Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days

If there is a preschooler in your house who can name every cat in Gabby’s Dollhouse and has strong opinions about which one is best, clear the weekend of August 21. The DreamWorks series lands at the DuPage Children’s Museum in downtown Naperville for Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days, running Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23 at 301 N Washington St.

This is a touring program that drops into children’s museums around the country, and DCM is the Chicago area stop. It is aimed squarely at the two to seven crowd, though the museum’s regular hands-on exhibits will keep older siblings busy too. One thing to know before you get anyone’s hopes up: Meet Gabby is sold as a separate bookable add-on, not something included with general admission. Read the section below before you build your whole day around it.

What MEOWseum Discovery Days Actually Is

MEOWseum Discovery Days is a takeover rather than a separate attraction. The Gabby’s Dollhouse programming layers on top of everything the museum already does, so your admission still gets you the full run of DCM’s exhibits: the water tables, the build and launch ramps, the art studio, all of it. The official Gabby’s Dollhouse tour page describes the format as a meet and greet with a Gabby costume character plus a variety of themed crafts and games.

In practice that means your kid does the ordinary museum things and then bumps into something distinctly Gabby along the way. It is a great fit for families who were already thinking about a museum day and want a little extra magic on top. It is a slightly riskier bet for families driving in specifically for a character encounter, for reasons we get to in a moment.

Admission, Hours, and the Meet Gabby Question

Admission at the DuPage Children’s Museum is flat rate, which surprises a lot of first time visitors. Adults pay exactly the same as children.

Budget accordingly. Two adults and two kids over a year old comes to $88 before parking or snacks, so if you expect to come back more than twice this year, a membership starts making sense.

Now the important caveat. Meet Gabby is a separate bookable add-on rather than part of general admission, and exact session times for August 21, 22 and 23 could not be confirmed at the time of writing. Do not drive over assuming you can walk up and get a photo. Check the museum’s booking calendar or call (630) 637-8000 to confirm session times and whether spots remain. Capacity for character experiences is usually limited and they tend to fill early.

• Adults: $22 per person
• Children: $22 per person, the same rate as adults
• Seniors: $21
• Infants under 1 year: free, as are DCM members
• Friday, August 21: museum open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23: museum open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plan Your Visit

The museum sits at the north end of downtown Naperville, at the corner of Washington and Spring, across from Washington Junior High School. DCM notes that Google Maps sometimes routes people to the wrong spot, so glance at your navigation before you pull out of the driveway and make sure it is actually pointing at the museum.

• Parking: there is a free lot on site at 301 N Washington St, but the museum warns it can fill on the busiest days. A late August weekend with a character event qualifies, so have a backup in mind.
• Best timing: Friday, August 21 will be noticeably quieter than the weekend, and 9 a.m. is the calmest hour of any day.
• Weekend hours run an hour later: Saturday and Sunday close at 5 p.m. rather than 4 p.m., which is useful if your family needs a midday nap built into the plan.
• Bring a change of clothes: the water exhibits are popular and extremely thorough.
• Confirm before you go: call (630) 637-8000 for Meet Gabby session times rather than relying on a third party listing.

Make a Downtown Naperville Day of It

You are a few blocks from one of the best downtowns in the western suburbs, so do not just drive home. The Naperville Riverwalk picks up south of the museum and follows the DuPage River past fountains, covered bridges and shaded paths. It is an excellent way to burn off whatever energy the museum somehow failed to.

The restaurant strip along Jefferson Avenue and Main Street has plenty of places that will not blink at a stroller, and Nichols Library is a short walk if you need a quiet, air conditioned reset. Centennial Beach, the old quarry turned swimming hole, is close by as well, though its season winds down in late August. Check the Naperville Park District schedule before you promise anyone a swim.

Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days runs Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23 at the DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N Washington St in Naperville. General admission is $22 for adults and children alike, $21 for seniors, and free for infants under one year. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (630) 637-8000 or check the museum’s booking calendar to confirm Meet Gabby session times, and verify pricing and dates on the museum’s own admission page before you go, since details can change.

Event Details At-A-Glance

• When: Friday, August 21 – Sunday, August 23, 2026
• Where: DuPage Children's Museum
• Address: 301 N Washington St, Naperville, IL 60540, United States
• Admission: $21–$22
• Organizer: DuPage Children's Museum
• Phone: (630) 637-8000
• Tickets / info: Get details

Dates, times, and pricing can change. Confirm the latest details on the official event page before making plans.

Looking for more? Explore other things to do in Naperville or browse the full Naperville events calendar.