11 Awesome Fall activities for kids in Chicago

Chicago and its suburbs are always bustling with activities that are great for kids and families. Fall is a wonderful time to get out and about when it’s not too hot and not too cold, just before the winter chill sets in.

Here are a few great fall activities for kids in Chicago and the surrounding area:

1. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents: ‘Legends’

   Nov. 19- 29 @ United Center
   $15-$95
   The circus gets some bad press these days, but it’s in town in late November if you want to take your kids to see the “Greatest Show on Earth”.

2. Go see Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical

   Nov 20-29 @ The Chicago Theatre
   $35-$125
   Take the kids to see the musical production of the Dr. Seuss classic about everyone’s favorite grinch.

3. Enjoy the magic of Watson Adventures’ Wizard School event

   Nov. 22 @ Art Institute of Chicago
   $15-$24.50
   The website describes this fun event as:
   “A Harry Potter-themed field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, in search of art that echoes characters, places, and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Be prepared to track down flying owls, Hagrid-like giants, centaurs and unicorns like those you’d see in the Forbidden Forest, dragons that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, and eerie figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor. …references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. It’s a great way to discover—or rediscover—the museum.”

4. Go see the Chicago Wolves vs. Iowa Wild

   Sat., Nov. 22, 7 p.m. @ Allstate Arena
   $11
   A fun fest and post-game skate is included in the ticket price, plus the first 2,500 people get a Wendell Young T-shirt.

5. Get up close and personal to animals at the Flying Fox Animal Show

   Nov. 28 @ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
   $9
   Bats get a bad rap, but this program in Lincoln Park is here to show how cute and gentle fruit bats and other similar mammals really are, and parents and kids will get a chance to meet the critters up close.

6. Go browse the Villa Park arts & crafts

   November 20 – 23, 2014 @ the Odeum Expo Center
   $9, Under 10 Free
   The Autumn Festival, an Arts & Crafts Affair in the Odeum Expo Center features hundreds of craft booths to explore and enjoy.

7. Take a stroll through the Christmas market

   November 21 – Dec. 24, 2014 @ Daley Plaza
   Free
   The free Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza features an open-air European holiday market with German foods, opening ceremony, traditional art, handmade gifts, choirs, carolers, and more.

8. Have some fun at the Toy and Game fair

   November 22 – 23, 2014 @ Navy Pier
   $10 for 13+, $5 for ages 3 – 12, Free for children under 3
   Come to Navy Pier for the Chicago Toy & Game Fair where you can find new toys and games, characters in costume, tournaments, and other entertainment.

9. See the Christmas tree lighting

   November 25, 2014 @ Daley Plaza
   Free
   Chicago’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony includes a music program in Daley Plaza and the mayor and tree donor flipping the switch to light up the tree.

10. Watch the Thanksgiving Parade

    November 27, 2014 @ State Street
    Free
    Bring the kids to see the giant balloons, floats, and marching bands in the parade that runs through Downtown Chicago from 8-11a on State Street from Congress to Randolph.

11. Go marvel at the ZooLights

    Nov. 28-30; Dec 4 for members only, Dec. 5-7, 12-23, 26-31; Jan. 1-4 @ Lincoln Park Zoo
    Free
    Ice carvings, millions of lights, music, train and carousel rides, food and gift shopping, is all on offer at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights. Santa is even there for photos until Dec 23.