Events For The Week Of May 10 - May 16

If you live in DuPage and you need an occasional babysitter, I can provide that! Check out my babysitting website, and contact me for references!

Anyway, every weekend I post a list of free and cheap events happening for kids in DuPage for the upcoming week. As the weather gets warmer, look for lots of local festivals and other outdoor events!! Be sure to check in here when planning the week ahead!

NOTICE: A free chalk-art event will take place on May 22 outside the Gregg House Museum in Westmont. Participants will be able to turn the sidewalk into a work of art! The event is free, but if you'd like to participate, you'll have to register by May 15. Call Alice Krampits of the Westmont Park District, (630) 969-8080, to register.

MONDAY

Preschool Playtime at Prairie Gymnastics in Batavia. 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm. $5.00 per child.

TUESDAY

Storytime in the park, at Library Plaza (which I believe is on the deck behind the Lombard library) in Lombard, 10:00 am.

Story Time at Pottery Barn Kids in Oakbrook Mall, 11:00 am. Kids who attend five times get a special gift! Kids can also play in the store before and after the story time!

WEDNESDAY

Story time at Bloomingdale Barnes and Noble, 10:00 am.

Preschool Playtime at Prairie Gymnastics in Batavia. 10:15 am to 11:30 am. $5.00 per child.

Excel Gymnastics Jr. Open Gym at Excel Gymnastics in Batavia, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. $5.00 per child.

Story time at Oakbrook Terrace Barnes and Noble at 11:00 am.

Excel Gymnastics Jr. Open Gym at Excel Gymnastics in St. Charles, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. $5.00 per child

Kids Club at Willowbrook Whole Foods, 4:00 pm. Kids will enjoy a healthy snack and then help plant a butterfly garden! Register at the front desk.

THURSDAY

Holistic Moms Story Time and Coffee Talk at the Naperville Whole Foods, at 9:30 am. Stories and songs will be from 9:30 to 10, with extra time afterwards for parents to converse.

Story time at Land Of Nod in Oakbrook Mall, at 11:oo am.

Excel Gymnastics Jr. Open Gym at Excel Gymnastics in St. Charles, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. $5.00 per child.

FRIDAY

Celebrate Downtown Westmont begins! This is a special event that allows people to get to know businesses in the downtown area. You can pick up a treasure map in any of the stores, and go to each participating store getting it stamped. in order to enter a raffle. Participating stores will also have special sales and events going on to make it worth your while!

"The Dog Who Forgot" puppet show at the Winfield Library at 10:00 am. No registration required, and anyone can attend!

Join Holly Nagel for some unique, interactive storytime fun at the Bartlett Library at 10:00 am. No registration required... anyone can attend!

Excel Gymnastics Jr. Open Gym at Excel Gymnastics in St. Charles, 10:00 am to 11:00 am. $5.00 per child

Open Gym And Moon Jump Friday at Gymnasti in Carol Stream, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. $5.00 per child.

Preschool Playtime at Prairie Gymnastics in Batavia. 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm. $5.00 per child.

Story time at Bloomingdale Barnes and Noble, 7:00 pm.

SATURDAY

Celebrate Downtown Westmont continues! This is a special event that allows people to get to know businesses in the downtown area. You can pick up a treasure map in any of the stores, and go to each participating store getting it stamped. in order to enter a raffle. Participating stores will also have special sales and events going on to make it worth your while!

The Kid's Flea Market will take place at Hummer Park, 4833 Fairview Avenue in Downers Grove, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Kids' toys, sports equipment, games and collectibles will be for sale. Bring your kids and let them spend their allowance!

The Bartlett Police Department will host the annual DARE Fishing Derby for kids, from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm. The event takes place at Beaver Pond, located on Stearns Road just east of IL Route 59. Admission is free for kids and parents. (All kids have to be accompanied by an adult.) The event is catch-and-release, but there will be prizes offered. Bring your own fishing gear! (Bait will be provided.)

West Chicago's Blooming Fest will take place in downtown West Chicago. The fest will incude the West Chicago Garden Club’s plant sale, a craft show, children's activities, music, and food, as well as special promotions, in-store specials and sidewalk sales put out by area stores and restaurants. It will take place from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Aurora's Community-Wide Garage Sale will take place from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. (corner of Lake Street and Illinois Avenue) in Aurora. It promises to be as large as forty garage sales all in one place!

Donuts With Dad at the Winfield Library, 9:30 am to 11:00 am. For kids eight and under, come hang out with your dad (or another parental figure), eat some donuts, and look at the library's newest picture books!

The Burr Ridge Spring Crafte Fest will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Drive in Burr Ridge. There will be a multitude of crafts on sale, as well as craft activities for children, and homemade ice cream!

The Roselle Spring Family Fun Fest will take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Turner Park, 81 E. Devon in Roselle. The event includes a fishing derby, bicycle safety inspection, inflatable fun, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, a visit from Sonic The Hedgehog, and a kite flying show by Chicago Kite.

Willowbrook Nature Center's International Migratory Bird Day Celebration! There will be a Kid's Activity Station open from 10:oo am to 2:00 pm. A special bird walk for kids and parents will take place at 10:30 am, as well. It is free, but you'll have to make reservations by calling (630) 942 – 6200.

Family storytime, craft and activity at the Bartlett Library at 11:00 am. No registration required... anyone can attend!

Kid's Day in Lilacia Park in Lombard (behind the Lombard Library) from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Includes children's activities, and family entertainment.

SUNDAY

The Burr Ridge Spring Crafte Fest will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Drive in Burr Ridge. There will be a multitude of crafts on sale, as well as craft activities for children, and homemade ice cream!

Flying 4 Kids, a kite-flying event, will take place starting at 11:00 pm at Ty Warner Park, which is on the corner of Plaza Driveand Blackhawk Drive in Westmont. The Illinois Kite Enthusiasts will be there doing demonstrations. Kids can bring their own kites to fly, or make kites there. And for extra fun, at 3:00 candy will fall from the kites, an children will be allowed to gather it up!

The Naperville Duck Races will take place at 1:00 pm, as rescheduled from last weekend. Visitors can "sponsor" a plastic duck for $5.00. Plastic ducks will then race down the river! The sponsors of the first, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes, and other prizes will also be awarded. The event takes place on the Riverwalk near Rotary Hill,

Elmhurst's Museum Day takes place from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The four museums in Elmhurst will offer free admission and family activities. Trolley rides will be available to transport visitors from one museum to another. Check out the website for descriptions of the different activities that will be taking place!

Lilac Parade in Lombard, at 1:30 pm. The parade runs along Main Street in downtown Lombard.

Have a great week, everyone!