What are the Museum Hours?

• Mondays: 9:30 to 4.
• Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 9:30 to 4.
• Sundays: 10 – 4.
• Members-only early admission is available starting at 9am every day except Sunday.
• We are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for field trips.
• Admission ends 30 minutes before the museum closes.

You can view the museum’s hours daily here. Please check our museum schedule before coming to make sure we are not closed for a special event or due to weather.

What is your admission price?

• Admission is $15 for each adult or child.
• Infants under 12 months of age are free.
• We offer a discounted $13 admission for active military individuals, teachers, first responders, and seniors. Please present a valid ID at check in to receive $2 off.  Note: Without proof of a valid ID, guests will be charged the full admission price at check-in.
• Through the Museums for All program, we offer $5 admission to holders of EBT or WIC cards. 
• During the summer of 2026, admission on Fridays will be $5.
• Admission for members is always free.  

How can I pay for my admission at the museum?

• Cash
• Apple Pay
• Google pay
• Cash app
• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover
• JCB
• UnionPay
• Checks (returned checks will be subject to a bounce fee)

Can I purchase tickets on-site at the Museum?

Yes, our front desk will check you in and accept admission payment when you arrive.

Do I need to schedule a time to visit the museum?

Reservations are not required. Walk-ins are welcome on a first come, first served basis until we reach capacity limits to allow for safe play. If you would like to make sure the museum is not at capacity limit, please call 708-383-4815.

Capacity Policy

The museum operates with capacity limits for everyone’s safety and comfort.  Should we reach our designated capacity, a sign will be posted on the front door to let visitors know and our website calendar will be updated. Before coming to Wonder Works, feel free to call 708-383-4815 to see if we have reached capacity. Please remember that the museum gets very busy on extreme weather days. If you come to the door and we have reached capacity, we will have a few timed tickets available for later entry that same day.

Please take a moment to read our Museum Expectations. 

Wonder Works Children’s Museum strives to provide a safe and enjoyable environment where all our visitors can engage in creative play. We all need to work together to act respectfully and treat everyone with kindness.  Please take a moment to read our Museum Expectations for more information on what we expect of our visitors and what you can expect of us in return!

Will my membership be extended for your annual closure in 2026?

Because the 2026 museum closure is longer than usual, our memberships will automatically be extended by one month, no action needed on your end. We can’t wait to reopen and welcome your family back on October 5.

Types of Wonder Works Memberships Available

We offer four types of memberships: Wonder Works, Wonder Works Plus, Play for All, and Summer memberships. If you choose to become a member while visiting Wonder Works Children’s Museum, the cost of your admission can be deducted from the cost of membership if you purchase a membership on the day of your visit. Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable. Memberships can be purchased on our website. 

Wonder Works Children’s Museum and all other CLIMB museums stopped selling CLIMB memberships on June 30, 2025.

Reciprocal benefits through the CLIMB network of partner museums –

If you are a member at one of the participating CLIMB museums, you can receive free admission for a total of 6 guests when you visit Wonder Works until June 30, 2026 or when your membership expires, whichever is earlier. CLIMB memberships will not be sold by any CLIMB museum after June 30, 2025. You must show proof of your up-to-date membership from your home Museum at check-in. CLIMB Partner Museums include Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, Discovery Center, DuPage Children’s Museum, KidsWork Children’s Museum, and Kohl Children’s Museum.

Note: Without proof of a valid CLIMB membership, guests will be charged the full admission price at check-in. CLIMB memberships purchased at other museums are not eligible for discounts on birthday parties or special events. 

Reciprocal benefits through the ACM Network –

With a membership from a participating American Children’s Museum (ACM), you can receive 50% off the regular admission price for up to 6 guests. You must show proof of your up-to-date membership card from your home museum with the ACM logo at check-in.  Note: Without proof of a valid ACM membership, guests will be charged the full admission price at check-in.

I bought my membership at a CLIMB museum that is not Wonder Works, can I come to a Wonder Works members only event?

Only Wonder Works, Wonder Works Plus, Wonder Works Summer, Play for All and Wonder Works CLIMB members can attend Wonder Works members-only events.

Discounted Admission

Holders of WIC, LINK, or other federal or State EBT cards will receive admission for $5 per person for up to 4 guests. Must show EBT card at check-in. The EBT card may not be used for the purchase of tickets.  Note: Without proof of a valid State-issued blue LINK EBT card, guests will be charged the full admission price at check-in.

Museums for All discounted admission during any possible SNAP suspension due to government shutdown 

Can I combine discounts?

Only one discount may be applied per visit.

