Friday, Aug. 29, 2025  |  View in browser

Good morning, 

Check out this week's Parks & Recreation e-news featuring information on Labor Day beach hours, Fall Parks and Rec program registration, upcoming events, and more.

News

Registration Open for Fall Programs

Registration is now open for our Fall programs! From engaging classes and seasonal events to enriching after-school programs and exciting school day-off adventures, there’s something for everyone this fall.

Sign up early—our most popular programs fill quickly!

Last Weekend for Swimming at Evanston Beaches

Make the most of summer’s final splash! This weekend marks the last days of swimming at Evanston beaches for the season. Lifeguards will be on duty at Lee Street Beach, Clark Street Beach, and Greenwood Street Beach during the following hours:

• Saturday, August 30: 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, August 31 & Monday, Sept. 1 (Labor Day): 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The Dempster Beach Office will be open August 30 – Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Please remember: for your safety, swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty. While the swimming season is coming to a close, the sand areas at all beaches will remain open for everyone to enjoy.

Stay up to date on beach status anytime at cityofevanston.org/beaches.

Thank you for another wonderful beach season! We’re grateful to our community for spending summer days with us and look forward to welcoming you back next year.

Upcoming Events

All That Glows: August 29

Why do some living things glow? Join us for a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt in Harbert-Payne Park, followed by glow-in-the-dark art and a discussion on bioluminescence around the campfire. We will also take a closer look at some bioluminescent organisms. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Event details
Date: Friday, August 29
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Harbert-Payne Park
Ages: 4 years and up
Cost: $15 R/$20 NR
Register

Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market: August 30

Sweet, ripe, and ready—don’t miss this Saturday’s Evanston Farmers’ Market, where the season’s best fruits and fresh finds await.

Event details
Date: Saturday, August 30
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (early shopping for seniors & those with disabilities starts at 7 a.m.)
Location: University Place & Oak Ave., behind the Hilton Garden Inn
Cost: Free

Free Outdoor Movie Double Feature: August 30

Join us for the last Starlight Movie Series of the season with a free double feature under the stars at Larimer Park.

Kick off the evening at 5:30 p.m. with The Wild Robot, followed by Asteroid City at 7:30 p.m. Bring a blanket, grab dinner from Soul & Smoke, and enjoy an unforgettable summer night of movies and community.

Event details
Date: Saturday, August 30
5:30 p.m.: Wild Robot
7:30 p.m.: Asteroid City
Location: Larimer Park, 1099 Crain St.
Cost: Free
Food truck: Bumbu Roux
Learn more

Canoe the Canal: August 30 & 31

Enjoy a canoeing adventure on the North Shore Channel for Labor Day weekend! Canoes, paddles, PFDs, and basic paddling instruction will be provided. Each boat will also have a river scavenger hunt provided, as we will look for signs of wildlife, including: herons, belted kingfishers, turtles, white-tailed deer, and more. Please dress for the weather. Any children need to be accompanied by an enrolled adult.

Event details
Date: Saturday, August 30 & Sunday, August 31
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; or 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Dammrich Rowing Center
Cost: $22 R/$29 NR 
Register now online or call (847) 448-8256.

Jr. Wildkits Summer Skates Free Hockey Sessions: August 30 and August 31

Get back on the ice before the season starts!The Evanston Jr. Wildkits are offering two free summer skate opportunities at Robert Crown Community Center. These sessions are a great way to sharpen your skills, connect with teammates, and get ready for the upcoming season.

Saturday, August 30 – JrW Summerskate
9:30 a.m., Rink 1

Sunday, August 31 – JrW Positional Skate
8:10 a.m., Rink 2 

Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Cost: Free
More info: wildkits.youth@evanstonhockey.com
Register

Hispanic Heritage Month: September 5

Celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with an afternoon of fun, culture, and community. Enjoy family-friendly activities including face painting, piñatas, open gym time, arts and crafts and more. Plus, Evanston Latinos will be providing raspados.

Event details
Date: Friday, September 5
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.
Cost: Free

Nature Play Date: September 5

Astronomy in the Parks: September 5

Reconnect with the night sky, as we look through the Chicago Astronomer’s telescope at the moon, saturn, and other summer celestial sights! Come prepared with any questions you have about the night sky, as our guide will give us a tour of the wonders beyond our planet. Then enjoy marshmallows and other festivities around the campfire. All family members attending must register (children and adults). Rain date is September 26.

