Chicago’s windy springtime is perfect for kite flying! Join your local park district as they participate in the Illinois Park & Recreation Association’s “Flying 4 Kids” program, which promotes the sale of Park District license plates that feature a kite design. Here’s a list of some of our favorite kite flying festivals and other spring fests.
April 17-19, Fri. 11am-9pm, Sat. 9am-6pm, Sun. 10am-5pm
Spring Festival: An Arts & Crafts Affair
Villa Park: 402-331-2889 www.hpifestivals.com
The Odeum, 1033 N. Villa Ave. Hundreds of the nation’s finest artists and crafters display and sell their handcrafted works. Stage entertainment, hourly gift certificate winners, plenty of food & drink, lots of family fun, and free parking! $9/adult, $8/ senior & children, ages 10 and under are free.
April 24 & 25
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Various locations: www.ymcachicago.org
Healthy Kids Day® is a free community event for children and their families and part of the Y’s national initiative to improve the health an well-being of families in our community. YMCAs all over Chicago will host events on April 24 or 25 that offer cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts and more!
April 25, 10am-3pm
Kite Fly Festival
Villa Park: 630-627-6100 www.obtpd.org
Heritage Park, 1S325 Ardmore Ave. Fly kites, make bubbles, and enjoy kite stunts by Chicago Kite. Bring your own kite, or we’ll teach you how to make one. Kites also available for purchase. All ages. Free
April 25, 10am
Flying 4 Kids
Palatine: www.palatineparks.org
Margreth Riemer Reservoir, Quentin & Palatine Roads. Bring your kite and join us as we participate in the 10th Annual Flying 4 Kids statewide kite-flying event. Includes free kites to the first 100 children, raffles, and more! FREE
April 25, 11am-1pm
Family Kite Fly 2015
Vernon Hills: www.vhparkdistrict.org
Century Park Boat Dock Shelter, 1001 Lakeview Pkwy. Free family event to support the Illinois Park & Recreation Association’s “Flying 4 Kids” program, which promotes the sale of Park District license plates that feature a kite design. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the event for $6. Park at the Boat Dock shelter parking lot and walk up to the island shelter. No registration necessary.
April 25, 1-11pm
Irish Fest 2015
Mt. Prospect: www.mpirishfest.com
Emerson Street & Busse Ave. Enjoy Irish food, beverages and goods while celebrating Irish heritage through live music. Entertainment: Tully Irish Dancers, Sullivan Irish Dancers, Trinity Irish Dancers, The Dooley Brothers, They Might Be Irish, and The Larkin and Moran Brothers. Free Admission.
April 26, noon-1:30pm
Flying 4 Kids Kite Fly and Family Picnic
Schaumburg: www.parkfun.com
Bock Neighborhood Center, 1223 W. Sharon Ln. Families, kids, kite enthusiasts and novices are welcome to enjoy a day of good old fashioned kite flying and a picnic. Bring a favorite kite or come ready to build one on site with a kite making kit. Wind or no wind, be a part of this event for a great cause! Don’t forget to bring a picnic lunch, too. Event will be held rain or shine.
May 1, 11am-2pm
Motion Explosion
Woodridge: www.woodridgeparks.org
Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park, 8301 S. Janes Ave. This unique event combines the Kite Fly and the Touch-A-Truck components into one big MOTION EXPLOSION! Touch-A-Truck gives children the opportunity to explore a fire engine, a police car and other really big, neat vehicles. Ride your bike to Cypress Cove, climb on trucks, take pictures, bring a blanket and have a picnic, fly a kite and have fun during this family event. Food items available for purchase. FREE
May 2-3
Midwest Morel Fest
Ottawa: pickusottawail.com/event/midwest-morel-fest/
Jordon Block Park, Main & Rte 23/71N. Learn, Hunt, Buy…Morel Mushrooms during Ottawa’s Annual Midwest Morel Fest. This unique festival offers ‘everything mushrooms’ from the morel enthusiast to the curious observer! Enjoy a large variety of handcrafted vendors, home brewers tasting tent and competition, food and music.