Proof of eligibility will be required at check-in for guests using any of these discounts. 

Is food allowed in the Museum?

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase for $2 and can be eaten in the snack room. All food must be consumed in the snack room as Wonder Works is a food-free museum. Wonder Works Children’s Museum is peanut free.

Can I leave the Museum and come back later?

Once you have purchased admission for the day, you are welcome to leave and come back that day. Admission ends 30 minutes before the museum closes.

Are cubbies or stroller parking available?

Yes. Storage cubbies, coat racks, and stroller parking will be available.

What safety protocols is the Museum taking to keep everyone safe?

The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority. To help provide the safest play experience possible, these are our cleaning procedures:

Wonder Works is a shoe-free facility.  All visitors must wear socks. Socks are available for purchase

Frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces and washrooms.

Exhibits and common areas, and loose parts are sanitized throughout the day.

Dirty toy bins are available throughout the museum for play materials that have been chewed, drooled, or simply need cleaning. 

Costumes, stuffed animals and puppets are washed daily. 

Hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout the Museum.

We love to share everything but germs.

If you or anyone in your group is not feeling well, please use your best judgment before coming to Wonder Works.

Photo Policy

Photos and videos can be taken by Wonder Works staff for use on our website, press and social media. If you’d like to opt out, please let us know.

Animal Policy

With the exception of emotional support or certified service animals, pets are not allowed at Wonder Works. Pet pictures are always welcome however!

Can I have a party at Wonder Works?

Yes. You can have a party during museum open hours or a private party with the exclusive museum access for you and your guests. Parties during museum open hours are on Saturdays, and Sundays from 12:30-2:30PM for groups of up to 25 adults and children. Private parties can be reserved on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4-6PM for groups of up to 100 adults and children. Both types of parties are open to both members and non-members. For more details, please see our parties page or contact the museum by email at info@wonder-works.org or by phone at 708-383-4815.  

Can I serve food at a Wonder Works party?

Wonder Works Children’s Museum has a party room where you can serve food. Party hosts can serve food for up to 25 individuals (including the hosts) in the party room. During private parties we can set up the museum to serve food in both the lobby and the party room. All food must be eaten in the party room and lobby as the rest of Wonder Works is food-free. Party hosts are responsible for food clean up and disposal. 

Can my school or childcare group visit on a field trip?

Yes. Field trip reservations will be available on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.  Please email info@wonder-works.org or call the museum at 708-383-4815 to schedule a field trip. 

We are a small school or daycare, can we come to the museum on a regular day instead of booking a special field trip? 

Small groups are welcome to come to Wonder Works at any time but admission may not be possible if we are operating at high capacity. Daycare and school groups of more than 12 individuals that come to Wonder Works during museum open hours must attend a mandatory orientation session upon arrival and the adult to child ratio within the group must be 1:4 to ensure proper supervision. During museum open hours, the snack room will be shared with all other visitors and will not be available for exclusive use of any daycare or school group that comes to Wonder Works during museum open hours. 

Parking

Limited parking spaces are available in our newly repaved parking area, near the museum entrance. There are also some spaces on North Avenue. Some of the parking regulations on the neighborhood streets near Wonder Works may have changed. Please check signs/meters before parking.

Do I need a ticket for special events like Noon Year’s Eve?

Wonder Works Children’s Museum occasionally closes for special events such as Noon Year’s Eve that require tickets for entry. However, most special programming events such as Dino Works, Ocean Wonders, Bugapalooza, and Wonder Bubbles do not require special tickets in 2025. 

How do I purchase a special event ticket?

The link to purchase special event tickets can be found at
http://www.wonder-works.org/events

I am a member, do I get an event discount?

Our members receive discounts for our special events. The discount is listed on the event page. Only members with memberships purchased through Wonder Works Children’s Museum are eligible for event discounts. 

Are these special events tickets refundable if I cancel?

We accept special event ticket cancellations up to 24 hours before the date of the ticket. Please call us at 708-383-4815 to cancel for a full refund.

My friend offered me her tickets, can I use them?

Our special event tickets are non-transferrable. Please have your friend call us to cancel her tickets and you can then purchase them online. All tickets must be purchased directly through Wonder Works Children’s Museum.

Do I need a ticket for the adults attending the event?

Yes. Tickets are required for each guest, children and adults

Can I purchase a gift card to Wonder Works Children’s Museum?

We offer digital Wonder Works Children’s Museum gift cards available for purchase. These gift cards never expire and can be any amount from $10 to $500. The gift card can be used towards any Wonder Works’ goods or services – even birthday parties. Please see our gift card page for more details and to purchase a digital gift card.