FEATURED EVENTS

Step into wonder at Lightscape! Come for the glow of lights under the night sky. Stay for the moments you’ll remember together. Before the holidays race by, make time for an evening beneath the stars with the people you love. At every bend in the trail is another reason to pause, look up, and say, "Wow." Our enchanting 1.3-mile trail of twinkling lights and showstopping displays is expertly curated anew each year. Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate, and see the Chicago Botanic Garden glow beyond the expected. Bold. Artistic. Unforgettable. Tickets are on sale now for all. Book in advance and secure your preferred slot; popular dates and times go fast!

Sunday, November 15, 10 am - 5 pm: Enjoy free admission to the American Writers Museum on the third Sunday of each month! Free admission grants you access to all our exhibits, including special exhibits and at 11:30 am, grab the little ones and join us for a special Little Squirrels Storytime! Check the schedule for special events throughout the day

Sat, Nov 14, 11 am - 6 pm: Discover together through all-ages activities as you explore the Museum, learn about the art on view, and make your own unique artwork. Just like drawing or sculpture, collecting is an art! Whether you’re a budding collector or a seasoned pro, be inspired by Life is an Art: The Collection of Jan Petry with a day of making, exploring and connecting with local artists.

Sat, Nov 14, 11 am - 3 pm: Every second Saturday of the month, October through May, enjoy free admission and interactive events that redefine the way that children and families explore and create art together. Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators. Witness an artist’s first creation. Experience inspiration spark from play and wonder. Do something nearly unheard of in a contemporary art museum—sit on comfy pillows and eat free snacks. Joyfully disregard the boundaries between adult and child, artist and visitor, museum and studio, teacher and learner. Admission is free to Family Day attendees. ASL interpretation is provided.

The annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features more than 50 trees and displays, each lovingly decorated by community volunteers who share family and cultural traditions drawing on their global heritage. Placed throughout the trees are displays representing international seasonal celebrations of light, like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and more. Stroll through our indoor forest and light displays, take a family photo in front of the four-story Grand Tree, enjoy specialty holiday treats at seasonal pop-ups, and more.

This free one-hour, online class is a sample of the 8-week Advanced Reading Course (ARC) for grades 3-8. In this class, which starts Saturday, Nov 7, students will learn how to track the plot of a story and support their answers with the best evidence. The free class is offered at no obligation so parents can determine if ARC is right for their child.

Celebrate an authentic old-fashioned Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season! These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Take a walk on the storybook side at the Nature Story Trail: “Giving Thanks” by Chief Jake Swamp at Trailside Museum of Natural History in River Forest! Families can enjoy a short outdoor walk while reading a story along the trail, combining fresh air, storytelling, and a little time together in nature. This free experience runs November 7–30, offering a lovely way to enjoy the outdoors during Native American Heritage Month.

Come read, learn, celebrate, and grow together! Join us at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, proudly celebrating its 65th year as the nation’s first independent Black history museum, for a special storytime series created especially for families and children. Mrs. Dipsworth’s Storytime is a monthly celebration of books, culture, history, imagination, and the beautiful diversity that makes our world special. Through engaging and interactive stories and meaningful messages, each gathering will feature a carefully selected book that encourages children to learn, discover, dream, feel empowered, celebrate Black culture, and embrace the importance of loving and respecting everyone—regardless of where they come from. Every storytime will bring Mrs. Dipsworth’s signature singing and dancing, as well as a uniquely different book and message, giving children and families something new to discover at every event.

Kids in grades K – 4 will participate in nature play and fun learning activities involving plants, art, and science. These camps will be held outside; please dress for the weather. Theme: Thankful for Nature.

How does a snake shed its skin? What can they eat with just two teeth? Let's answer these questions and more about our serpentine neighbors here at camp! For this session, campers will be broken up into the following age bands to allow them to learn and explore with fellow campers their age: Ages 4 & 5; Ages 6 to 8

Soak in the beauty of sunlight filtering through the trees at golden hour.

Experience the sub and the story of its thrilling capture on a two-hour, private group tour offered before Museum hours on select Saturday and Sunday mornings. In-Depth Experience tickets include the morning refreshments and exclusive tour, and General Admission for the rest of the day. Age recommendation: ages 10 and up.