May 2, 10am-2pm
Kite Fly Festival 2015
Monee: www.reconnectwithnature.org/information/kite-fly-festival-2015.asp
Monee Reservoir Visitor Center, 27341 Ridgeland Ave. Forest Preserve District of Will County and members of the Illinois Kite Enthusiasts Club host a free, family-friendly program that highlights the excitement of kite flying. A variety of demonstrations and hands-on-activities will entertain and educate your entire family throughout the day!
May 2, 10am-1pm
Big Trucks
Palatine: www.palatineparks.org
Family Aquatic Center Parking Lot, 262 E. Palatine Rd. Here’s a great opportunity for children to see trucks and other vehicles up close, as well as sit in the driver’s seat. Vehicles may include fire truck, police car, school bus, dump truck, and many more. Bring your camera for lots of photos. FREE
May 2, 10am-2pm
Go Fly a Kite 2015
Wheaton: 630-665-4710 www.wheatonparkdistrict.com
Come out and help us break our record of 843 kites in the air simultaneously! Bring your own kite or purchase a kite at the event. Concessions will be available.
May 3, 10am-3pm
Spring Festival 2015
River Forest: 708-366-6530 www.fpdcc.com
Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave. Celebrate spring at Trailside Museum, with a day of activities for all ages, including guided wildflower walks, dip netting for fish and frogs in our pond, tree climbing with ropes and harnesses, animal encounters, puppet shows, kid’s crafts, beekeeping demonstrations, and much more. Free admission and parking!
May 3, 10am-4pm
Lilac Time Arts & Craft Fair
Lombard: 630-627-5040 www.lombardchamber.com
Downtown Lombard – St. Charles Rd. & Main St. The Lilac Time Art and Craft Fair is an outdoor event that kicks off beautiful Lilac Time in Lombard. Held the first Sunday each May, it features a great number of crafters and artisans with hand-made items as well as entertainment, food and a FREE Kid Zone. The fair is held just a short walk from the historic Lilacia Park that features approximately 200 varieties of lilacs and 50 varieties of tulips, as well as perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs and an herb garden, all on 6 acres.
May 3, 1-4pm
Fizzicks Fiesta – Tres De Mayo
Rockford: discoverycentermuseum.org
Discovery Center Museum, 711 N Main St. Celebrate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. Build your own catapult/slingshot, make and take a colorful maraca, make a fizzy experiment. Event is free with museum admission. Free on-site parking. General admission $8/person; free ages 1 and younger.
May 5, 5:45-8 pm
Fairy Catching
Villa Park: 630-834-3325 www.vprd.org
Villa Park Historical Society, 220 S. Villa Ave. Come dressed in fairy attire for fairy catching activities on the Prairie Path. Special snacks provided. Please register. $29.
May 7-9, at various times
11th Annual Spring Ice Show
Pleasant Prairie, WI: 262-925-6752 www.RecPlexOnline.com
RecPlex, 9900 Terwall Terrace. The Spring Ice Show is a family-friendly event showcasing the skills and talents of our Pleasant Prairie Skating School U. S. Basic Skills program, Freestyle and Synchronized skaters, and exciting guest skaters. Dazzling lights, music and costumes enhance these group and solo performances. $10-12
May 9, 9am-5pm
25th Annual Arts & Crafts Adventure
Park Ridge: 847-991-4748 or 312-751-2500 www.americansocietyofartists.org
Hodges Park, 101 S Courtland. Artists & craft artists exhibit an enticing array of work they themselves created -perfect for a unique Mother’s Day gift or something special just for you. Free Admission.
