KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 5: Summer Bash at Chasers Laser Tag
Fri, Jun 5: Kickoff to Summer Picnic at Museum of Science Industry Chicago Mon, Jun 8: Paws in the Park at Cantigny
Thu, Jun 11: Lincoln Square
Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 12: June Family Fun Fur-iday at Lincoln Park Zoo Fri, Jun 12: Fun Fridays at the Shell: Headspin
Guy
Sat, Jun 13: Hello Summer Fest
Sat, Jun 13: Origami Open House at the Garfield Conservatory
Wed, Jun 17: Party in the Park at The Hub's Playground in Berens Park
Thu, Jun 18: Lincoln Square Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 19: Movie in the Park at Wilder Park
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day at Brookfield Zoo Thu, Jun 25: Lincoln Square Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 26: Zoo Fiesta at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sat, Jun 27: Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert with the CSO
Sun, Jun 28: U-505 In-Depth Experience at Museum of Science Industry Chicago
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Chicago area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people who
create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
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Saturday, June 13, 11am-3pm: Hello Summer Fest is a free family-friendly festival of inflatables, food trucks, yard games, face painting, crafts, a car show and live entertainment at The Shell in Reed-Keppler Park (West Chicago).
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Join us for an immersive falconry experience that you will remember for a lifetime! As part of this class, you’ll learn about the ancient sport of falconry and the biology and history of the many different types of raptors used in the hunt (including hawks, buzzards, falcons and owls). Participants (Ages 9+) will learn the art and history of falconry, raptor ecology and conservation while gaining HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. All Participants will hold a bird on a gloved hand, fly and call a hawk and feed a bird of prey.
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Celebrate your family’s special moments with Shoott’s FREE 30-minute outdoor photo sessions! Whether it’s spring photos, family portraits, birthday milestones, or simply capturing everyday joy, our talented local photographers make the experience easy and fun. You only pay for the photos you love, with no upfront cost or sitting fee. Receive a gallery of beautifully edited images within days and choose your favorites. Book your session at shoott.com and create lasting memories!
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Kick off the summer season and celebrate the end of another school year! Grab a blanket and some sunscreen and meet us on the front lawn for this free event featuring games, a bounce house, face paint and hands-on activities from the Griffin MSI Education team and some of our incredible community partners. This outdoor event is free and open to the public — food will be available for purchase. Admission to the Museum requires a ticket purchase. Ticketed guests may exit and re-enter freely.
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Lookingglass Theatre Company and Actors Gymnasium team up once to again, as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks, to bring this free, original, circus-infused story that showcases the transformative magic of a simple act of kindness. Conveyed without spoken language, and through dance, clown, and circus, Ice Cream Circus! is designed for all generations and for all language backgrounds. https://lookingglasstheatre.org/
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Dinosaurs Have Taken Over the Zoo! Come face-to-face with life-size dinosaurs throughout the Zoo. Journey through a massive rib-cage tunnel, climb on a giant fossil, dig for ancient discoveries, snap epic photo, and find the prehistoric pals stationed along the Dino Trail. Dinos! stomp into the Zoo through the summer and fall. Best of all? Dinos! is FREE with Zoo admission or membership!
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Give your kids an unforgettable Summer Kick Off at Chasers Laser Tag! Our action-packed evening includes unlimited laser tag, dodgeball on turf, and each player gets a free mini melt! Free for Battle Patch Members.
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Final weekend, June 6-7, 2026: This musical based on Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved children’s book is drenched in primary colors that pay homage to Clement Hurd’s vivid illustrations in an all-new, immersive setting. Catchy songs, delightful dancing, a technicolor set, the quiet poetry of the original tale, and the humorous antics of one very nocturnal bunny all play a part in this fun, family-friendly celebration of one of the most iconic children’s books of all time.
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Saturday, Jun 6, 2026, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with performances, music, vendors, free food, and a guided trolley along Route 66.
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Saturday, June 6, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM: North Riverside Park Mall calls all princes and princesses to celebrate with the fathers and father figures in your life! If you had the chance to meet Cinderella or Anna, which would you choose? On Saturday, you don’t have to choose – you can meet them all! Join us for a celebration of fathers and father figures in your life with the people who make you a family. DJ and guided games, dancing, games, princesses, and much more!
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Join us in our Kids Discovery Zone from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM for nature-themed stories, hands-on crafts, and a meet-and-greet with Sawyer and Cindy Squirrel. During this event, the featured children’s book will be read aloud, followed by a themed craft activity. Each Sawyer Sunday Fun Day also features a special animal guest presentation at the Mount Lawn stage area. We host two shows on event days featuring our special animal guests. Please visit the website for specific show times.
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If you know a current college undergraduate who was born in the US and has at least one immigrant parent, please invite them to participate in the research study of Wiljar Ojuro, 2026 doctoral candidate at the University of Rochester. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health and academic outcomes among these students, with the goal of informing higher education practices related to student retention and counseling center support services. Students who choose to participate click the survey link, review the information sheet, and complete the survey. After finishing, they will have the option to enter a drawing for a $100 Amazon electronic gift card through a separate link.
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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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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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