lake at Morton Arboretum enjoying scarecrow creations crafted by local organizations. We have been pretty impressed by the creativity of each year's contributions. The trail is included in admission BUT you must reserve timed entry, so head over to the website to reserve your time. 

Ongoing through October 31 Terror in the Timbers Halloween Drive Through in Elgin, Fridays and Saturdays; Thursdays the last two weekends in October, this is a scary drive so more for families with teens; $65 per car; to provide a true family event there will be Family Fun Trick-or-Treats Oct 23, 25, 30 and 31 for $20 per car, must reserve tickets 

Ongoing October 10-31 Skeleton Scavenger Hunt, LaGrange, fun and free skeleton hunt

Ongoing through October 31 Windows Into Art: Love Where You Live art display throughout downtown Wheaton, local artists have painted incredible scenes on the windows of local businesses, check out the map and go on an art hunt

Friday, October 9

October 9-11 Pop-Up Haunted Park, Vattman Park, Wilmette, 6AM-9PM, enjoy a park decorated with spine-tingling decor, free and at your leisure, please maintain social distance and wear a mask if crowded

October 9-11 Scarecrow Fest -- Scarecrow Fest has been celebrating the harvest in St. Charles for 35 years! Businesses and organizations decorate scarecrows for a village-wide contest every year creating quite the assemblage of unique and sometimes spooky scarecrows!  The event will be slightly different this year with scarecrows well spread out. Check out Beer in a Box which will feature selections from all 6 of St. Charles' breweries! 

Saturday, October 10

October 10-11 Wheaton Art Walk, 9AM-5PM each day, free but please register for a time, must follow social distancing and wear a mask if crowded.

October 10 Walk your Dog in the Park, Cantigny Park, Wheaton, 9AM-6PM, dog must be leashed, have current vaccination tags and play well with others, $5 parking 

 

October 10 Family Yoga in the Park with Hop Along Yogi Kids Yoga, Klehm Park, Arlington Heights, 9:30AM, $8 per person, must register, will be following social distancing; geared towards families with children ages 2-6.

October 10 Long Grove Scarecrow Day, 11AM-6PM, $10, register for a time slot to craft a scarecrow

October 10-11 Corn Harvest, Kline Creek Farm, West Chicago, learn about the corn harvest and experience picking corn by hand alongside horse drawn equipment, learn how to properly shuck, $5 pp,  must register, various times, must wear a mask

Sunday, October 11 

October 11 What Oak is This? Sagawau Learning Center, Lemont, 1PM, learn how to identify oak trees using clues, call 630-257-2045 to register, must wear masks and follow social distancing

October 11 OAKtober Walk, St. James Farm, Warrenville, 2PM-3PM, learn about oaks and check out fall colors, must register, $5 pp, for ages 5 and older; those 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult, must follow social distancing and wear a mask

October 11 Guided Trail Walks, The Grove, Glenview, 2PM, must register, free, call 847-299-6096