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Labor Day Weekend 2025 in Chicago: Festivals, Fireworks, and More Things to Do With Kids

Hanging out with friends! Photo courtesy of Last Fling in Naperville
Hanging out with friends! Photo courtesy of Last Fling in Naperville
8/27/25 - By Maureen Wilkey

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

Labor Day Weekend 2025 in Chicago is a sweet, last taste of summer. There are many things to do this weekend in Chicago, like listen to music in Highwood, and Navy Pier, or burn off the calories from the Labor Day barbecue in Elmhurst by biking the drive. This is a good weekend to blow the kids' bedtime with the final summer fireworks show on the lake or head out to a suburb for a variety of end-of-summer, start-of-fall celebrations in Naperville, Buffalo Grove, Melrose Park, and Schaumburg.

School is back in session, and it's time to get afterschool activities lined up! Try out a cooking class with our list of a dozen favorites in and around Chicago. You can also find a museum-based program for your Chicago teen to delve deeper to their favorite topics. Or, use the long weekend to head to one of our favorite apple-picking orchards near Chicago. 

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids:

 

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Chicago Navy Pier fireworks. Photo Credit Nick Ulivieri Photography, courtesy of the Pier.
Chicago Navy Pier fireworks. Photo Credit Nick Ulivieri Photography, courtesy of the Pier.

Things To Do in Chicago this Weekend with Kids

Chicago Onscreen Film Festival

Various parks citywide - Free
Monday, August 25-Saturday, August 30
Local filmmakers present their tales of Chicago on the big screen at showings at 10 parks throughout the city. Different short films are shown in each park each evening. READ MORE

Buffalo Grove Days

Buffalo Grove
Thursday, August 28-Monday, September 1
Celebrate the northwest suburbs with a carnival, food trucks, live music for kids and grown-ups, bingo, a family fun walk, a pancake breakfast, and a rotary duck race. Fun and games are available for kids in the children's area. READ MORE

Last Fling

Naperville
Friday, August 29-Monday, September 1
Naperville's annual end of summer festival features live music, food vendors, a carnival and Family Fun Land. The family area includes sack races, water balloon contests, and eating contests featuring cotton candy, spaghetti, and cupcakes. Music, dancing, stilt walkers, and a real live princess round out the family fun. READ MORE

Nashwood

Highwood - FREE
Friday, August 29-Sunday, August 31
North suburban Highwood celebrates country music on Labor Day weekend with live country, bluegrass, blues and Southern rock music. Southern inspired food and drinks will also be available. Families can take a hayride through downtown to get between venues. New this year, Honky Tonk Tots area will offer kid friendly entertainment on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM – 12 PM. Located on the patio in front of Tala Coffee and Billy Brick’s Pizza, it will feature family friendly performances by Little Miss Ann (Saturday 10:30 AM – 11 AM) and Miss Jamie's Farm (Sunday 10:30 - 11:15 AM). READ MORE

Taste of Polonia

Jefferson Park
Friday, August 29-Monday September 1
The country's largest Polish festival takes place at the Copernicus Center in Chicago on Labor Day weekend. More than 30 bands will play on four stages throughout the weekend, and families can enjoy inflatables, a climbing wall, face painting, clowns, Disney characters, tastings and cooking classes, carnival rides, and games. READ MORE

African Festival of the Arts

Washington Park
Saturday, August 30-Monday, September 1
Washington Park hosts the annual African Festival of the Arts, featuring vibrant drumming, museum quality and collectible artifacts, colorful and rich handwoven fabric and textile, family friendly activities, music, and food.  READ MORE

Taste of Melrose Park

Melrose Park - Free
Friday, August 29-Sunday, August 31
Summer winds down with this annual festival in the near west suburbs. Families can enjoy a live entertainment, including kids' musicians, bagpipes, the Sabor de Mexico stage, and the Jesse White Tumblers, along with carnival rides and games and a free interactive racing game. READ MORE

Schaumburg September Fest

Schaumburg - FREE
Saturday, August 30-Monday, September 1
Septemberfest offers arts & crafts, live music, kid's activities, carnival, and much more. READ MORE

Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier

Downtown - FREE, last event of the season
Saturday, August 30
Fireworks fans of all ages can enjoy a spectacular display, synchronized to music, for FREE every Wednesday and Saturday night at Navy Pier.  READ MORE

Long Grove Irish Days

Long Grove - Free
Saturday, August 30-Monday, September 1
Experience the luck of the Irish on Labor Day weekend in historic Downtown Long Grove. Visitors can see Irish dancers, hear Irish music, sample Irish inspired food and beverages, and judge contests for best Irish dog and best looking men's legs in a kilt. READ MORE

Live on the Lake!

Downtown - FREE
Ends Sunday, August 31
Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening, Navy Pier presents local musical acts performing live for families. From cover bands to jazz to DJs to country music—there is something for everyone at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. READ MORE

'Cue for a Cause

Elmhurst - Free
Sunday, August 31
Elmhurst's annual barbecue competition and family festival highlights backyard grill masters as they prepare ribs and chicken for the judges. This year's contest will also include a pie and cookie bake-off. Families can purchase beer, barbecue, and root beer floats and enjoy live entertainment throughout the day. READ MORE

Batavia Block Party & Taste of Batavia

Batavia
Sunday, August 31
Enjoy a taste of Batavia with tastings from the suburban downtown's favorite restaurants. Live music will accompany a family fun zone and a pie bake off. READ MORE

Bike the Drive

Lake Shore Drive
Sunday, August 31
Bike the drive is a five hour event where no cars are allowed on Lake Shore Drive so that bikers of all ages and skill levels can ride their bikes and enjoy breathtaking views of the city and the lake!  READ MORE

Keepataw Day Parade

Lemont- FREE
Sunday, August 31
Southwest suburban Lemont celebrates Labor Day by honoring Potawatomi Chief Keepataw, who settled the region before the town was founded. A parade and family fun fest, including live entertainment, face painting, a balloon twister, and a magician, bring out the fun at the end of summer. READ MORE

Cantigny Outdoor Concerts

Wheaton - Last of the season
Saturday, August 30
Families can enjoy a series of tribute bands, military music, and bluegrass groups at the bandshell at Cantigny every Sunday at 3pm. READ MORE

Bristol Renaissance Faire

Kenosha, WI - Final weekend
Ends Monday, September 1
Families can travel back to a 16th century English village to cheer on knights in a jousting tournament and feast on savory treats and tempting sweets. Kids may want to dress up to see fairies and acrobats or play games of chance and skill. READ MORE

Frankfort Fall Fest

Frankfort - FREE
Saturday, August 30-Monday, September 1
Celebrate fall in the southwest suburbs at this annual event featuring concerts, a carnival, food vendors, and more. A parade steps off on Sunday at 1pm, and families can visit the KidWork Children's Museum or Frankfort History Museum nearby. READ MORE

Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival

Geneva
Sunday, August 31- Monday, September 1
More than 18 artists take to the stage for this two-day festival of music and story telling. Six stages will run continuous entertainment in Wheeler Park in Geneva. Enjoy concerts, storytelling, a themed round robin concert stage, hands-on workshops, and a kids zone with music and craft activities. READ MORE

The Beverly Arts Center Presents Oliver!

Beverly
Thursday, August 28- Sunday, August 31
The Beverly Arts Center Presents the Timeless Musical Classic, Oliver, the Tony Award-winning musical based on Charles Dickens’ beloved novel. This high-energy production, with its sweeping songs and poignant storytelling, runs August 28 through August 31, 2025, on the Baffes Theatre stage. READ MORE

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