Best Halloween Events for Kids in Chicagoland

Have a spooktacular time with your family thanks to these local events.

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

Photo credit: Color Factory

Haunted Hues at Color Factory

Sept. 14-Nov. 1, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy trick-or-treating, animal encounters, crafts and Halloween fun at this Halloween event. Costumes encouraged.

Bubbleween Bucktown! at Bubbles Academy

Oct. 28, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Peppa Pig World of Play

Brick-or-Treat Presents: Monster Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

Sept. 29-Oct. 31, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo courtesy of Jack O’ Lantern World

Jack O’ Lantern World at The Forge Adventure Park & Ziplines

Oct. 7-29, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Brookfield Zoo

Boo! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo

Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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