Ofrenda Display Walk
Celebrate Día de los Muertos by admiring all the beautiful ofrendas on display in Oak Park!
Location: Oak Park
Oak Park Society of Model Engineers Open House
Learn about the hobby of model trains and admire the model railroads at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers open house! This free event is an excellent way to spend your day. Model trains from different railroad eras will be running around the society's layout. You'll see steam trains, as well as trains from the 1950s, 1970s, 1990s and the modern day!
Location: Oak Park
Riverside Historical Church Tours
Riverside’s historic churches are offering free, docent-led tours in celebration of the Village of Riverside’s 150th Anniversary. This is a rare opportunity to explore Riverside’s sacred spaces! And then check out Riverside's excellent restaurants.
Location: Riverside
Hillside Veterans Day Parade
Come out and honor our nation’s heroes at Hillside’s 23rd Annual Veterans Day Parade!
Bring your family and friends to celebrate those who served with pride, community spirit and plenty of fun.
Location: Hillside
Chicago Architecture and Cocktails Author Talk
Join authors Keir Graff, Carla Bruni, and Nicole Schnitzler for an engaging conversation about some of Chicago’s most iconic architecture and its vibrant cocktail culture at Dandelion Bookshop.
Location: Oak Park
Build a Clay Charcuterie Platter
Join Riverside Arts Center for a two-session, fun and creative charcuterie board class! You'll design and customize your own stunning clay platter with expert guidance.
Location: Riverside
ForeverMore Dance at Wonder Works Children's Museum
Come pirouette and move in a fun kid-friendly dance class open to all at Wonder Works Children's Museum with Miss Adele from ForevermoreArts Studio.
Location: Oak Park
First Fridays at R Titus Designs Studio: Artist Anna Kerkashina
Visiting artist Anna Cherkashina is displaying her original artwork at R. Titus Designs Studio. Enjoy refreshments!
Location: Oak Park
Touch-and-Learn: Sensational Snakes
Join Wonder Works Children's Museum for safe and supervised interactions with two live snakes, teaching children about reptile biology and natural behaviors. Young explorers will learn how snakes sense their world, shed their skin and adapt to different environments while experiencing gentle contact with these remarkable animals.
Location: Oak Park
Holiday Canvas Creation
Embrace the holiday season by creating a unique painting that reflects your festive spirit! Supplies are included with registration. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the bar for those 21 and up.
Location: Franklin Park
Pumpkin Smash
Don’t trash it, SMASH IT! Green your Halloween by recycling your pumpkins into compost with the Park District of Franklin Park. All candles, stickers, glitter and synthetic decorations must be removed from pumpkins prior to smashing. It'll be a smashing good time!
Location: Franklin Park
Marvel Movie Trivia Night
Think you know Marvel movie trivia? Assemble your team of Avengers and head to Daisy's Treats to prove your chops and win prizes. It's free to play, plus there'll be tasty treats and baked goods!
Location: Brookfield
Forest Park Wine Walk
Enjoy a beautiful fall day in Forest Park while exploring the unique shops and restaurants on Madison at the Fall Wine Walk. Taste three wines at 17 locations and enjoy locally prepared small bites at ‘taste locations’ and restaurants.
Location: Forest Park
Community Tree Trim
Celebrate the season with Tree Trim at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, the perfect way to kick off the holidays! Purchase a tree to decorate and help bring the magic of the holidays to life as part of the beloved Holiday Magic lights festival.
Location: Brookfield
Veterans Day 5K
Join the community of Westchester in honoring our nation's veterans through the Veterans Day 5K and one-mile health walk! Proceeds benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation and K9s for Warriors.
Location: Westchester
The Jewish History of Oak Park and River Forest: History Talk
Learn about how these first Jewish pioneers of the Western Suburbs paved the way for an organized community that established itself in Oak Park in the early decades of the 20th century among ‘the Village of Churches.’
Location: Oak Park
Clay Ornaments Holiday Workshop
Join Riverside Arts Center for a festive, family-friendly event where we will make handmade holiday ornaments in clay. Shawn Vincent will guide you through the process of making several handmade clay Christmas ornaments.
Location: Riverside
Veterans Day Celebration
To honor the men and women who have proudly served our nation, Brookfield Zoo Chicago invites the public to a special Veterans Day ceremony at the Discovery Center for a full day of fun activities!
Location: Brookfield
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Tellers' Night
Experience personal real-life stories from professional storytellers at Robert’s Westside. Enjoy Robert’s selection of handmade cocktails, mocktails and craft beer while immersing yourself in the teller's tale.
Location: Forest Park
Santa at North Riverside Park Mall
Get ready for Christmas by visiting with Santa Claus and getting your picture taken at North Riverside Park Mall.
Location: North Riverside
Wallpaper Wine and Design Night
York Wallcoverings, the largest manufacturer of wallcoverings in North America, will be joining Just Wallpaper for a happy hour featuring samples, snacks and wine. Local designers and our staff will be mingling to meet with clients and talk wallpaper and design.
