It doesn't get much better than Halloween at the zoo! Boo at the Zoo photo courtesy of Brookfield Zoo.
Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Chicago: Scarecrow Festivals, Halloween Events, and More Things To Do With Kids
Spider-Man in action. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Where to Go Indoor Trick or Treating in Chicago 2025
These towns near Chicago have some of the best fall colors in the Midwest. Photo courtesy of Illinois.gov
Best Towns Near Chicago to See Fall Colors
The best Halloween events and activities in Chicago
GUIDE
Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Chicago Kids
St. Charles Scarecrow Festival.
30 Best Things to Do in Chicago October 2025 with Kids, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
Lincoln Park Spooktacular! Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
Top Free Halloween Events In Chicago 2025: Trick-or-Treating, Free Movies, and More
Logan Square Halloween Parade is perfect for showing off costumes. Photo by Kate Connealy
Top Halloween Events in Chicago for Kids and Families: Pumpkins, Trick-or-Treat, Parades, and More
You can easily spend all day at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo by the author
Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Tips and Tricks for Visiting with Kids
Pumpkin picking is a firm fall favorite. Photo courtesy of Keller's Farmstand
GUIDE
Chicago Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2025
Try a Fall outing to one of these great pumpkin patches near Chicago. Gobbert's Farm photo by Ryan Dickey via Flickr 2.0
Best Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago for Families
It's apple season! Photo courtesy of Apple Holler Orchard
Fall Bucket List for Kids: 37 Things To Do in Chicago This Fall
Just about an hour from Chicago, kids can pick apples at Apple Holler from mid-August to November.
Apple Picking near Chicago: Best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
Rack up those Scout Badges at these Chicago institutions. Photo courtesy of Canva.
Best Places in Chicago Where Kids Can Earn Scout Badges
See what swims by at the Shedd Aquarium. Beluga photo courtesy of the Illinois Tourism Board.
The Best Zoos and Aquariums for Chicago Kids 2025
Photo courtesy of Enchanted Castle.
Best Kid-Friendly Arcades in Chicago
If your teens enjoy pottery, then MADE Chicago in Bucktown is the spot.
Best Crafting Parties for Teens in Chicago
Teen Saturdays at Chicago Architecture Center. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center.
Teen Museum Programs in Chicago: Internships, Workshops, and More
Places to celebrate your baby before the smash cake. Photo by Kelly Patino for Mommy Poppins
Best Places to Celebrate a First Birthday in Chicago
Cooking classes for kids in Chicago. Photo courtesy of The Kid's Table
Cooking Classes for Kids in Chicago: A Baker's Dozen of the Best Culinary Experiences in the City and Suburbs
Try one of these local businesses for a fun and unique birthday party. Photo courtesy of Ultimate Ninjas
Only in Chicago: Unique Birthday Party Ideas for Kids
​Launch is a Chicago trampoline park with bowling and an arcade, too. Photo courtesy of Visit Lake County
Trampoline Parks in Chicago to Burn Energy Indoors
Calm Waters is a sensory-friendly event at Shedd Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the Shedd Aquarium
Sensory-Friendly Events in Chicago for Kids
The Sugar Hole is a pop-up ice cream shop in Chicago. Photo courtesy of The Sugar Hole, courtesy of Color Club.
Best Ice Cream Near Chicago: 14 Ice Cream Parlors and Ice Cream Shops Kids Adore
Spend a weekend in Chicago without breaking the bank.
Chicago Budget-Friendly Weekend Itinerary for Families
The Indianapolis Children's Museum is one of the nation's best. Photo by Valerie Everett via Flickr 2.0
Indianapolis with Kids: 20 Best Things To Do in Indianapolis, Indiana
Lincoln Park Zoo photo by Dice Sales courtesy of the Illinois Tourism Bureau
Awesome Self-Guided Walking Tours of Chicago with Kids
Explore artistic classics at the Chicago Art Institute. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
100 FREE Things to Do In Chicago with Kids
Hello Baby is a free indoor playground in Woodlawn. Photo courtesy of Hello Baby
Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Chicago for Babies & Toddlers
Indoor golf is great for those cold or rainy days in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Scene 75
Indoor Golf Places in Chicago for Kids
Thinking of getting your kid's ears pierced? These ear piercing places in Chicago are clean and gentle.
Best Ear Piercing Places in Chicago for Kids
Have your indoor birthday party at one of these fun Chicago venues. Photo courtesy of ©LEGOLAND Discovery Centers US LLC
Best Indoor Birthday Party Places in Chicago
Skokie Exploritorium is only $5 for residents. ©Skokie Park District
Best Indoor Playgrounds in Chicago
IHOP Pancakes photo by Wendi Gratz via Flickr 2 0
Family-Friendly Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free in Chicago
Tiny Picassos can enjoy different activities every day at the Art Institute’s Family Room. Photo by Maureen Wilkey, for Mommy Poppins
25 Free Things To Do Indoors in Chicago: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Visit the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Chicago
There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Canva
Best Places to Hike with Kids Near Chicago
Chicago has so many things to do with little kids. Photo courtesy of Aster Hall, Chicago
25 Things To Do With Little Kids in Chicago Before They Turn 5

This Week: New Kids' Theater Shows, Commemorating the Titanic in NYC, Awesome Easter Parade Photos

4/12/12 - By Raven Snook

It's been a relatively quiet week in terms of posts at Mommy Poppins as we've been spending quality time with our kids over spring break. If you follow our Facebook page, then you know we've been on lots of fun NYC adventures, like strutting our bonnets in last Sunday's Easter Parade, checking out the cool cars at the New York International Auto Show and getting our hands dirty (literally) at the New York Botanical Garden.

Our sister sites have also been enjoying some well-earned downtime over break but there are still plenty of great posts, especially if you're looking for a last-minute day trip. We've rounded up great things to do with kids in Connecticut's Litchfield County and Long Island's Oyster Bay, or you can check out Adventure Aquarium's brand-new KidZone in Camden, New Jersey.

Here's what else we shared this week on our NYC site.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Our month-long focus on Dumbo continued with a roundup of kids' classes and indoor play spots in the neighborhood.

The spring theater season is in full swing and we spotlighted the top 13 shows for kids—most under $25. We're also running a 20% discount on one of our picks: The Dragon Child.

Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. We found age-appropriate ways kids can learn about the famous tragedy.

If you loved the recently closed kids' spot Moomah as much as we did, we have some good news: it's reopening on May 1, albeit in a different form.

We had a blast at the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival last Sunday, as you can see from our colorful slide show.

We updated our post about free kids' swimming lessons with info on how to enter this weekend's lottery for the spring session.

Best bets for the weekend include Queens County Farm Museum's annual Children's Carnival, Japan Society's J-Cation culture festival, a free concert by kids' crooner Elizabeth Mitchell, the Tartan Day Parade and more.

About the Author

Raven is a writer, editor, performer and mom, who was born and bred in NYC, just like her husband, her mother and now, her daughter. In addition to Mommy Poppins, she has written about parenting and pop culture for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, The Village Voice, the New York Post, TV Guide and SheKnows. She's also the founder of Hot Mama Burlesque, the world's only all-moms burlesque show.
Recent Articles By :
Read more articles by Raven Snook.