Evanston Early Childhood Council

09/15/2025

🍂📚✨ Hey Evanston families! Looking for fun (and FREE!) things to do with your little ones this week? The Evanston Early Childhood Council is excited to pass along these awesome library events happening around town. 🎶🐻🎲

Here’s what’s coming up:

📍 Monday, Sept. 15 – Robert Crown Branch Library
🌳 Crown Outdoor Storytime | 10:30 – 11:30 am

📍 Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Main Library
👶 Time for Twos | 10:30 – 11:00 am

📍 Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Main Library
🎨 All By Myself | 1:30 – 2:15 pm

📍 Thursday, Sept. 18 – Main Library
💤 The Young and the Restless (0–2 year olds) | 10:15 – 10:45 am

📍 Saturday, Sept. 20 – Main Library
🎶 Singsong | 11:00 – 11:30 am

📍 Sunday, Sept. 21 – Main Library
🎲 Game Play Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Grab your kiddos, stop by, and enjoy a week full of stories, songs, and playtime fun. 🥳📚✨

Send a message to learn more

09/04/2025

09/02/2025

🎉✨ FREE Family Fun in Evanston This Week! ✨🎉

Looking for things to do with your little ones? Evanston has so many family-friendly (and free!) events lined up this week. Check out what’s happening:

📅 Thursday, September 4
🎈 Kits, 'Cats & Kids Block Party – Lazier Field at ETHS | 4:30–7:30 PM
🎶 Downtown Summer Sounds – Fountain Square | 6:00–8:00 PM

📅 Saturday, September 6
🌟 ¡Pequeños exploradores! – Robert Crown Branch Library | 10:30–11:30 AM
🎵 Evanston Folk Festival – Dawes Park | All Day

📅 Sunday, September 7
🎬 Matinee Movie @ Main – Evanston Public Library (Main) | 2:00–3:30 PM

Bring the kids, invite some friends, and enjoy these fun (and free!) activities happening in our community. 💙

08/11/2025

🎒🍎 Welcome Back, Evanston Kids! 🍎🎒

The Evanston Early Childhood Council is wishing all our little learners (and their amazing families) a fantastic school year ahead! 📚✨ Whether it’s your very first day of preschool or you’re heading back to kindergarten, we hope your year is filled with learning, laughter, and lots of fun. 💛

And for our families with little ones not yet in school — the fun doesn’t stop! Here’s what’s happening this week, Sunday, August 10 – Saturday, August 17, all FREE and perfect for early childhood ages:

🌼 Sun, Aug 10 — Dad and Me: Playdate in the Garden 🌱
Robert Crown Library | 4:00–5:00 pm

📖 Mon, Aug 11 — Hearts of Readers ❤️
Main Library | 10:15–10:45 am

Crown Outdoor Storytime ☀️ Robert Crown Library | 10:30–11:30 am

🐸 Tue, Aug 12 — Frog on a Log Storytime (Booked)
10:30–11:00 am

👷‍♀️ Wed, Aug 13 — Kids Story Time 📚
3001 Central St | 10:30 am

Little Builders: Books and Block Play 🧱 Main Library | 10:30–11:30 am

🎶 Thu, Aug 14 — Downtown Summer Sounds 🎤
Fountain Square | 6:00–8:00 pm

Annual Community Movie Night – Lilo & Stitch 🌺
Northwestern Medical Field at Martin Stadium | 5:00 pm

🌊 Fri, Aug 15 — Little Explorers: Sea Life 🐠
Main Library | 10:30–11:30 am

🎨 Sat, Aug 16 — Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival 🎭
800 Church St | 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Come join the fun, meet new friends, and make magical memories before fall is in full swing! 🍂

07/21/2025

🎉 Evanston Families with Little Ones — Here's What's Happening This Week! 🎉

Looking for fun and FREE things to do with your young children in Evanston? We've got a great lineup of storytimes, music, outdoor fun, and more for the week of July 21–27:

📅 Monday, July 21
📚 Crown Outdoor Storytime – Robert Crown Library, 10:30–11:30 AM
📖 All By Myself – Main Library, 11:00–11:45 AM

📅 Tuesday, July 22
👶 Time for Twos – Main Library, 10:30–11:00 AM
🐸 Frog on a Log Storytime – Booked, 10:30–11:00 AM
🚐 EPL On the Fly! – Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM

📅 Wednesday, July 23
🎶 Let’s Learn and Sing in Japanese! – Main Library, 10:15–11:00 AM
🚐 EPL On the Fly! – Mason Park, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM

📅 Thursday, July 24
👶 The Young and the Restless (0–2 yrs) – Main Library, 10:15–10:45 AM
🚐 EPL On the Fly! – Elks Park, 3:00–5:00 PM
🎵 Nature Tots & Tunes – Baker Park, 5:00–7:00 PM

📅 Friday, July 25
🌊 Sand & Stories – Lee Street Beach, 10:00–10:45 AM
🐸 Frog on a Log Storytime – Booked, 10:30–11:00 AM

📅 Saturday, July 26
🚲 Family Ride – Robert Crown Community Center, 10:00 AM
🎉 Connections for the Homeless Block Party – Twiggs Park, 12:00–11:00 PM

📅 Sunday, July 27
🎬 Matinee Movie: The Minecraft Movie – Main Library, 2:00–4:00 PM

Come out and make memories with your little ones! 🌟

07/15/2025

🎉 Free Family Fun This Week in Evanston! 🎉
Looking for things to do with your little ones? We've got a great lineup of FREE events happening around Evanston this week! 🌞📚🎶

📅 Monday, July 14
📖 Time for Twos – Main Library | 10:30–11:00 am
🐸 Frog on a Log Storytime – Booked | 10:30–11:00 am
📚 EPL On the Fly! – Fleetwood-Jourdain Center | 11:30 am–1:30 pm

📅 Tuesday, July 15
📚 EPL On the Fly! – Mason Park | 11:30 am–1:30 pm

📅 Wednesday, July 16
👶 The Young and the Restless (0–2 years) – Main Library | 10:15–10:45 am
📚 EPL On the Fly! – Elks Park | 3:00–5:00 pm
🎶 Downtown Summer Sounds – Fountain Square | 6:00–8:00 pm

📅 Thursday, July 17
🐸 Frog on a Log Storytime – Booked | 10:30–11:00 am
🎨 Plein Air Festival Block Party – Main Street | 5:30–7:30 pm

Bring the kiddos out for stories, music, fun activities, and more! 🌈✨

07/11/2025

🌿✨ Unplug IL Day is THIS Saturday, July 12th (8AM–1PM)! ✨🌿
Join our friends at the Evanston Ecology Center as they kick off a fun-filled season of outdoor adventure with Unplug IL Day and the launch of the FREE 2025 Evanston Nature Passport program! 🗺️🐾

Families, friends, and nature lovers of all ages are invited to explore Evanston’s incredible natural spaces—from gardens and food forests to bird sanctuaries and nature-inspired playgrounds. 🌳🌸

🧭 What’s the Nature Passport Program?
It’s a FREE summer-long adventure (July 12–August 21) designed to help families discover Evanston’s hidden natural gems while enjoying fun, self-guided activities. Visit sites, complete nature missions, and fall in love with the outdoors all over again! 💚

🎉 Unplug IL Day Highlights (July 12 | 8AM–1PM):
Come out and visit locations like:

Lovelace Park

Perkins Woods

Eggleston Park Food Forest

Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary

Canal Shores

Each site will have friendly natural area stewards ready to share how you can get involved and protect Evanston’s green spaces. 🌿

📌 Let’s get outside, explore, play, and connect with nature. Whether you're new to the outdoors or already a nature lover, this is a perfect opportunity to unplug and reconnect with what matters most.

💬 Stay tuned for more ways we’ll be promoting the Evanston Nature Passport throughout the summer!