Location: Brookfield
Hometown Legends Bus Tour
Oak Park River Forest Museum is teaming up with Explore Oak Park and Beyond for the Hometown Legends Bus Tour, featuring stops in front of homes and sites associated with some of Oak Park and River Forest's famous residents.
Location: Oak Park, River Forest
Holiday Movie Trivia Night
Think you know every line from Elf, Home Alone, or Love Actually? Can you name all the reindeer and all the versions of The Grinch? Join Chicago Trivia Guys for a night of merry movie madness and test your holiday film knowledge in a fast-paced, laugh-filled trivia showdown at the Park District of Forest Park.
Location: Forest Park
Family Trivia Night
Put your heads together and test your knowledge at our fun-filled Family Trivia Night! Gather your team—whether it’s parents, kids, grandparents, or siblings—and compete in a variety of trivia rounds with questions for all ages.
Location: Franklin Park
Light the Tree with Santa & Friends
Enjoy festivities, dance party and carolers to welcome Santa and North Riverside Mayor Joseph Mengoni and the NRPD and NRFD. Santa arrives at noon at Entrance 1, but the celebration continues until 6pm throughout the mall.
Location: North Riverside
Imperial Oak Brewing Kris Kringle Market
Relax and grab a craft beer or other beverage and shop a carefully curated variety of artists and makers inside at Imperial Oak Brewing. There'll be something for everyone, and it never hurts to get yourself a little something too.
Location: Brookfield
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Reindeer Run
Gather your family, friends and holiday cheer for a two-mile "fun run" entirely within Brookfield Zoo Chicago through the Holiday Magic light displays!
Location: Brookfield
Historical Society of Forest Park 50th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate 50 years of Forest Park history with the Historical Society of Forest Park at BABs Comedy Club for games, prizes, refreshments and more! Event is free for all to attend with a cash bar.
Location: Forest Park
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Holiday Arts and Gift Bazaar at Studio 928
Hosted by Style Society and Studio 928, the Holiday Art & Gift Bazaar is a festive celebration of art, local makers, and unique finds you won’t see anywhere else. Explore handcrafted gifts, original artwork, jewelry, ornaments, and seasonal décor — all created by talented artists and artisans from Oak Park and Chicagoland.
Bring friends, family, or your whole team for an afternoon of holiday cheer, music, treats, and hands-on art experiences. Meet local creatives, support small businesses, and find one-of-a-kind gifts that tell a story.
Location: Oak Park
Black History Bus Tour
Oak Park River Forest Museum and Explore Oak Park and Beyond are teaming up to bring you the Black History Bus Tour. See special locations in Oak Park, River Forest and Maywood as a trained guide narrates the story of Black Americans and their contributions.
Location: Oak Park, River Forest, Maywood
Zoo After Dark: Holiday Sip & Stroll
Gather your friends for a one-of-a-kind holiday celebration filled with lights, music, memories to last a lifetime at Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Holiday Sip and Stroll, a 21-plus event.
Location: Brookfield
Saturday with Santa on Harrison
Join the Oak Park Arts District for a fun-filled day featuring pictures with Santa, a toy drive, letters to Santa crafts, a candy cane walk, face painting, local art vendors, food and drink specials and more!
Location: Oak Park
Mabuhay Christmas Market at Mora Oak Park
The Mabuhay Christmas Market is coming to MORA Oak Park with artisanal gifts, decadent desserts and a kamayan feast that tastes like a holiday hug.
Location: Oak Park
Dance along Nutcracker
Immerse yourself in the 19th century architecture of the Pleasant Home decked out for the holidays, while viewing vignettes from the Nutcracker! Children will be invited to learn parts of the ballet.
Location: Brookfield
Native American Heritage Celebration
Brookfield Chicago Zoo shares its history and appreciation with its celebration of Native American heritage, included with zoo admission, featuring programming recognizing Native American traditions and species that hold significance to this community!
Location: Brookfield
Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Holiday Magic
Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Holiday Magic is back with a brand new light display, now with more than 3.5 million lights. This spectacular interactive display transforms the zoo into a dazzling winter wonderland. Stroll through themed areas featuring giant holiday displays, a maze, tunnels and animal-themed lights.
Location: Brookfield
Fall Art Camp
Let your kid explore their creative side at RAC's Fall Art Camp! Each day, students will work on two art activities with a snack break in between.
Location: Riverside
Shop Small & Tree Lighting
Come join the Hemingway District for holiday family fun at the Shop Small Celebration on Saturday, November 29! There will be a variety of family-friendly holiday activities to get you in the spirit, including a tree lighting in Scoville Square at 4:30 p.m.
Location: Oak Park
La Grange Small Business Saturday Flash Sale
Support local businesses by shopping small! La Grange businesses are holding a flash sale with special offers and deep discounts for a limited time, making it the perfect way to kick off your holiday gift-buying.
Location: La Grange
Higgins Glass Holiday Open House and Holiday Sale
Step into the beautiful Higgins Glass studio for its annual holiday open house and immerse yourself in exquisite glass art! The Higgins kilns have been firing away, creating tons gorgeous glass art and ornaments just in time for the holidays.
Location: Riverside