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!
Halloween events near me in Chicago
Families will love to dress up for the Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park. Also, be sure to register ahead of time for the Halloween events happening at the Chicago Park Districts! Find even more Halloween events in Chicago on our calendar.
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
Oct. 18, 2025; 6–8 p.m.
- Address: Parade steps off on State Street, Chicago (beginning at Lake Street and moving south to Van Buren)
- Cost: Free
Celebrate Halloween at Chicago’s 11th Annual Arts in the Dark Parade. Families will enjoy a dazzling evening of floats, costumes, music and performances by local artists and cultural groups. No registration required.
BOO-seum Bash at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Oct. 18, 2025; Saturday, 1–4 p.m.
- Address: 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Member adult $25, member child $20, non-member adult $30, non-member child $25, children under 2 free. Museums for All pricing available.
Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween afternoon at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum with animal encounters, crafts and spooky fun. Kids can meet snakes, bugs and more, explore museum exhibits and wear their costumes for trick-or-treating. Advanced ticket purchase is required.
Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park
Oct. 25, 2025; 12–2 p.m.
- Address: Washington Park, Russell Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free
Kids and families become the parade in this unique Halloween tradition at Washington Park. Enjoy costumes, music, dance teams, acrobats and mascots along the route, plus free candy bags for the first 5,000 kids. No registration required.
Halloween events near me in the North/Northwest Suburbs
Check out the annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest. One of our favorite events is Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden — make sure to buy tickets in advance! Find more Halloween events in the North/Northwest Suburbs on our calendar.
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest
Oct. 2, 2025; 4–9 p.m. (Community Night & Carnival)
Oct. 3–5, 2025; times vary
- Address: Festival grounds include Highwood City Hall (17 Highwood Ave.), Everts Park (111 North Ave.) and Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot
- Cost: Free admission; carnival rides, food and drinks available for purchase
Enjoy three days of pumpkin carving, live music, costume contests, trick-or-treating, food vendors and a full carnival across downtown Highwood. Families can explore pumpkin walls, skeleton displays, fall-themed installations and more. Community Night with a carnival kicks things off on Oct. 2. No registration required.
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden
Oct. 8–12, 15–19, 22–26, 2025; 6:30–10:30 p.m.
- Address: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
- Cost: Advance tickets — adult $22 member / $25 nonmember; child (ages 3–12) $15 member / $17 nonmember; children 2 and under free. Day-of tickets — adult $24 member / $27 nonmember; child $16 member / $18 nonmember. Parking: free for members / $15 advance public / $25 day of event.
Stroll an enchanting path lined with more than 1,000 artist-carved pumpkins, including giant gourds, live carving demonstrations and costumed characters. Families can enjoy festive food and drinks, photo ops and just the right amount of Halloween spookiness. Costumes are encouraged, and advance tickets are required.
Trick or Treat Trail at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center
Oct. 24, 2025; 5–7 p.m.
- Address: 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove
- Cost: Free
Kids 12 and under can enjoy candy, games and entertainment along a friendly, no-scare trail. Parents must accompany children, and the first 200 kids will receive goodie bags.
Tricks & Treats In The Valley at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley
Oct. 25–26, 2025; multiple timed entries between 2–5 p.m.
- Address: 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg
- Cost: $5 residents / $7 nonresidents; caregivers free
Take a half-mile trick-or-treat walk starting at Heritage Farm, passed historic buildings and into the woods and fields. Costumes are encouraged and entry times are staggered to keep groups spaced out. Advanced registration is required for all trick-or-treaters; caregivers attend free.
Halloween events near me in the South Suburbs
Lemont offers so many great family-friendly activities during the month of October. If you’re looking for a fun, sensory-friendly event, head to downtown Tinley Park for their Boo Bash. The event will open with a sensory-friendly time with reduced noise levels and a quiet zone. Find more Halloween events in the South Suburbs on our calendar.
Lemonster Days
Sept. 27–Oct. 31, 2025; dates and times vary by event
- Address: Various locations in Lemont
- Cost: Most events free; some activities may have separate fees
Check out fun events happening this fall in Lemont. Families can enjoy the Scarecrow Trail, Harvest Fest, Monster and Me Mile Run, Lemontster Trick-or-Treating and more throughout October. Costumes are encouraged for many activities.
Downtown Tinley Park Boo Bash
Oct. 26, 2025; noon–4 p.m.
- Address: Harmony Square, 6700 North St., Tinley Park
- Cost: Free admission; food and beverages available for purchase
Families with young kids can enjoy trick-or-treating through business booths, DJ entertainment and more at this annual Halloween celebration. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. No registration required.
Halloween events near me in the Western Suburbs
If you’re looking for a safe, trick-or-treating event, head to events in Batavia and Westmont. Also, get tickets to Boo at the Zoo for some not-so-scary fun you’re your kids. Find more Halloween events in the Western Suburbs on our calendar.
Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo
Oct. 4–31, 2025; weekdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Address: 8400 31st St., Brookfield
- Cost: Included with general admission; adult $29.95, child (ages 3–11) $20.95, seniors $24.95, children under 3 free; parking $17
Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s family-friendly Halloween celebration features festive decorations, not-so-scary thrills and fun for all ages. On weekends, families can enjoy trick-or-treating, magicians and more, plus a new Sunday art fair. Costumes are encouraged and all activities are included with zoo admission.
Haunted Forest – Little Monsters at Diane Main Park
Oct. 18, 2025; 3–9:30 p.m. (Little Monsters 3–6:30 p.m.; Sheer Terror 7–9:30 p.m.)
- Address: 200 W. 59th St., Westmont
- Cost: $8 per person; cash or credit accepted
Take a wagon ride from Diane Main Park into Sandra Smith Woods, where creatures and ghouls come alive along the trail. Families with younger kids can attend the Little Monsters walk from 3–6:30 p.m., while the scarier Sheer Terror walk begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are sold at the event.
BatFest
Oct. 25, 2025; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Address: Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave., Batavia
- Cost: Free
Join thousands of families in downtown Batavia for a Halloween celebration featuring trick-or-treating, costume contests for kids and pets, live performances and a community parade. Local businesses will host activities, and food and drink will be available.
Spooktacular Fun Night at Westmont Community Center
Oct. 30, 2025; 5–7 p.m.
- Address: 75 E. Richmond St., Westmont
- Cost: Free
Families with kids ages 2–10 can enjoy safe trick-or-treating, games, crafts and photo ops at the Westmont Community Center. A magician will bring silly fun to the evening, and plenty of treats will be handed out. No registration required.
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