Check out these free Illinois museums this month

Are you looking for something fun and free to do this month?

Museums across the state are offering free admission to Illinois residents.

As long as you show proof of residency, you get free admission!

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Witnessing nature’s grand spectacle: Total solar eclipse on April 8

On April 8, people in Illinois will have the opportunity to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena – a total solar eclipse. This rare event occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, which casts a shadow that completely blocks out the sun’s light, turning day into an eerie twilight.

Illinois, known for diverse landscapes and star-studded skies, will serve as an ideal viewing location for this celestial spectacle. The path of totality – the area where the sun is completely obscured by the moon – will include the southern tip of Illinois as well as other states.

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Celebrate National Walking Day in Illinois

• National Walking Day

April 3 is National Walking Day! Physical activity is one of the best ways to live a healthier lifestyle and manage daily stressors one step at a time. Most of our days consist of sitting at work or school for eight hours, which can have negative consequences on our physical and mental health over time.

National Walking Day was established in 2007 by the American Heart Association and is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday in April to encourage people to add more movement in their daily routines. All communities are invited to take a walk on this day – whether it be to work or at a local park – to experience the impact of this lifesaving activity. See below for how you can participate in Illinois.

Plainfield Park District Free Track Day: Plainfield

In honor of National Walking Day, the Prairie Fit Fitness Center is offering free use of their indoor walking track all day on April 3. Additionally, members have an opportunity to get one month of free track use when they purchase a track membership on this day.

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Celebrate International Children's Book Day

April 2 is International Children’s Book Day! Since 1967, Children’s Book Day has been celebrated as a day to inspire a passion of reading and to call attention to children’s books. Schools, libraries and community organizations across the globe participate by bringing families together to read, promoting reading at an early age and raising awareness about the importance of literacy in molding the young minds of the future.

For centuries, the importance of reading has been taught in schools. Reading provides kids with a therapeutic effect and a sense of escapism and allows them to discover stories on their own terms in language they understand. Reading encourages kids to use their imagination, enhances language development, builds their vocabulary and reasoning skills, and can foster bilingualism when families read stories in their heritage language.

Kids can take today as an opportunity to learn about and read books by Illinois-based children’s book authors such as:

Mistie Psaledas. “The Truth About the Tooth” is a story about diversity, creativity and imagination of different tooth fairy legends.

Shel Silverstein. “Where the Sidewalk Ends” is a collection of poems and illustrations that explores themes of imagination, humans’ relationship with nature, and the divide between adulthood and childhood.

Gwendolyn Brooks. “Bronzeville Boys and Girls” is a collection of 34 poems that celebrate the joy of childhood in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and beyond.

Kim Moldofsky. In “Amelia Earhart: A Graphic Novel,” readers discover some of Earhart’s incredible achievements before she disappeared on her attempted flight around the world.

These are just a few of the many great children’s books to be celebrated today. Join the festivities by picking up a new book or revisiting an old favorite!