Event details
Date: Friday, September 5
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Elliott Park
Cost: $15 R/$20 NR
Register online or call (847) 448-8256.

Community Acupuncture: September 11 & 25

Experience healing in community through group acupuncture as modeled by the Lincoln Hospital Detox Program developed by Dr. Mutulu Shakur. If you do not want to have acupuncture, you can still benefit from the treatment by sitting with the group or having magnets placed on points as an alternative. 

Event details
Date: September 11, 25; October 9, 23; November 13
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center
Cost: $11 R/$31 NR
Register online

Harvest Fest: September 27

Celebrate the joys of the fall season at Eggleston Park during our fall Harvest Festival! Go on a tour of the Farmette, Bee Apiary, and Food Forest and partake in fall-themed games, a pumpkin patch, a scarecrow-making contest, crafts, and more! 

Celebrating the season with gratitude to Hagerty Consulting, Windy City Garden Center, and Whole Foods! Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, the music, pumpkins, and apples make for a truly bountiful autumn.

Event details
Date: Saturday, September 27
Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Eggleston Park
Cost: Free

Now on View at Noyes Upstairs Gallery: In This Moment

Step into a space of reflection and imagination with In This Moment, a powerful new exhibit by Jennifer Taylor of Sparkle House. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful symbolism, Taylor explores the pause between events—the breath before the transformation.

On View: thru September 9
Gallery Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St

Outdoor Adventure Trips

Explore the great outdoors through the Ecology Center’s partnership with the Bus for Outdoor Access and Teaching (BOAT). These guided group trips are designed for all skill levels and include transportation, food, equipment, and camping supplies—just bring your personal items and clothing, and get ready for an adventure!

Youth Day Trip to Rock Cut State Park  (Ages 9-13)
Date: Sept 23
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Meeting Location: Lighthouse Beach
Cost: $75 R/$98 NR
Register

Adult Overnight Canoe Trip on Rock River
Date: Oct 4-5
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Meeting Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Cost: $336 R/$437 NR
Register

Adult Backpacking Trip on the Manistee River Trail
Date: Oct 10-13
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Meeting Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Cost: $487 R/$633 NR
Register

Zombie Scramble Registration Now Open

Celebrate a decade of the undead at the 10th Annual Zombie Scramble! This thrilling event challenges you to make it through a zombie-infested course with your “lives” — represented by flags on a flag football belt — still intact. As you navigate the haunted trail, zombies will try to snatch your flags.

To commemorate 10 years of heart-pounding fun, our Presenting Sponsor, Anchorfish Printing, will be on site creating and selling limited-edition shirts exclusively for this milestone event. Don’t miss your chance to grab one and show off your survivor (or zombie) pride!

Are you ready to run for your life? Register now.

Fall Classes

Register for our Fall programming at cityofevanston.org/recreation. View all our upcoming classes, camps, workshops, school days off activities, and special events in the Fall Program Guide.

Forest School Play Group

Late summer and fall are some of the best times for kids to discover the natural world! The Ecology Center's Forest School Play Group will go on adventures throughout these seasons, as we learn all about the many natural wonders of Lighthouse Beach. Classes will meet at the Lighthouse Beach fog house classrooms and are primarily outdoors, weather permitting. Parents must attend with children under 3 yrs. Register now.

Little Dough-Nuts

Little hands, big imagination: In this fun class, kids squish, roll, and shape dough to make all kinds of creations. Along the way, they’ll explore animals, colors, shapes, and more—building skills while they play. At the end, they’ll make a special project to take home and share. A four-class session starts on October 10. Register now.

Skateboard Class

Appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels. Beginners learn how to start, stop, turn, basic ramp-riding, and tricks. Intermediate skaters learn skills based on ability. Skaters must bring a drink and wear a helmet. Knee, elbow, and wrist guards encouraged. Classes will take place at Twiggs Skatepark at Green Bay Road and Noyes Street. No board? No problem! We can lend you one for class. Register now.

Bitty Ballet

Learn the basic positions of ballet and have fun dancing and singing along in this beginning-level class run by Chicago Loves Dance. Register now.

Jamberry Music

Bond with your child through nursery rhymes, circle songs, movement, puppets, and instrument exploration! Activities will introduce musical concepts, self-regulation, and motor skills. Note: Child must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. 
Register now for Chandler classes.
Register now for Prieto classes.

Gymnastics with a Grownup

With a parent/guardian and our instructors’ assistance, your tot will enjoy free play on the gymnastics equipment, explore new obstacle
courses, and be introduced to various age appropriate gymnastics skills each week. This class is a great way for your little one to climb and play with supervision. Parents/guardians must attend with their child. Register now.

