Family Fun in Chicago and the Burbs October 19 - 25

		If you're worried about your kids not getting enough candy this Halloween, don't! There are plenty of opportunities to get cavities...I mean candies....this week. Many area malls and downtown merchants are offering safe trick or treating events this weekend, giving the kids a trial run for the real thing next weekend. If you're interested in taking your kids to any of the museums for free, this seems to be the week to do it. Make sure to click through to each day's events to find all of the free days and other fun family events and activities. Remember, members can sort all search results, including calendar results, by distance from their homes. Monday, October 19 Morning Glories for Families - Garfield Park Conservatory Chicago, IL Young Inventor Challenge - Chicago Toy & Game Fair Chicago, IL Johansen Farms Bolingbrook, IL More Monday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL Tuesday, October 20 First Aid & CPR for Infants & Children Orland Park, IL FREE presentation! Free Admission 2009 - Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL Free Admission Tuesday Nibbles Play Cafe Wheeling, IL More Tuesday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL Wednesday, October 21 Real Pirates Exhibit Field Museum Chicago, IL Sunday is the last time to see this exhibit! Scarecrow Trail - The Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL Opera In Focus - Rolling Meadows Park District Theater Rolling Meadows, IL Halloween Spooktacular of haunting classics. More Wednesday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL Thursday, October 22 Chicago International Children's Film Festival Chicago, IL Family Movie - Niles Public Library Niles, IL The Music Man Junior - Children's Theatre of Elgin Elgin, IL More Thursday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL Friday, October 23 DinoNites at Brookfield Zoo Brookfield, IL Halloween Night Hikes Fullersburg Woods Oak Brook, IL Halloween Family Fun Night Buehler YMCA Palatine, IL More Friday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL There are tons of Halloween events going on – don’t miss out! Saturday, October 24 Spooktacular Soiree - Arboretum of South Barrington South Barrington, IL Family Fun! Radio Disney, music, dancing & prizes; Trick or Treat, Scavenger Hunt and more. "No Scare" Children's Trails - Peterson Park Chicago, IL Pumpkin Patch Party Park Ridge, IL Party in the am for the younger set; movie and music in the patch in the evening. Spooktacular Saturday - Lombard Town Centre Lombard, IL WFamily Harvest Festival at Westfield Old Orchard Skokie, IL More Saturday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL So much to choose from! Members can sort these results by distance from their homes! Sunday, October 25 Bugapalooza - Notebaert Nature Museum Chicago, IL Part of 10th Anniversary Free Admission Days Hallow Fest A Garden Of Good And Evil Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL Halloween Costume Parade Downtown Downers Grove Downers Grove, IL Also safe trick-or-treating in this cute downtown. Halloween Happening - Naperville Riverwalk 500 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL Kooky Spooky Halloween Skate - Oakton Ice Arena Park Ridge, IL More Sunday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL Be sure to click through the rest of the Events Calendar because there's TONS more to choose from! Or browse through the Ongoing Activities section, where you can pick indoor or outdoor activities, depending on the weather. If you're going out to eat, check our Kids Eat Free Calendar first. Win!!! Time is running out on our contest to win 4 tickets to Disney Live! Rockin' Road Show at the Rosemont Theatre on Oct. 23rd. We'll have 2 lucky winners - will you be one of them? Click here to get the scoop on how to win! Save! TechStuff Park Ridge Speed Skating Club A Sterling Design Memories Wow! Pump It Up Chicago

Family Fun in Chicago and the Burbs October 5 - 11

I had the honor and privilege of attending the private party at Kiddieland for former team members and business associates yesterday (Saturday). What a treat for my daughters to have one last day of fun at their very favorite place, with only 500 or so people in the park, and no lines. Kiddieland's owner, Tom Norini, has been a wonderful friend to kidwinks, and we will miss him and his awesome park tremendously. Good-bye, Kiddieland! Thank you for the fun and memories!

We've got another long weekend coming up, so I included Columbus Day in this newsletter to help you plan your long weekend. Here's a small sample of what's in store this week:

Monday, October 5

Free Admission to Shedd Aquarium on Mondays and Tuesdays Chicago, IL	Park Ridge Community Church Play Group Park Ridge, IL
Baby Signs Parent Workshop Orland Hills, IL	More Monday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL

Tuesday, October 6

Free Admission 2009 - Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL	Johansen Farms Bolingbrook, IL
Matinee Movie Magic - Kerasotes Theatres Chicago Area, IL	More Tuesday Kids Events in Chicago and Suburbs Various Cities, IL

Wednesday, October 7

Wonderful World Of Wheels Knoch Park Naperville, IL	Tommy the Hawk Jump at Pump It Up Glenview, IL
Little Sprouts Program Bonner Heritage Farm Lindenhurst, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Wednesday Various Cities, IL

Thursday, October 8

Free Admission - Notebaert Nature Museum Chicago, IL	Mom & Tots Playdate - Pinstripes Northbrook Northbrook, IL
Eli’s/Wright Farmer’s Market Chicago, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Thursday Various Cities, IL

Friday, October 9

Free Admission to Museum of Science and Industry Oct. 2009 Chicago, IL	Fall Fireworks Navy Pier Chicago, IL
Fright Fest 2009 Six Flags Gurnee, IL	Ghost Stories In The Park...In The Dark Naperville Parks Naperville, IL
Kids Flicks - Morton Grove Public Library Morton Grove, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Friday Various Cities, IL

Saturday, October 10

It's a Baby & Family Expo - Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL Expecting a baby? Adding a new member to the growing brood? Excited and proud grandparent?	24th Annual Scarecrow Festival St. Charles, IL
Family Hayrides Naperville Parks Naperville, IL	Final Fall Canoe (Ages 6-Adult) Highland Park, IL
Terror on the Railroad Haunted Event Union, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Saturday Various Cities, IL

Sunday, October 11

Danada Fall Festival Wheaton, IL	Fall Festival - Ryerson Woods Riverwoods, IL
Second Sunday Special - Niles Library Niles, IL	Pumpkin Picking at Apple Holler Sturtevant, WI
"The Hundred Dresses" - Chicago Childrens Theatre Chicago, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Sunday Various Cities, IL

Monday, October 12 – Happy Columbus Day!

Jump & Jive (Grades K-5) Highland Park, IL	Scavenger Hunt - Des Plaines Historical Society Des Plaines, IL
School's Out! Programs - Lincoln Marsh Wild Adventures Wheaton, IL	More Chicago & Suburbs Kids Events on Columbus Day; Many Free Museum Days Varied Cities, IL

Be sure to click through the rest of the Events Calendar because there's TONS more to choose from! Or browse through the Ongoing Activities section, where you can pick indoor or outdoor activities, depending on the weather. If you're going out to eat, check our Kids Eat Free Calendar first.

Current Contest:

Time is running out on our contest to win a 10-week session for the PumpStart class (valued at $180 ) at Pump It Up Chicago. You only have one more day to enter, and only 10 people have entered so far! Your chances are pretty good!!!

New Contest:

Does your baby (up to age 7 years) like to go clubbing? Shake it on the dance floor? Then we've got a contest for you! Here's your chance to win 4 tickets, worth $48, to the Baby Loves Disco Boo Baby Boo Party at Rizzo's Bar in Naperville on October 18th. Click here for details.

Cool additions to kidwinks this week:

A Sterling Design Memories Wow! Pump It Up Chicago