Labor Day weekend is almost here, and there are plenty of ways to squeeze in a little more summer fun with the kids!
Whether your family wants to catch a circus on the river, pick apples, make something together, explore a favorite museum exhibit before it's gone, or celebrate at a hometown parade, we've rounded up 9 family-friendly things to do around Greater Peoria this Labor Day weekend.
Pick a favorite or two — or see how many you can fit into the long weekend!
🍻 1. Kick Off the Weekend with Traveling Taphouse
📍 Sommer Park | Peoria
📅 Friday September 4th
🕛 5 pm - 8 pm
Start your Labor Day weekend outside with Traveling Taphouse at Sommer Park!
Bring the family, grab something to eat and drink, and enjoy an evening at the park. It's an easy way to get out of the house, skip cooking dinner and officially kick off the long weekend.
Mac KID Tip: Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and settle in for the evening.
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🌙 2. Go Wild After Hours at Wildlife Prairie Park
📍 Wildlife Prairie Park | Hanna City
📅 Friday September 4th
🕛 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Looking for a different way to start the holiday weekend? Head to Wildlife Prairie Park for Wild Nights!
Spend an evening at the park and enjoy a family adventure after the usual daytime hours. It's a fun excuse to get outside, explore and start Labor Day weekend with some of Central Illinois' wildest residents.
Check Wildlife Prairie Park for the evening's complete schedule, admission information and activities before you go.
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🥕 3. Shop the RiverFront Market + Take the Littles to Story Time
📍 Peoria Riverfront
📅 Saturday September 5th
🕛 Market: 8 am - 12 pm | Story Time: 9 am
Make Saturday morning a Riverfront morning!
Start at the Peoria RiverFront Market, where families can browse local produce, baked goods, handmade items and more from area farmers, artists and makers.
Have little ones with you? While you're downtown, head over to Liberty Park for a Story Time with Communication Junction!
Designed especially for young children ages 0–5, Sign & Sing adds stories, music and signing to your morning at the market.
Grab breakfast, shop local and enjoy story time — all in one trip!
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🦬 4. Pioneer Day at Wildlife Prairie Park
📍 Wildlife Prairie Park | Hanna City
📅 Saturday, September 5
🕛10 am - 3 pm
Step back into the 1800s during Pioneer Day at Wildlife Prairie Park! Explore the Log Cabin and Graham Chapel Schoolhouse while enjoying pioneer games and crafts, demonstrations, animal programs, performances and more.
🚂 FREE Prairie Zephyr train rides
🦬 $5 hayrack rides through the bison & elk pasture
🛞 Barrel cart rides
🎨 Pioneer games & crafts
🐾 Keeper chats & animal programs
🍴 Food vendors + more!
Admission: FREE for members; regular park admission for non-members. Some activities cost extra.
Good to know: Parking is at the Train Depot, and guests will take the Prairie Zephyr to the Pioneer Area. Allow about 30 minutes for transportation.
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🎨 5. Get Creative at Family Craft Time at Crafted DIY Studio
📍 Crafted DIY Studio | Peoria
📅 Sat. & Sun. Sept. 5 & 6
🕛 11 am - 5 pm
Need a little downtime between all those Labor Day weekend adventures?
Stop by Crafted DIY Studio for Family Craft Time, offered Saturday and Sunday.
It's a great option for families who want to slow things down, spend some time creating together and head home with something they've made.
Add it to your weekend plans as a standalone outing or pair it with another adventure nearby.
🎪 6. Watch a Circus FLOAT Into Peoria
📍 Riverfront Park near the RiverPlex | Peoria
📅 Sat. & Sun. Sept. 5 & 6
🕛 6 pm
This may be the most unusual thing you'll do all weekend!
Flotsam River Circus is coming to Peoria for FREE with performances happening on Saturday and Sunday.
Flotsam is a traveling troupe of musicians, circus artists and puppeteers who journey from river town to river town aboard a handmade raft — which also serves as their stage!
Find them along the beach-like portion of Riverfront Park near the RiverPlex at 600 NE Water Street. Look toward the river for the most unusual "boat" you can find — that's them!
The show is family-friendly and designed for audiences of all ages.
🪑 Bring a blanket or lawn chair and arrive early to find a good viewing spot.
💰 Admission is FREE, although donations are encouraged to support the nonprofit troupe and keep the project afloat.
Accessibility note: The riverfront viewing area is uneven and may be steep in places. A flatter walkway above the performance area provides a more accessible viewing option.
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🧸 7. Say Goodbye to Toytopia at Peoria Riverfront Museum
📍 Peoria Riverfront Museum | Peoria
📅 All weekend - including Labor Day!
🕛 11 am - 5 pm
If Toytopia has been sitting on your family's summer bucket list, Labor Day weekend is your LAST chance to see it!
The interactive exhibit celebrates toys and the way they've shaped childhood across generations, making it one that kids, parents and even grandparents can enjoy together.
Toytopia is open throughout Labor Day weekend, with Monday, September 7 marking the exhibit's final day in Peoria.
So, if you've been saying, "We need to go before it leaves!" — this is your reminder!
Mac KID Tip: This could also be a great backup plan if Labor Day weekend weather doesn't cooperate.
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🍎 8. Go Apple Picking
📍 Central Illinois Orchards
📅 All weekend
🕛 Check guide for hours
Nothing says the unofficial start of fall quite like a trip to the apple orchard!
Use the long weekend to take a short road trip outside Peoria and pick some apples, grab an apple cider donut and enjoy the first tastes of fall. Check out our Apple Picking Guide for some ideas of where to go!
Apple varieties and picking availability can change quickly, so check directly with the orchard before making the drive.
Make a day of it: Apple picking + cider + donuts + a few family pictures = a pretty great way to welcome September. 🍎
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👷 9. Celebrate Labor Day in West Peoria
📍 West Peoria
📅 Monday, September 7
🕚 Parade: 11 am | Family festivities: 12 pm - 4 pm
Finish the long weekend with a local Labor Day tradition!
The Peoria Labor Day Parade kicks off at 11 am. from lower Laura Bradley Park before heading west along Farmington Road and ending at Raber Packing Co.
And the fun doesn't stop when the parade ends!
From noon–4 pm, families can stick around for a family-friendly festival featuring food, music and activities.
Which one is going on YOUR family's Labor Day weekend list?
And remember — these are just 9 of our picks! Check the Macaroni KID Peoria Event Calendar for even more kid-friendly events happening around Greater Peoria this weekend.
Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend, Greater Peoria!
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Macaroni KID Peoria is a free local calendar, weekly newsletter, and website dedicated to family-friendly events and information in the Greater Peoria Area. We compile all the local family-friendly events and activities, and provide useful information on classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides, and more!
