Lake County Events
Calendar for Families
1,900+ free things to do this summer — let's give our kids a 1990s summer. A free, weekly-updated calendar of family fun across central Lake County, Illinois.
Events were gathered using web scraping and automated tools — details may not be complete or fully accurate. Always confirm times, registration, and cost directly with the organizer before you go.
If this has been useful to you, we'd love it if you bought us a coffee — or shared it with another parent.
The Lineup · Summer 2026
Summer Bucket List
Parks Map
Drive times approximate from Grayslake. Click any pin for details.
Other Free Fun
Libraries & Museums Near You
Libraries are free, welcoming, air-conditioned spots packed with storytimes, play areas, and programs — a fun destination all on their own.
Museum Adventure Pass
Got a Lake County library card? You can check out free or discounted admission passes to museums and cultural venues across Illinois — including the Chicago Botanic Garden, Illinois Railway Museum, and more.
- Check out passes in person or request online
- 7-day loan period — print or show on your phone
- One pass per family, first-come first-served
- Works with any participating Illinois library card
Cook Memorial PL
Warren-Newport PL
Fox Lake District PL
Lake Villa District PL
Wauconda Area PL
Round Lake Area PL
Waukegan PL
Fremont PL
Vernon Area PL
Children's Neighborhood Museum
Free admission every Wednesday, 12:30–2:30 PM. Located in the lower level of the Robert W. Rolek Community Center in Round Lake.
Senator Edly-Allen's Museum Pass
Senator Mary Edly-Allen's office offers a free Museums in the Park pass to constituents in her district. The pass provides complimentary general admission to participating Chicagoland museums.
You must live in Illinois Senate District 30 (Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highwood, and surrounding communities). Her office will confirm eligibility.
Rep. Laura Faver Dias's Museum Pass
Representative Laura Faver Dias's office also offers a Museums in the Park pass for constituents — complimentary general admission to the same great Chicagoland museums.
You must live in Rep. Faver Dias's district. Her office will confirm eligibility before coordinating pass pickup.
Request Rep. Faver Dias's Pass