KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Apr 10: April Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum
Sat, Apr 11: Glow Wild
at the Brookfield Zoo
Fri, Apr 17: Stuff You Should Know Live at the Auditorium Theatre
Sat, Apr 18: Once
Upon a Symphony (for ages 3-5) at Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sun, Apr 19: Goodnight Moon at Chicago Children’s Theatre Mon, Apr 20: Paws in the Park at Cantigny
Tue, Apr 21: Parent-Tot Yoga at the Exploritorium
Sat, Apr 25: Preschool Playdate at Daystar Academy Sun, Apr 26: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Auditorium Theatre Mon, Apr 27: Paws in the Park at Cantigny
Fri, May 1: WPB First Friday in May
Sat, May 2: Visit the Children's Farm at The Center
Sun, May 3: Art in Wilder Park
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in our part of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out the
strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—Debra Ross, publisher of
KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Explore science after hours with the whole family! Join us for an evening celebrating the Grand Opening of the Pokémon Fossil Museum at the Field Museum! Receive exclusive, after-hours access to the exhibit and embark on your own fossil adventure through the exhibit halls of the Field Museum. You’ll want to catch all this event has to offer, including demonstrations by our team of scientists, hands-on activities, crafts, and of course, plenty of fossils! Guests must register in advance and will receive a timed-entry ticket for the Pokémon Fossil Museum at check-in. Access to all other museum exhibitions, including the Crown Family PlayLab and After the Age of Dinosaurs, are included with admission. All sales are final.
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You’re invited to a slumber party! Wear your favorite pajamas, cuddle up with a book in our cozy lounge, and make your own stuffed toy to take home. Join us from 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm in the Great Hall.
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Morning Glories is a free, drop-in program designed for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers! The lessons will follow themes of science and nature with modifications to focus on motor skill development, sensory exploration, and social interactions between families. A typical Morning Glories session can be expected to include story times, a sensory bin, lots of blankets for crawlers and tummy-timers, and a friendly atmosphere!
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The Glow Wild lantern festival transforms the night into a glowing celebration of art, culture, and conservation. Wander illuminated pathways surrounded by handcrafted lanterns inspired by wildlife global traditions and mythical worlds. This breathtaking outdoor experience is perfect for families couples and anyone who loves immersive nighttime events. Please purchase tickets in advance of this event.
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Spotlight Theatre of the Elk Grove Park District proudly presents The Addams Family! Enjoy a delightfully dark, laugh-out-loud musical the whole family will love!
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Get ready to be amazed! Join us at Fox Valley Mall for an afternoon of wonder, laughter, and mind-blowing tricks at our live Magic Show. Bring the family to Center Park on Friday, April 3 at 3PM and experience an interactive performance filled with illusions, surprises, and fun for all ages.
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Visit the Easter Bunny, create artwork at the coloring corner, visit the farm animals in the petting zoo all day, explore the playground and more! Plus options for Gem Mining and Riding the Springtime Express available. Bring your baskets for the easter egg hunt. Extra baskets will be available for purchase. Don't worry, there are eggs for everyone and we wait until everyone is ready to begin. Please take max 12. Arrive early to check-in INSIDE the greenhouse. Plus, browse flowers and shop for Springtime in store. Farm gates open at 9am.
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Ready, set, EGGS! Spring Egg-Stravaganza has returned to Lincoln Park Zoo, and you’re invited to hop on over for a day of springtime fun. Children ages 1–8 can gather colorful eggs, snap photos with the Easter Bunny, dance and clap along to musical entertainment, meet friendly zoo experts, and more.
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The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce that we will be holding the Bunny Trolley Hop again in 2026. This event will run on three days: Saturday, March 28th, Sunday, March 29th, and Saturday, April 4th. Gates open at 9:15 AM and close at 5:00 PM. As always, young visitors will be able to meet and be photographed with the Easter Bunny in his carrot coach and there will be lots of other attractions to enjoy. This year, Bunny and the other attractions will all be located on the museum campus, with a frequent service of streetcars providing rides between the carrot coach and the attractions!
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Bring your little ones for a fun day in the Prairie District. Festivities will include hunting for 20,000+ eggs in Women's park (eggs will all have a small prize or candy inside), an animal petting zoo, face painters, balloonist, fun sports games and activities, 1000 amazing prizes, including thousands of Chicago White Sox Tickets, tasty treats, and a visit with the Easter Bunny!
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Don’t miss this last chance to bring our special exhibition, Reptiles Alive! to life! Together, you will get up close with real specimens, craft your own reptile-inspired creations, and explore what makes these scaly creatures so amazing!
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Ages 7 and up, Adults welcome. April showers bring May flowers, so we’re shooting water balloons to make it rain! All participants will receive one raffle ticket for a chance to win a small prize, and additional tickets for hitting event targets. Beginner session includes 30 minutes of instruction. Must have passed the Beginner Archery class to register for the Intermediate session or contact for approval. This is not a drop-off event. All children must have a guardian present. Class will take place at Central Park North.
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Explore, interact, and enjoy a fun-filled day with the animals! Open Farm visits offer a relaxed, self guided experience where families can explore at their own pace. For paid guests, hayrack rides are available (weather permitting). Visitors can cross the walking bridge over Southwest Hwy, wander along scenic trails, or pack a lunch to enjoy in the picnic area. Farm volunteers are available to guide guests through the animal pens, sharing interesting facts about the animals. Guests are encouraged to pet and care for the animals! The animals change with the seasons but you'll often find a variety of chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, cows, sheep, horses, ponies, and donkeys!
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Chicago - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/03/2026 - 04/05/2026, See link for times
- Magic Show at Fox Valley Mall - Fox Valley Mall, 195 Fox Valley Center Dr, Aurora, IL 60504, 04/03/2026, 3 - 3:45 pm
- WPB First Friday in April - Wicker
Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce - North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 04/03/2026, 6 pm - 8 pm
- Egg Hunt at Berens Park - Berens Park, North Oaklawn Avenue, Elmhurst, IL, 04/04/2026, 9 - 11:30 am; several time slots available
- Easter Egg Hunt at Ravenswood Manor Park - Ravenswood Manor Park, North Manor Avenue, Chicago, IL, 04/04/2026, 10 am SHARP
- Eggcellent Easter Celebration at the Elk Grove Historical Museum - Elk Grove Historical Museum, Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village, IL, 04/04/2026, 1 - 3 pm
- Early Bird Walks at NPV - North Park Village Nature Center Park, 5801 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL,
04/04/2026, 8 - 10 am
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Chicago area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Chicago area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Chicago area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Chicago area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Chicago Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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