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Earth Day, Circuses and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

Cirque Italia Water Circus at Orland Square. Photo by Joseph Gage via Flickr 2.0
Cirque Italia Water Circus at Orland Square. Photo by Joseph Gage via Flickr 2.0
4/23/25 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

Now that Easter and Passover are over, it's time to celebrate Earth Day! Help our planet by cleaning up a Chicago park, watching a movie about helping save the Earth, or building birdhouses and planting trees at SpringValley Nature center. Circuses are also having their day in the sun, with Cirque Italia Water Circus in Orland Park and Circus Vazquez at Yorktown Center in Lombard.

If you want more Earth Day events, we have a list of our favorites here. We know you still may be working through the leftovers of Easter brunch, but it's also time to start talking about booking a Mother's Day brunch with our list of favorites. And start planning a trip with our new guide for to what to do with kids in the Indianapolis area!

Have a great spring weekend in Chicago!

More Things To Do in Chicago This Week With Kids

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Best Things To Do This Weekend in Chicago With Kids

Cirque Italia Water Circus at Orland Square

Orland Park
Friday, April 25- Sunday, April 28
Cirque Italia presents an aquatic spectacular for families .The name reflects a unique attribute under the tent, as the show features a custom designed water stage that travels from city to city. The stage holds 35,000 gallons of water that performers dazzle over while thrilling the audience with every move. With this “unique feature” under the tent, guests will be surprised, for it’s a show of its own! READ MORE

One Earth Film Festival

Various locations
Ends Monday, April 28
Kids can learn more about the environment and threats to it through films. The One Earth Film Fest includes both in-person and virtual offerings for kids ages 3 and up. Animated and live action films provide education and entertainment for families. READ MORE

CineYouth Festival

Lincoln Park
Friday, April 25- Sunday, April 27
Presented by Cinema Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival, the 2023 CineYouth Festival runs April 25-27 at FACETS, 1517 W. Fullerton, featuring the work of students and young filmmakers aged 22 years and younger from Chicago, the U.S. and 17 different countries around the world. Over 60 short films have been programmed into themed screening blocks offering a glimpse into the future of cinema and the unique perspective of youth, including the "World's of Whimsy" program on Sunday afternoon featuring films for all ages. READ MORE

Circus Vazquez at Yorktown Center

Lombard
Closes April 28
Experience the Magic of Circus Vazquez at Yorktown Center! Step into a world of wonder as Circus Vazquez brings its spectacular show to Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL, from April 18 to April 28, 2025. This world-class circus promises an unforgettable experience filled with thrills, dazzling lights, a live orchestra, and an array of talented performers including high-level acrobats, dancers, and aerialists. READ MORE

Earth Day at Fischer Farm

Bensenville
Saturday, April 26
Attendees of this FREE family event at Fischer Farm will learn how to reduce their carbon footprint through demos, giveaways, crafts, interactive displays and Earth-friendly vendors. Jump in the Earth-themed bounce house and take a seedling home to plant! READ MORE

Local Author Fest

Wheaton
Saturday, April 26
Families can come see their favorite local authors at Wheaton Public Library as they read and sign their works. Various authors will read their books aloud at the cafe area on the main floor. READ MORE

Astronomy Day at Harper College

Palatine
Saturday, April 26
Introduce your kids (and yourself) to the exciting wonders of stargazing and the upcoming lunar eclipse! Look through and learn about different telescopes, attend lectures on new discoveries in our galaxy, complete fun crafts, listen to NASA Mission updates, and more! This FREE event is designed for both young astronomers and seasoned amateurs. We even have presentations to help Scouts earn their Astronomer Activity Badges. Come out and meet some new friends from the Northwest Suburban Astronomers Club. Hosted by Harper College Department of Physical Sciences & NSA. ... READ MORE

Howard Street Carnaval

Rogers Park - FREE
Saturday, April 26
Celebrate African and Caribbean Diaspora cultures in Rogers Park with a parade and a festival in White Park! The parade will start at Paulina and Jonquil and proceed south to Howard and then east to Ashland. At the park, explore a marketplace brimming with artisanal crafts, traditional attire, and unique treasures that tell stories of distant lands and local craftsmanship. Savor the flavors of spicy jerk chicken, tender goat curry, pasteles,aromatic jollof rice, and sweet plantain dishes, each bite transporting you to the streets of Kingston, Lagos, and beyond. Music and dancing start around... READ MORE

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

Various YMCA Locations
Saturday, April 26
YMCAs around the country host free community events aimed to inspire kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active throughout the summer months and beyond. Check the YMCA website to find one in your area that is participating. READ MORE

Friends of Chicago Parks Earth Day Park Clean Ups

Various Chicago Parks
Saturday, April 26
For 40 years, Friends of the Parks has coordinated park clean ups across Chicago as part of its annual Earth Day Celebration in partnership with the Chicago Park District and Forest Preserves of Cook County. This year's clean-ups will take place in more than 100 parks across the city. Check the Friends of the Parks website to sign up for a clean up at your park, or volunteer to captain a clean-up! READ MORE

Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl

Various Chicago Bookstores
Saturday, April 26
Chicagoland proves itself to be the dream destination for book lovers and readers of all ages! More than 50 independent bookstores in the greater Chicago area—from Lake Forest to Beverly, and Libertyville to the Loop—are collaborating on our annual Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl, which encourages book lovers to indulge in bookstore tourism by visiting 10 or more stores in a single day.     READ MORE

To Save A Lake

North Center
Opens Saturday, April 26
Bring your kids to Corn for its newest Theatre for Young Audience Production, To Save A Lake; A New Original Comedy Adventure for Young Audiences! When Evelyn and Mora get an invitation to meet with the King, they go on a journey to get to the castle and convince the King to help clean up their beloved lake!.Along the way, they run into a sassy duck who longs for a clean and safe lake to call home. Will the king be any help or will they need some extra magic to save their lake? Find out at To Save A Lake! READ MORE

Earth Day Party at Spring Valley Nature Center

Schaumburg
Sunday, April 27
Spring Valley Nature Center hosts an Earth Day celebration for the whole family, including games, crafts, free wildflower seedlings, birdhouse building, worm composting construction, a live hawk and owl display, and more! READ MORE

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