As a proud Chicagoan and parent, I created a list of the Best Things to Do with Kids in Chicago during Summer. This is our Chicago summer bucket list.
My friend Audra, of The Baker Chick, has a tradition of writing up a summertime bucket list filled with activities to do with her three kids. I love the idea, so I am making my own list!
Best Things to Do with Kids in Chicago during Summer:
1. Watch the Navy Pier Fireworks
Chicago LOVES fireworks. The city has fireworks shows twice a week from Memorial Day until Labor Day! On Wednesdays, the fireworks are at 9pm, and on Saturdays, they are at 10pm. There is no shortage of viewpoints for the fireworks shows. You can get a great view from Navy Pier, Grant Park, Cindy’s Rooftop, the Centennial Wheel, or from any high-rise with views of Navy Pier. We plan to watch from our friend’s home in the South Loop.
2. See a Play
I love taking my almost five-year-old daughter to see children’s theatre performances. You can find theater performances for children at theatres across Chicago and at the Chicago Children’s Theatre. We plan to bring Gwen to see Charlotte’s Web at the Greenhouse Theater. Seeing a show this summer is good practice for seeing The Lion King when it comes to Broadway in Chicago this fall.
3. Walk the 606 to Parson’s
The 606 is an abandoned railway line transformed into an elevated walking trail/bike path. It’s a scenic route that connects Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square. We like to walk the 606, stop at a playground, and then have dinner at Parson’s – a casual Logan Square restaurant with a large patio.
Walking or biking the 606 is one of the best things to do with kids in Chicago during Summer. Since the 606 has no traffic, it’s the perfect place to let kids go for a longer bike ride. Just be aware that it can be a little crowded on weekends.
4. Farmer’s Market and the Zoo on a Wednesday
Chicago’s best farmers market is the Green City Market, which takes place in Lincoln Park on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It’s conveniently located beside the Lincoln Park Zoo, a free zoo! The market and the zoo can be packed on weekends, so I like going on a Wednesday. This is a fun outing and something Gwen and I have been doing for years.
5. Host a Kids’ Movie Night
Late in summer, when the sun sets a little earlier, I like to host a rooftop movie night for the kids in our complex.
6. Pulaski Park Water Playground
I will call this park a hidden gem since many neighbors have been surprised to learn about it! Pulaski Park, which is located in the Wicker Park neighborhood, has a water playground. The hours can be a bit wonky, and the website hasn’t been updated since 2018, but it exists and should be open this summer.
7. Ride the Water Taxi
I’ve been a Chicagoan for nearly 17 years and haven’t experienced this seasonal public transportation yet! The Chicago River water taxi runs from Michigan Avenue to Ogilvie and Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown.
8. Wiggleworms at Gallagher Way
The Old Town School of Folk Music brings free, kid-friendly live concerts to Gallagher Way (beside Wrigley Field) on Tuesday mornings during the summer. After the 10 am concerts, movies are shown on the videoboard. Last year’s Gallagher Way outing was cut short due to rain. Hopefully, we can stay for the full movie this year.
9. Visit a New Playground
Oz Park in Lincoln Park got a new playground last year, and it’s on the top of our list of playgrounds we haven’t visited yet. Bucktown’s Ehrler Park’s playground was also overhauled recently. Not only do I want to let Gwen play in different playgrounds, but I am also starting to do research for playground updates at Wicker Park, which I am helping to spearhead.
10. Ride the Ferris Wheel
One day last year, Gwen was playing with her Peppa Pig Ferris Wheel when she said she wanted to go on a Ferris Wheel. We realized she had never ridden a Ferris Wheel, so we booked tickets for Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel. She had a blast and asked to go back in March, but sadly, that day it was too windy for the wheel to operate.
11. Host a Rooftop Slumber Party
One of Gwen’s best friends said he wants to sleep outside under the stars, so we have been planning a little slumber party on our rooftop this summer. I remember “camping” in my godparents’ backyard as a kid, and this would be a fun way to create a similar experience in the city.
12. Go to a Movie in the Park
Dozens of Movie in the Park events take place at parks across the city each summer. As a board member for the Wicker Park Advisory Council, I help select the movies shown in my local park. My pick: The Parent Trap is playing at Wicker Park on Thursday, July 24th, at dusk. Gwen has seen parts of the movie and enjoyed it, and I think she is old enough to sit through the whole thing now.
13. Spend Time in New Buffalo
We plan to spend the final days of summer in New Buffalo, Michigan. It’s a lakeside town just an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive or train ride from Chicago. Gwen will love the big sandy beach!
Looking for more of the best things to do with kids in Chicago during summer? Check out my guide to the Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids.