When spooky season arrives in Chicagoland, local businesses and attractions go all out to offer plenty of Halloween fun for kids. The best part is that you can celebrate Halloween during the whole month of October!
Chicago and the suburbs offers a variety of kid-friendly events featuring costume parades, hands-on activities, trick-or-treating and so much more. Here are some of our spooktacular picks you don’t want to miss.
Looking for more fun things to do with kids this fall? Check out our fall family guide!
City
Haunted Hues at Color Factory
Sept. 14-Nov. 1, 2023
- Address: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $36-plus
Haunted Hues is a limited-time Halloween-themed celebration, which will offer frightful family fun and the best festive colors of the season. There will be special treats, a scavenger hunt, photo ops and a pumpkin patch like never before.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up at Goose Island
Sept. 21-Nov. 3, 2023
- Address: 1265 W. Le Moyne, Chicago
- Cost: $30-plus
Spend an autumn night outside making memories while you get lost in Chicago’s largest corn maze, enjoy nighttime light displays and pick a pumpkin from the patch. Also, carnival games, fortune tellers, gem mining, food trucks, photo opportunities and more.
Cider with the Sanderson Sisters at Normandy Park
Oct. 14, 2023
- Address: 6660 W. 52nd St., Chicago
- Cost: $10
This event a meet and greet with the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus,” arts and crafts, face painting, music, cotton candy and more.
Kids Pumpkin Carving Party at Park and Field Restaurant
Oct. 15, 2023
- Address: 3509 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $10/ticket, $15/pumpkin carving kits
Families can stop by Park and Field Restaurant for a Kids Pumpkin Carving Party. There will also be free hot cocoa, s’mores roasting and balloon artist.
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: State Street moving south from Lake to Van Buren, Chicago
- Cost: Free
This annual Halloween parade returns to State Street for its ninth year. See unique floats and creative performances along the way.
Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free admission
Spooky Zoo offers a free, safe alternative to trick-or-treating as well as a variety of family-friendly entertainment. Dress up in costume and come to the Lincoln Park Zoo ready for a day full of Halloween fun.
Kids Halloween Party at Park and Field Restaurant
Oct. 22, 2023
- Address: 3509 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $20/ticket
Join Park and Field Restaurant for a kids Halloween party at Park and Field. See a bubble show, balloon artists, prizes for best costume and more.
Halloween Arts & Crafts at Rosedale Park
Oct. 24, 2023
- Address: 6312 W. Rosedale Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $8
Children ages 1 1/2-3 years can enjoy getting crafty with spooky Halloween crafts at Rosedale Park. Registration required.
Halloween Fun Walk Thru at Scottsdale Park
Oct. 26, 2023
- Address: 4637 W. 83rd St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6-12 can participate in Halloween-themed music, dancing, inflatables, crafts, face painting and more.
Chuck E. Cheese Boo-tacular Halloween Weekend Costume Contests
Oct. 27-29, 2023
- Address: 1830 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Visit Chuck E. Cheese in costume for a chance to compete in the costume contest and win prizes.
Doggie Pupkin Party at Brands Park
Oct. 27, 2023
- Address: 3285 N. Elston Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $5
Bring your doggies to Brands Park for a fun-filled event designed just for them. Dress your pups up in their best Halloween costumes and enjoy a costume parade, photo ops, giveaways and more.
Halloween Extravaganza at Sheridan (Philip Henry) Park
Oct. 27, 2023
- Address: 910 S. Aberdeen St., Chicago
- Cost: $2
Ages 3-12 can enjoy this annual Halloween extravaganza. Dress in your funniest, scariest, craziest and most original costume. Registration required.
Halloween Party at Calumet Park
Oct. 27, 2023
- Address: 9801 S. Avenue G, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 6 months to 13 years can join Calumet Park for a great Halloween party! There will be a costume contest, arts and crafts and games.
Spooky Crafts at Rutherford Sayre Park
Oct. 27, 2023
- Address: 6871 W. Belden Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $10
Ages 5-9 can join Rutherford Sayre Park for a spook-tacular time with Halloween-themed crafts to get you in the spooky spirit. Registration required.
Blue Man Group’s Halloween Show at Briar Street Theatre
Oct. 28-29, 2023
- Address: 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago
- Cost: $49-plus
There will be pre-show face painting, Halloween-inspired surprises during the show and goodie bags for all in costume up to age 17. After the performance, audience members will be invited to the theater lobby for photo opportunities with the Blue Men.
BOO-seum Bash at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
- Cost: $20-$30
Enjoy trick-or-treating, animal encounters, crafts and Halloween fun at this Halloween event. Costumes encouraged.
Bubbleween Bucktown! at Bubbles Academy
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 2184 N. Elston Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $30/child, free/adults
Trick or treat in the Meadow Room, paint mini-haunted houses, participate in a costume parade and have a monster mash dance party. Registration required and up to two adults may accompany each registered child.
Halloween Party at Commercial Club Playground
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 1845 W. Rice St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
All ages can join Commercial Club Playground of Chicago for a Halloween party that features crafts, games and a trick-or-treat parade.
Halloween Party at Grand Crossing Park
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 7655 S. Ingleside Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 5-12 can join Grand Crossing Park for a festive Halloween party, in which they will meet some ghoulish characters.
Spooktacular on Lincoln 2023
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: Lincoln Avenue from Wrightwood to Webster, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Celebrate Halloween and collect delicious treats while exploring the neighborhood at Spooktacular on Lincoln. Lincoln Avenue businesses embrace the spooky season and transform into trick-or-treat stops.
Bubbleween 900! at Bubbles Academy Gold Coast
Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $20/child, free/adults
Go trick-or-treating throughout 900 shops and Bubbleween events at their space on level 6. Each time slot will feature trick-or-treating, Halloween art, sensory bins and open play. Registration required and up to two adults may accompany each registered child.
Spooktacular on Clark 2023
Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: Clark Street from Diversey to Armitage, and Diversey, from Orchard to Lakeview, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Celebrate Halloween and collect delicious treats while exploring the neighborhood at Spooktacular on Clark. Clark Street businesses embrace the spooky season and transform into trick-or-treat stops.
Trick or Treat on Southport at Sheil (Bernard) Community Center Park
Oct. 30, 2023
- Address: 3505 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Enjoy this annual Trick or Treat on Southport, which features family-friendly activities, local food and more.
Halloween Community Party at Oriole Park
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 5430 N. Olcott Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 3-10 can join Oriole Park for the annual Halloween Community Party in the Park. There will be Halloween-themed games, treats and more. Come dressed in your Halloween best. No registration is required.
Halloween Park Party at Welles (Gideon) Park
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 1-10 can join Welles (Gideon) Park for the annual Community Halloween Party. There will be crafts, games, treats and more. Wear your costume.
Halloween Party at West Lawn Park
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 4233 W. 65th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 3-12 can join West Lawn Park for the Halloween Park, which includes games, costume contests and more.
Tots Halloween Party at Brainerd Park
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 1246 W. 92nd St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 1-5 can join Brainerd Park for the Halloween party. There will be treats, games, costume contests and more. Registration required.
Trick or Treating Event at Water Tower Place
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
The Water Tower Place’s Trick or Treating Event features photo pop-ups, a balloon artist, face painting and trick-or-treating.
Trunk or Treat at Austin Town Hall Park
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 5610 W. Lake St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Ages 3 and up should come dressed in costume to Austin Town Hall Park to collect candy from cars decorated for Halloween. Also, arts and crafts, games and more.
North/Northwest Suburbs
Brick-or-Treat Presents: Monster Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago
Sept. 29-Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg
- Cost: $24.99-plus
Join the Monsters as they take over LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago to enjoy boo-tastic activities and a limited time 4D Halloween movie, ‘The Great Monster Chase!’. Also, a glow-in-the-dark LEGO zone, haunted MINILAND scavenger hunt, not-so-scary giveaways and more. Come in costume.
Jack O’ Lantern World in Lake Zurich
Sept. 29-Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich
- Cost: $23.99/ages 12-plus, $15.99/children ages 3-12, free for children 2 and under
Walk through thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns created by more than 50 artists make up 17 immersive and whimsical fall displays. Enjoy food and beverage from some of your favorite local food trucks.
Peppa’s Spooktacular Halloween Storytime Event! at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago
Oct. 1-31, 2023
- Address: Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
- Cost: $27.99/general admission
Families with littles can join Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago for a special Halloween story, meet and greet with Peppa, activity trail and more.
The Halloween Experience at Camp Big Timber
Oct. 6-29, 2023
- Address: 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin
- Cost: Prices vary
Enjoy Chicagoland’s only Halloween music and light show drive-thru at Camp Big Timber. It’s all spooky and never scary. For all ages.
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest & Skeleton Invasion
Oct. 6-8, 2023
- Address: Downtown Highwood
- Cost: Free admission; fees for rides
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest is celebrating its ninth year. Expect carnival rides, pumpkin carving stations, live music, vendors, hayrides, pumpkin walls, contests and more.
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden
Oct. 11-15, 18-22, 2023
- Address: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
- Cost: $19-$21/adults, $13-$15/kids
More than 1,000 artist-carved, real pumpkins lit with LED lights will light up the night and line the family-friendly outdoor path in a beautiful fall setting.
2nd Annual Schaumburg Halloween Carnival at Wintrust Field
Oct. 20-21 2023
- Address: 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
- Cost: Free admission; House of Creeps : $17.50/advanced ticket, $20/at-the-door ticket; $5/parking
Enjoy nostalgic family fun featuring spooky rides, House of Creeps haunted house, tasty treats, trick-or-treating, seasonally themed arts and crafts, live music and more.
Trick or Treat Trail at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center
Oct. 20, 2023
- Address: 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove
- Cost: Free
Ages 12 and under can enjoy this trick-or-treat trail where friendly characters will be passing out candy. Also, games, prizes, entertainment and more family fun. The first 200 kids will receive a goodie bag.
Bubbleween Highland Park at Bubbles Academy Highland Park
Oct. 22, 2023
- Address: 1736 1st St., Highland Park
- Cost: $30/child, free/adults
Enjoy open play, live music with Miss Anna at 10:45 a.m., spooky art with Miss Melissa, family snapshots by TK Photography and nut-free snacks and refreshments. Registration required and up to two adults may accompany each registered child.
Halloween Hoopla! at the Wilmette Historical Museum
Oct. 22, 2023
- Address: 609 Ridge Road, Wilmette
- Cost: $5/member family, $15/non-member family
Families with children 10 and younger are welcome to come in costume to the Wilmette Historical Museum for some not-so-scary Halloween fun! Enjoy games, crafts, a scavenger hunt to win prizes, snacks and learn more about the history of Halloween.
Spooky Science at Discovery Center Museum
Oct. 27, 2023
- Address: 711 N. Main St., Rockford
- Cost: $12/public, $3/members, free/ages 1 and under
Explore the museum and follow the map to find goodies galore from one exhibit to the next! Create themed make-and-take projects, slime and engage in science activities that look like mystifying magic.
Tricks & Treats In The Valley at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg
- Cost: $4-$6/participants, free/adults
Trick-or-treaters will wear a costume and begin at Heritage Farm, setting out on a trail that takes you past many of our historic buildings, then venture out into the woods and fields.
Grove Trick or Treat Trail at Kennicott’s Grove Nature Preserve
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview
- Cost: $15/advanced ticket, $17/at-the-door ticket, free/under 2
Kids can wear their costumes and collect candy and prizes at different stations at all the doors of the Historic 1856 Kennicott House. Also, encounter live critters and take home a pumpkin. Special trick-or-treat bags are provided.
South Suburbs
Jack O’ Lantern World at The Forge Adventure Park & Ziplines
Oct. 7-29, 2023
- Address: 227 Heritage Quarries Drive, Lemont
- Cost: $23.99/ages 12-plus, $15.99/children ages 3-12, free for children 2 and under
Walk through thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns created by more than 50 artists make up 17 immersive and whimsical fall displays.
Halloween Safety Night at Haunted Trails Burbank
Oct. 13, 2023
- Address: 7759 S. Harlem Ave., Burbank
- Cost: Free
Families can enjoy this Halloween Safety Night with some free and fun activities! Meet local D.A.R.E. Officers for tips on trick-or-treat safety, free face painting, music from DJ Marco “Mixin” Vasquez, balloon animals, stilt walker and more.
Howl-O-Ween at Wolf Wildlife Park
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: W. 109th St. & Laramie Ave., Oak Lawn
- Cost: $8/child
Families can walk the path at Wolfe Wildlife and encounter various Halloween themed games, activities and performances. Activities along the trail include scavenger hunts, photo opportunities, pumpkin decorating, crafts, s’mores and more. Advanced registration required.
Trunk or Treat at Heritage Park
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 14110 W. 151st St., Homer Glen
- Cost: Free
Children can wear their costumes and browse through the decorated vehicles picking up candy along the way.
Character Meet & Treat at The Forge Adventure Park & Ziplines
Oct. 22, 2023
- Address: 227 Heritage Quarries Drive, Lemont
- Cost: $15/participant, free/adult
Come trick-or-treat with your favorite superheroes, princesses and other characters at The Forge. Kids will receive goodie bags when they arrive.
Halloween Carnival & Trunk or Treat at Sears Park
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 3505 W. 123rd St., Alsip
- Cost: $10-$20/resident, $15-$20/non-resident
This Halloween Carnival and Trunk or Treat event will feature a costume contest, entertainment, pumpkin patch and decorating, games, prizes and more.
Downtown Tinley Park Boo Bash
Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 6700 South St., Tinley Park
- Cost: Free
This annual event will have trick-or-treating through business booths, DJ entertainment, and much more! Food and beverages will be available to purchase. The day will open with a sensory-friendly time with reduced noise levels and a quiet zone.
Western Suburbs
Boo! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo
Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 2023
- Address: 8400 31st St., Brookfield
- Cost: Free with general admission
The not-so-scary and fun-filled event has something for the entire family to enjoy. There will be giant inflatables, sweet treat stations throughout the zoo, photo frames and more. Come dressed in costume.
Movie in the Park – Hocus Pocus at Berens Park
Oct. 13, 2023
- Address: 492 N. Oaklawn Ave., Elmhurst
- Cost: Free admission
Families can join Elmhurst Park District for a fall showing of “Hocus Pocus.” Bring a blanket. The movie begins at dusk.
Family Costume Party at Hollywood Blvd Cinema
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 1001 75th St., Woodridge
- Cost: $12
Families can enjoy a Halloween event with a costume contest, photo ops, Halloween movie and cartoons, DJ, trick-or-treating and more. Advance tickets are required.
Ghost Hunt at North Riverside Park Mall
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 7501 W. Cermak Road, North Riverside
- Cost: Free
Pick up your clue sheet at Customer Service at North Riverside Park Mall. Follow the clues to find the hidden ghosts at select shops, match the ghost numbers to each clue and turn in your Ghost Sheet for a sugar skull cookie prize.
Haunted Forest – Little Monsters at Diane Main Park
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 200 W. 59th St., Westmont
- Cost: $8/person
Participants will hop on a wagon ride that takes them from Diane Main Park through the terrifying woods path scenes. After that, participants will get off the wagons and walk through the wicked woods where all kinds of scares await them. Recommended for ages 9 and under.
Haunted Forest – Sheer Terror at Diane Main Park
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 200 W. 59th St., Westmont
- Cost: $8/person
Participants will hop on a wagon ride that takes them from Diane Main Park through the terrifying woods path scenes. After that, participants will get off the wagons and walk through the wicked woods where all kinds of scares await them. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
BatFest
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: Downtown Batavia
- Cost: Free
BatFest is Batavia’s annual Halloween-themed family features trick-or-treating, Mothers’ Club Parade, meet and greet with live bats, contests, stories and games.
Special Spaces Trunk or Treat at Cadillac of Naperville
Oct. 28, 2023
- Address: 1507 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
- Cost: Free
Special Spaces is a non-profit organization that creates dream bedroom makeovers for children in cancer treatment. Come out to their Trunk or Treat and enjoy a music party, costume contest, jumpy houses and face painting. Costumes are encouraged.
Spooktacular Fun Night at Westmont Community Center
Oct. 30, 2023
- Address: 75 E. Richmond St., Westmont
- Cost: Free
Ages 2-10 and their families can enjoy a safe, Halloween night trick or treating through the Community Center. There will be crafts, games, photos and silly fun and games from Wacky Drac.
Trick-or-Treat at North Riverside Park Mall
Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 7501 W. Cermak Road, North Riverside
- Cost: Free
Dress up in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating at participating North Riverside Park Mall shops. There will also be a costume contest featuring prizes for different ages group at 5:30 p.m.
This post is updated annually.
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