While Presidents day is a holiday we are all prepared for, we noticed something new this year. Several of the districts in our area were adding their in-service or conference days before or after it, thus turning Presidents day into a mini-spring break. Since no one wants to have to plan (let alone fund) two spring breaks worth of fun we rounded up all the free events happening Thursday – Monday.
Free Activities for Presidents Day Break
Please click on the links for full details and addresses. Be sure to check with the hosting facility for events that are dependent on weather. Little Lake County is not reprehensible for changes or cancellations.
Thursday February 11
All Day Valentine Workshop
Lake Bluff Library
Drop in and express your creativity by making your own Valentine.
10:00 a.m. Family Storytime Drop-in
Grayslake Area Library
The entire family is invited to enjoy these special storytimes.
10:00 a.m. Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Come on out for a nature story and craft or other nature activity.
10:00 a.m. Stories at 10
Fox Lake District LibraryStories and more for 3-5 year old’s with their caregiver.
10:00 a.m. Storytime Adventures
Barnes & Noble Deer Park Town Center
A morning of Storytime adventures and a craft!
10:30 a.m. Connecting Kids with Nature
Greenbelt Cultural Center, North Chicago
Connect your kids with nature through outdoor exploration. Along the way, learn about the benefits of nature play.
10:30 a.m. Tales for Tots
Glencoe Public Library
Stories, songs and more, followed by time for socialization and play. All ages.
10:45 a.m. Preschool Storytime
Waukegan Public Library
Stop by with your preschooler for stories, songs and crafts.
1:30 p.m. Children’s Storytime
Lake Forest Library
Storytime for 3-6 year olds.
3:00 p.m. Video Games on Thursday
Lake Bluff Public Library
Children in grades 3 thru 8 can drop in to play different video games.
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Friday February 12
All Day Valentine Workshop
Lake Bluff Library
Drop in and express your creativity by making your own Valentine.
10:30 a.m. Friday Storytime
Barnes & Noble, Deerfield
Stories and activities for children ages 4 and older.
1:00 p.m. The LEGO Movie Build
Barrington Area Library
Drop-in and build with LEGOS while watching “The LEGO Movie”
3:30 p.m. Drop-in Art Play
Barrington Area Library
All ages are invited to express themselves with a process-oriented art project.
6:00 p.m. Family Night Skate Nights
Belvidere Park, Waukegan
Family friendly music will ll the air. Hot chocolate will be served compliments of the park district!
7:00 p.m. Pajama Storytime
Barnes & Noble, Deer Park
Storytime and activities surrounding the book “Silly Wonderful You”
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Saturday February 13
All Day LEGO Friends Building Event
The LEGO Store, Gurnee Mills
Fans of LEGO Friends can participate in an exclusive building event! Registration required.
All Day Valentine Workshop
Lake Bluff Library
Drop in and express your creativity by making your own Valentine.
9:30 a.m. Rise & Shine Family Storytime
Wauconda Area Library
Donuts, juice, and a happy blend of stories at a special Saturday drop-in storytime! All Ages.
10:00 a.m. Drop-in Game Days
Belvidere Recreation Center, Waukegan
Play wii, X-Box, board games, checkers and chess all free of charge.
10:00 a.m Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshops
Your local Lowe’s
Build and Grow Clinics are free to the public and occur select Saturdays.
10:00 a.m. O’Gaugers’ Train Run
Fremont Public Library, Mundelein
Visit the North Central O Gaugers’ grand railroad layout on the second floor.
10:00 a.m. Valentine’s Card Making
Glencoe Public Library
Kids and adults alike are invited to drop in and create a card (or two, or six) for Valentine’s Day.
11:00 a.m. Love Monster and the Last Chocolate Storytime
Barnes & Noble Deerpark, Vernon Hills (Hawthorn), Deerfield
a special Storytime featuring Love Monster and the Last Chocolate. Activities and coloring to follow.
11:00 a.m. Saturday Storytime with Carol
Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich
Enjoy stories, songs and crafts, for all ages.
1:00 p.m. African Drumming
Zion-Benton Public Library
An interactive storytelling performance using drums and percussion to tell stories about the people and culture of West Africa’s New Guinea.
1:00 p.m. Drop-in Craft
Antioch Public Library
Drop-in and make an awesome ball chain bracelet.
1:00 p.m. Winter Blast
Belvidere Recreation Center, Waukegan
Test out ice skating, cross country skiing,snow-shoeing, snow sculpting and snow painting! There will also be a campfire and s’mores.
2:00 p.m. Love your Library Celebration
Ela Area Library, Lake Zurich
Performers, crafts, photo booth and costumed characters!
3:00 p.m. What’s on the Menu?
River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Join the naturalists at feeding time to learn about the animals and their habitats.
3:30 p.m. Preschool Storytime
Waukegan Public Library
Stop by with your preschooler for stories, songs and crafts.
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Sunday February 14
All Day Valentine Workshop
Lake Bluff Library
Drop in and express your creativity by making your own Valentine.
11:00 a.m. Family Day at Sweet Pete’s Candy
Sweet Pete’s, Lake Forest
Enjoy free family friendly activities throughout Sweet Pete’s Candy in Market Square
11:30 a.m. Winter Festival
Community recreation Center, Wheeling
Snow painting, ice skating, build-a-snowman, complimentary hot chocolate, snow obstacle course, kids’ crafts and more.
1:00 p.m. Animal Attraction
Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Learn how animals choose mates and raise their young in this family-friendly program.
1:00 p.m. Elizabethan Faire
Lake County Discovery Museum, Wauconda
Meet Queen Elizabeth, watch performances of Shakespeare’s work, immerse yourself in hands-on crafts of the era and enjoy musical pieces which inspired William Shakespeare. Presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire.
1:30 p.m. Family Movie Series
Waukegan Public Library
Enjoy a family movie, Lady and the Tramp, with complimentary popcorn.
3:00 p.m. What’s on the Menu?
River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Join the naturalists at feeding time to learn about the animals and their habitats.
3:30 p.m. Los Bilinguitos Storytime
Waukegan Public Library
Kids ages 4 to 7 will give their imaginations a workout, listening to stories, singing songs and creating craft projects in the art center. Bilingual Program.
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Monday February 15
10:00 a.m. Drop-in Art Play
Barrington Area Library
All ages are invited to express themselves with a process-oriented art project.
10:00 a.m. LEGO Building Challenge
Wauconda Area Library
All ages can drop-in and put their LEGO building skills to the test to learn about physical forces and simple machines.
10:00 a.m. The Falconer
Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich
The Medieval Falconer will introduce you to the fascinating history of these magnificent birds of prey.
10:45 a.m. Preschool Storytime
Waukegan Public Library
Stop by with your preschooler for stories, songs and crafts.
1:00 p.m. Craft-Pocalypse
Indian Trails Library District, Wheeling
Grades 3-8. Join us for an epic crafting event. There will be multiple projects for many skill levels to try out
1:00 p.m. LEGO Club
Round Lake Area Public Library
Ages 5 and up can use their imagination to build their own creations
1:00 p.m. Schools Closed? The Museum is Open
Raupp Museum, Buffalo Grove
The museum will have special, free walk-in activities from 1 – 3 pm. No need to register, just stop by to have fun with history.
2:00 p.m. Movie Matinee
Warren Newport Public Library
School’s Out! Bring your own beverages and snacks to watch Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” on our big screen!
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Enjoy your mini break! Tell them Little Lake County sent you!
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