explorit

Address

4701 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60076 Get Directions

Phone

(847) 929-7744


Named Chicagoland's "Top Rainy Day Destination" by the Chicago Tribune, the Exploritorium is a place where children and adults visit to explore together through interactive play.

Recommended for toddlers through age 6, children can make-believe in our costumed dress-up area; run your fingers through our water play area; play with trains; and experience new heights in our two-and-a half-story tubes and tunnels.

Visit us at exploritorium.org for all facility information.

Hours 

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday/Sunday: Closed

Holiday Hours 

Tuesday, December 24: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Wednesday, December 25: Closed
Tuesday, December 31: Closed for Itty Bitty New Year event 
Wednesday, January 1: Closed

Fees

Residents: $6
Non-residents: $7
Children under 1: free

Explorer Passes

Purchase a 10-visit pass and save 10%: Resident: $54, Non-Resident: $63 

info-icon2 Alyssa Mergler at amergler@skokieparks.org

 

Features

  • Birthday Parties
  • Dress-Up Area/Stage
  • Engineering Megastation
  • Giant "Lite Brite" Wall
  • Imagination Playground
  • Parking
  • Tic-Tok Ball Track
  • Toddler Zone
  • Transportation Station
  • Tubes & Tunnels Indoor Playground
  • Water Play Area with Water Vortex

Exploritorium parties are two hours in duration and include shared use of the Exploritorium, a private party room, and the support of a birthday party attendant.

Due to the facility's popularity, it is recommended that you contact us at least 12 weeks prior to your desired party date. (We are now fully booked through February and are currently booking March through June, 2025. Parties are not available April 20, May 17-18 and May 31.) We will answer inquires in order of which they are received; you will then receive an email from our party coordinator with more information.

Click here to fill out a request form!

Available Times

Saturdays: 1:30 & 4:30 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., & 4 p.m.

Fees effective June 1, 2024
Up to 32 guests*: $222 Residents/$278 Non-residents
Up to 64 guests*: $332 Residents/$416 Non-residents

*Includes all adults and children ages 1 & up. Ages 1 & under are welcome, but are not included in the capacity.

Full payment is due within one week of booking and confirming of the party.

Food

Skokie's Village Inn Pizzeria is the preferred food provider for Exploritorium birthday parties. Call (847) 675-3737 to order today!

Village Inn Pizzeria logo

Reserve a group visit at the Exploritorium! A minimum of 20 people are required. 

Available Times
Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Fee
Non-refundable deposit: $100
Admission: Skokie groups $5/person / Non-Skokie groups $6/person
Lunchroom is available at an additional fee.

Click here to reserve your group reservation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book an Exploritorium Party?

Submit a request form here and a party coordinator will get back to you.  The interest form is NOT a reservation, parties are only confirmed after a $75 deposit is received.

Will we be the only party in The Exploritorium?

During birthday parties The Exploritorium is closed to the public, but play time is shared with another party or parties. However, your party room is private.

Does the headcount include adults?

Yes, the capacity includes all guests ages one and older. Infants under the age of one are welcome to attend but are not included in the capacity. The birthday kid’s family should be included in the headcount.

May I bring decorations? 

You are welcome to decorate your private party room, however nothing can be attached to the ceiling, and we ask that only masking tape, painters tape or Command hooks be used on walls.  No confetti is allowed.

How is the party room set up? 

Parties of up to 32 will be set with four 8’x2’ tables with chairs, plus two 3’x3’ card tables.

Parties of up to 64 will be set with eight 8’x2’ tables with chairs, plus four 3’x 3’ card tables for food or cake. 

May we bring food? Is there a refrigerator or freezer?

You’re welcome to bring in food or have it delivered. Village Inn Pizza is a preferred Skokie Park District sponsor and offers a discount, but you are welcome to have food delivered from anywhere you choose. We have a refrigerator and freezer available. Food should stay in the party room. No food or drink is allowed in the play spaces of the Exploritorium.

Does the Exploritorium provide party supervision, allowing children to be dropped off?

No. The Exploritorium does not provide party supervision. Hosts must ensure that enough adults are in attendance for appropriate supervision.

May we have balloons or decorations delivered to The Exploritorium prior to our party?

Due to storage limitations, we may not accept deliveries before your set up time, including balloons. Unfortunately, we are not able to let hosts in party rooms any earlier than 30 minutes before the start of the party.

Can we change the party size after our party is confirmed?

It’s not always possible to increase your party size, depending on the size of parties occurring at the same time. We strongly encourage booking the larger party size at the time of reservation if you think you may have 33 or more people. Guests wishing to decrease their party size may do so up to 28 days before the party.  Between 28-7 days before the party hosts will still be responsible for 50 percent of the price difference between a larger and smaller party.  For example, if a host wishes to decrease to a 32 person party two weeks before the reservation, hosts would pay $275 for the 32 person party plus $69 (half the difference between a 64 person party and a 32 person party).

Using 360

Click anywhere on the moving image below and move the room with your cursor to view it. When you see an “up arrow” with a circle around it, click on it, in order to move to an adjacent room.

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