Celebrate Halloween in the North/Northwest Suburbs with the whole family! Read some of our picks below and find the most updated list on our calendar. Be sure to check out other kid-friendly Halloween events in Chicago, the Western Suburbs and South Suburbs.
Boos And Bats
When: Oct. 1
Where: Pat Shephard Center, 421 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Trick-or-treaters ages 4-7 will enjoy a photo scavenger hunt to celebrate Halloween. Each child participating in the event must register. Adults must stay with their children during the event.
Brick-or-Treat
When: Oct. 5-31
Where: Legoland Discovery Center, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg
Activities include spell-binding scavenger hunts, giant Halloween models, and meet and greets with the Lego Shark & Police Officer.
Pumpkin Decorating
When: Oct. 8
Where: Renwood Golf Course, 701 Shorewood Rd., Round Lake Beach
Night of pumpkin decorating at Renwood Golf Course. All supplies are provided and kids can bring home their carefully crafted masterpieces.
Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest
When: Oct. 11-13
Where: Downtown Highwood
Activities include all-you-can-carve pumpkins, trick-or-treating, costume contests, Pumpkin parade, hayrides, pony rides, petting zoo, crafts, two entertainment stages, food and beverage vendors and a Superhero 5K Pumpkin Run/Walk.
Lockwood’s Pumpkin Fest
When: Oct. 12-14
Where: Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Rd., Rockford
Activities include Pick Your Pumpkin, carnival rides, corn maze, wagon rides, pony ring rides, pumpkin-themed games and activities, Native American Village, scavenger hunt, build a scarecrow, seasonal food favorites, and more. Plus, Lockwood Park has 15 miles of scenic trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
Spooky Pooch Parade
When: Oct. 13
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Dogs are allowed in the Botanic Garden for two hours for a canine Halloween costume parade. The event includes parade, judging and awards. Nonprofits and vendors from a variety of local pet supply shops will share information and sell dog-related products.
Not So Scary Hayride
When: Oct. 14
Where: Dellwood Park, Route 171 & Woods Drive, Lockport
For kids who don’t like to be scared there will be friendly characters, hayrides and fun games, face-painting, music and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest
RELATED: 7 pumpkin festivals you don’t want to miss this fall
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns
When: Oct. 16-20 & 23-27
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
The LED-lit jack-o’-lanterns will be staged along a festive, paved pathway, starting at the Esplanade. Encounter entertaining characters, view the ghostly trains in the Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America, and find seasonal light fare for sale, such as apple doughnuts, cider and ale.
The Gallery Presents: The Haunting
When: Oct. 16-Nov. 3
Where: Hawthorn Mall, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills
This Halloween experience offers Instagram-worthy fun without fear – there are no creepy actors jumping out at visitors to scare them. Instead, this interactive experience allows guests to interact with a changing lineup of sets, offering photo-worthy encounters that bring imagination to life all along the way. At The Gallery Presents: The Haunting, thrill seekers will experience Halloween like never before in a multi-sensory interactive exhibit that immerses visitors in the bizarre and unusual through the sights, sounds and smells of Halloween.
Pumpkin Splash
When: Oct. 18
Where: The Water Works, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Activities include pool pumpkin picking, DJ, refreshments and pumpkin decorating. Scheduled pumpkin swims per age group throughout the evening in the zero depth pool.
Halloween Bash
When: Oct. 18
Where: Schaumburg Park District, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Kids 1-5 years old dress in Halloween costumes or silly outfits for an evening of crafts, singing and a snack.
Great Pumpkin Celebration
When: Oct. 19
Where: Robert W. Rolek Community Center, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake
Indoor trick-or-treating, face painting, carnival games, costume contest, bounce house and an outdoor hayride and corn maze. For younger Halloween fans, a not-so-scary trick-or-treat walk will be available in the Children’s Neighborhood Museum.
Halloween Spooktacular
When: Oct. 19
Where: Glenview Park District, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview
Fun and safe indoor Halloween celebration for families of kids 2-10. Festivities include a moon bounce, age-appropriate ghoulish games, creepy crafts and entertainment. Costumes are optional.
DIY Pumpkin Decorating
When: Oct. 20
Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview
The Grove provides all materials for painting, carving, and then does the clean-up. One pumpkin per registrant included. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
When: Oct. 23-27
Where: Downtown Sycamore
Features thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, food booths, carnival, parade, and Saturday entertainment.
Halloween House Decorating Tour
When: Oct. 23
Where: Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Travel as a group around Schaumburg to see houses decorated for Halloween and be a judge for the decorating contest. Families will visit about 10 houses.
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns
RELATED: 8 unique fall activities to try with your family
A Haunting in the Valley
When: Oct. 25-26
Where: Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg
Costumed guides lead scheduled groups through the Log Cabin Woods on a trail of Halloween fun, adventure and magic. Also includes refreshments, games, live owl display and a bonfire.
Bootastic Tales
When: Oct. 25
Where: Workonomy Coworking at Office Depot, 2722 Green Bay Road, Evanston
Interactive stories, movement and songs from around the world for Halloween. This activity is geared toward families.
Monster Bash
When: Oct. 26
Where: Exploritorium, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie
Includes carnival games and prizes, crafts, bounce house, face painting and candy galore, as well as Exploritorium play. Come in costume.
Halloween Family Fest
When: Oct. 18
Where: Prairie View Community Center, 6834 Dempster Street, Morton Grove
Enjoy fall crafts, hayrides, carnival games, pumpkin decorating, costume contests, inflatables and more. Dress in costume.
Halloween Boonanza
When: Oct. 25
Where: Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Activities include crafts, inflatables, candy, trick or treating, costume contest, haunted train ride, carnival games, prizes and entertainment.
Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s “Halloween Kinderfest”
When: Oct. 27
Where: Hofbrauhaus Chicago, 5500 Park Place, Rosemont
Features all the traditional Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest fun plus costume contests, parades, live themed music, character face-painting and Halloween-inspired arts and crafts stations.
Spooktacular Concert and Haunted Musical Open House
When: Oct. 27
Where: Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston
The appropriately “scary” concert program features the orchestra in costume and “haunted” music. The Haunted Musical Open House invites guests to travel from room to room for music, trick or treating and other activities. Audience members of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes.
Trick or Treat Trail
When: Oct. 27
Where: Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove
Friendly characters will line the path to hand out candy and small prizes to children ages 1-12. Children will also have the opportunity to get their face painted, take pictures with the characters, play carnival games and more. This event is a no scare zone and parents must accompany children during this event.
The Un-haunted Forest
When: Oct. 27
Where: River Trail Nature Center, 3120 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook
Come in costume for a magical hike through the forest.
A Family Halloween
When: Oct. 27
Where: Historic Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Road, Glenview
Dress in costume and enjoy all kinds of spooky shenanigans, including a haunted barn, wagon rides, pumpkin games and more ghoulish fun. Harvest treats and snacks are available to purchase. Limited tickets available and must be purchased in advance.
Scary Stories Told in the Dark
When: Oct. 27
Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview
Is the Kennicott House haunted? Do things go bump in the night at The Grove? Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these creepy museum ghost stories are sure to send a chill down your spine. Not appropriate for children under 10.
Trick or Treating at Spring Valley
When: Oct. 31
Where: Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg
Wear Halloween costumes, explore the doors and nooks of the Nature Center, travel from building to building at the Heritage Farm and enjoy a wagon ride between both sites.
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