Little Blackhawks: Learn to Play

Little Blackhawks Learn to Play changes the way youth hockey is offered by providing first time participants, between 4-9 years of age, head-to-toe equipment, age-appropriate instruction and certified coaching, led by NHL Alumni, in a fun and safe atmosphere. This program is for first-timers only. Register now.

Adult Gymnastics

No experience necessary! In this class for ages 16 years and up will warm up together, then students will be grouped by ability to work on different tumbling skills each week, ranging from cartwheels and handstands to handsprings and slatos. Register now.

Adult Boxing

This class offers the physical benefits of boxing- both cardio and mental conditioning, with an emphasis on the fundamentals and techniques. Register now.

4th and 5th Grade Cross Country

Our co-ed cross country program for 4th and 5th graders introduces young runners to the fun and fundamentals of distance running. Through  practices and meets, students will build endurance, improve running form, and develop teamwork and perseverance. Biweekly meets will take place, with race distances ranging from 1 to 1.5 miles. Register now.

Girls Middle School Flag Football League

Join one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation—girls flag football. In-season skill development sessions are led by expert ETHS coaches to help players unlock their full potential. The season includes five regular-season games followed by positional playoffs in the final week.  Games are held on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and noon, with each game lasting approximately one hour. All players are encouraged to attend the evaluation held at Robert Crown fields on Wednesday, September 10 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Register now.

Senior Boxing Class

Senior Boxing is geared toward anyone who has achieved the benefit of reaching "Senior" status! Blow off some steam on Friday afternoons with incredible instructor Mark Carlson as he teaches the basics of boxing. Register now.

After School and School Days Off

School’s Out? Cool Out!

Make the most of your day off from school at the Robert Crown Community Center! Kids ages 5–12 can enjoy a full day of fun, including field trips, arts and crafts, ice skating, and games.

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Register in person at Robert Crown
More information: aeerbhardt@cityofevanston.org

After School Adventure at Robert Crown

Blast off into an afternoon of fun and learning with After School Adventure at the Robert Crown Community Center! Students will enjoy a variety of enrichment activities that keep them active, engaged, and inspired, including homework help, arts and science activities, snacks and cooking classes, ice skating, and more.

Who We Serve
Students in District 65
Ages 5–12

Hours
3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday–Friday
11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on School Improvement Days

Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Register in person at Robert Crown
More information: aeerbhardt@cityofevanston.org

Play Time, Drop-in Activities, and Rentals

Planning a Party, Meeting, or Special Event? We’ve Got the Perfect Space

Whether you're hosting a birthday bash, baby shower, community meeting, or family celebration, Evanston’s Parks & Recreation rental facilities offer flexible, affordable spaces to fit your needs.

Choose from a variety of rooms, community centers, and party packages across the city — perfect for both small gatherings and big milestones.

Looking to celebrate a child’s birthday? Check out our birthday party packages featuring fun themes and activities at select locations.

Spaces book up fast — plan ahead and secure your ideal date today.

Explore rental options and book online

For more info, call 847-448-4311 or email recreation@cityofevanston.org.

Tennis/Pickleball Outdoor Court Reservations

Tennis and Pickleball courts can be reserved online by community members. If a court is reserved, the person or group with the reservation has priority at that time — even if the court is in use. When no reservation is scheduled, courts are open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. Standard “rack-up” rules apply. Secure your spot in advance at cityofevanston.org/courts.

Let’s Play Drop-In

Looking for a fun and flexible activity for your kids? The Prieto Community Center offers Let’s Play Drop-In, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We’ve recently lowered prices to better support families.

Pricing:

• Residents: $10 per child, $7 for each additional child
• Non-residents: $13 per child, $10 for each additional child

Get Involved

Accessibility for all

The City of Evanston is committed to promoting a citywide culture of accessibility and inclusivity. To request an accommodation for a program, service, or activity, please call 847-866-2919 to make an ADA service request or complete a request form online. 

Facility Locations and Phone Numbers

Chandler-Newberger Community Center: 847-448-8252
Levy Senior Center: 847-448-8250
Robert Crown Community Center: 847-448-8258
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center: 847-448-8254
Ecology Center: 847-448-8256
Prieto Community Center: 847-859-7697

Support Evanston Parks & Recreation Your donation will help support lakefront upkeep and the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater. Donate now

Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend,

The City of Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Team