07/07/2025

👶🎉 Looking for fun, free activities to do with your little ones this week? The Evanston Early Childhood Council has rounded up some great local events just for you!

📅 Here’s what’s happening this week (July 7–11):

📖 Monday, July 7
🧺 Crown Outdoor Storytime
📍 Robert Crown Library
🕥 10:30–11:30 AM

📚 Tuesday, July 8
👶 Time for Twos
📍 Main Library
🕥 10:30–11:00 AM
🐸 Frog on a Log Storytime
📍 Booked
🕥 10:30–11:00 AM

👶 Wednesday, July 9
👶 The Young and the Restless (Ages 0–2)
📍 Main Library
🕥 10:15–10:45 AM

🌙 Thursday, July 10
📖 Jammie Time
📍 Main Library
🕡 6:30–7:00 PM
🎶 Downtown Summer Sounds
📍 Fountain Square
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM

🐸 Friday, July 11
📖 Frog on a Log Storytime
📍 Booked
🕥 10:30–11:00 AM
🐾 Trot for Tails
📍 Evanston Animal Shelter
🕐 All Day
🎉 Evanston Unity Festival
📍 Robert Crown Community Center
🕐 1:00 PM

🌟 There’s something every day to keep your littles learning, laughing, and exploring! Don’t forget to bring a friend! 💛

06/30/2025

🎉🎆 Happy 4th of July Week, Evanston! 🇺🇸☀️

We’ve got a fun-filled week for families to enjoy! Check out these awesome events:

📚 Frog on a Log Storytime
📍Booked | 🕤 Tuesday & Friday | 10:30–11:00 AM

🎇 4th of July Parade & Fireworks
📍Central St. | 🕑 Parade at 2:00 PM | 🎆 Fireworks at 9:30 PM
Don’t miss the excitement—bring your flags, friends, and family!

🏖️ Summer Saturdays at Lee Street Beach
🕙 Saturday | 10:00–10:45 AM
A perfect way to kick off your weekend by the lake!

Wishing you all a safe and joyful 4th of July! 💥 Let’s celebrate community, summer, and freedom together.

06/27/2025

🎬🍔 Looking for something fun (and delicious) to do with the family tonight? Head over to Ingraham Park in Evanston for the Wickedly Good Food Truck Fest, kicking off at 6 PM!

🌮🍕🍦 Enjoy a variety of delicious eats from local food trucks, then stick around for a free outdoor showing of Wicked under the stars. It’s the perfect way to spend a beautiful summer night with the whole family!

✨ Free admission | Family-friendly
🎥 Movie begins after sunset
📍 Ingraham Park, Evanston, IL

Come for the food, stay for the movie, and make some memories!
Happy Friday and have a wickedly awesome weekend! 💚

06/03/2025

🌞 June is Here—And So Are New Events for Families!🌞

We’re excited to share our June Event Calendar—packed with fun, engaging, and FREE events for families with young children across Evanston! From story times to playdates and parent workshops, there’s something for everyone. 🎨📚👶

✨ Special Highlight: Red Door Jamboree✨
Join our partners at Learning Bridge Early Education Center for their annual Red Door Jamboree on Saturday, June 7!
🎉 Come explore, play, and learn more about the amazing early childhood programs they offer. It’s a family-friendly event you won’t want to miss!

📢 Please share with friends, neighbors, and anyone with little ones in Evanston!

05/16/2025

Please join us for our second annual Early Childhood Symposium!
We are excited to invite educators, parents, and community partners to a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration focused on the vital early years of a child’s development. This year’s symposium will feature dynamic keynote speakers, engaging workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Whether you’re an early childhood professional or a passionate advocate, you’ll leave with new tools, fresh ideas, and renewed energy to support young children and their families. We look forward to seeing you there!
Click on the link below to register. Registration closes on May 17th!
https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0056-0007-8a81c4b96e024f109211e92b44acdd04