May 9, 11am-5pm
Family Kite Fly 2015
Zion: 847-746-5500 www.zionparkdistrict.com/event/family-kite-fly/
Leisure Center, 2400 Dowie Memorial Dr. Zion Park District is hosting a Family Kite Fly. Families can watch some of the enormous kites being flown and enjoy flying their own. The event is Free and open to the public. Bring your family, a picnic lunch and your favorite kites. The first 100 kids will be given a free kite.
May 15-17
Mayfest 2015
Chicago: starevents.com/festivals/mayfest/
3100 N Ashland Avenue at Barry. Mayfest is a unique three-day celebration, brought to you by Star Events, that kicks off the city of Chicago’s lively festival season. At the 20th annual Mayfest festival you can expect to see our enormous tent (one of the largest in the city of Chicago) constructed over the main stage. Mayfest also features an outdoor beer garden, merchant square and enjoyable festival cuisine. For the pet enthusiasts, the festival will set aside time as the Chicago Pet Pageant and Expo will once again take center stage. Presented by Higgins Animal Clinic, this heartwarming event allows Chicagoans to enjoy the summer sun with “man’s best friend”. Admission $10.
May 15-17
Long Grove Chocolate Fest
Long Grove: www.visitlonggrove.com
Old Mc Henry Road and Robert Parker Coffin Road. From chocolate-dipped strawberries and donuts to brownies and fudge, join us for a weekend filled with limitless chocolatey treats, live music, great food and distinctive shopping, all in the charming setting of Historic Downtown Long Grove.
May 16-17, 11am-7pm
Festival of Cultures
Skokie: www.skokieculturefest.org
Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St. Since its inception in 1991, the Skokie Festival of Cultures has become one of the premier ethnic festivals in Illinois, attracting more than 450,000 visitors and dozens of cultures, all representing Skokie’s tremendous diversity. Attendees will take their free ‘Tour of the World,’ enjoying two days of ethnic folk music and dance, a wide range of food, unique arts and crafts, beer tasting, a merchandise bazaar, and dozens of cultural booths and displays.
May 17, noon-4pm
Norwegian Constitution Day Parade
Park Ridge: www.nnleague.org
Hodges Park, 101 S. Courtland. Pre-parade festivities beginning at noon include entertainment, vendors, refreshments and activities for children. Parade steps off at 1pm at Talcott and Cumberland, ending in Hodges Park and features local marching bands, singing societies, folk dancers and Scandinavian organizations in ethnic costumes. FREE
May 17, 9am-4pm
Pregnancy, Baby & Toddler Expo
Schaumburg: www.BabyExpoChicago.com
Marriott Schaumburg, 50 N. Martingale Rd. A high quality, fun filled Baby and Toddler Expo with exhibitors, products, services and entertainment from around the world. Children’s book readings, fashion shows, daddy pack-n-play races, helpful seminars, raffles and give-aways.
May 23, 10am-noon
Butterfly Release Party
Geneva: 630-232-4542 www.genevaparks.org
Peck Farm Park Butterfly House, 4038 Kaneville Rd. Celebrate the re-opening of Butterfly House at the annual Butterfly Release Party. Receive an official adoption certificate for a live butterfly before releasing it into the house. Space is limited, so register early. $15/child. Under 16 years of age must be with adult.
June 6-7
Rockford AirFest
Rockford: 815-969-4000 www.rockfordairfest.com
Chicago Rockford International Airport, 60 Airport Dr. Watch a performance by the United States Navy Blue Angels and other fabulous flyers in this annual airshow. $30 a car load.
June 6-7, 10am-5pm
Outta Sight Kite Flight
Kenosha: 414-305-3145 www.giftofwings.com
Kennedy Park, 4051 Fifth Ave. This family event takes place next to Lake Michigan and is free to all, with free parking. Free
June 7, 10am-1pm
Family Nature Faire
Kansasville, WI: 262-878-5600 www.bongnaturalistassociation.org
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Rd., Shelter #3 at the Beach. Enjoy family fun, food, raffles, live animals, art and nature booths plus much more! Fundraiser sponsored by Bong Naturalist Association. Free admission this day!