Halloween is drawing closer and we’re sharing some of our favorite festive Halloween events for every kid in your family in the Western suburbs.
If your little ones love jack-o’-lanterns, head to Pumpkin Flotilla Fest
Oct. 23
4-7 p.m.
Free
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
The Pumpkin Flotilla features 50 lit jack-o’-lanterns floating across Lake Ellyn at dusk. This Glen Ellyn Park District event also features music, pumpkin carving demonstrations and a pumpkin recipe competition. Events end around 6:30 p.m. so that attendees can get a seat around the lake to watch the jack-o’-lanterns glide across the water.
If your kids love to swim, paddle over to Family Halloween Fun Night and Parkie’s Pumpkin Patch
Oct. 21
5:30-7:30 p.m. for Fun Night ($4 for kids with advance registration, $5 at the door)
7-8 p.m. for Parkie’s Pumpkin Patch ($7 for residents, $10 for non-residents)
Bolingbrook Recreation & Aquatic Complex, 200 S Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook
While pumpkin patches are fun, floating pumpkin patches are even better! Bolingbrook Park District’s Pelican Harbor Indoor Aquatic Park will have a floating pumpkin patch featuring Parkie, the pool’s mascot, immediately following Family Halloween Fun Night. It features festive favorites such as inflatables, a magic show, a photo booth, carnival games and storytelling. At the floating pumpkin patch, kids can pick a pumpkin and decorate it, as well as take advantage of open swim.
If your kids love music, don’t miss the Scare-illon Concert
Oct. 29
7-8 p.m.
Free
Millennium Carillon, 443 Aurora Avenue, on the Riverwalk near Rotary Hill in Naperville
Spooky sounds and haunting tunes (as well as more contemporary popular music) will entertain concert goers at this special seasonal concert at The Millennium Carillon, or Scare-illon as it is being called for this occasion. It’s located at the base of Rotary Hill, which is a great place for kids to run off all that sugar-fueled extra energy. The Elan Dance Company will also perform Halloween-themed dances at the event.
If you have a young animal lover in your house, visit the Cosley Zoo Spooktacular
Oct. 28
5:30-7 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.
$5 adults, $10 children ages 3-14; free for kids 2 and younger (discounts available for members)
Cosley Zoo, 1356 North Gary Avenue, Wheaton
At the Cosley Zoo Spooktacular, families can travel the Trick-or-Treat Trek, find their way through the not-so-scary straw maze and wander the spooky pond. Crafts, games, pumpkin decorating and more will also be available to attendees. Of course, they can also visit the animals that call this fun, five-acre facility home.
If your tweens are into zombies and/or theater, check out 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse Theatre-Hike
Oct 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
3 p.m.
$20.00 adult/$10.00 child ages 2-17 (member prices are $10 adult/$5 child)
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
Halloween is the perfect time of year to contemplate with your tweens exactly how you would face a group of angry, brain-eating zombies at the end of the world. The performance of this hilarious handbook takes place throughout an approximately two-mile hike, so you get in both laughs and steps, in addition to quality time together.
