Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library 11960 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip(708) 371-5666alsip-mp.lib.il.us
Movie and Popcorn 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Enjoy a movie for all ages. Dave Herzog’s Puppets"Halloween Hijinx” 11 a.m. Oct. 25. Families can enjoy a Halloween-themed marionette variety show.
Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative2405 Calumet Ave., Hammond, Ind.(219) 933-7149 or (312) 220-0120wolflakeinitiative.org
Active Living Fair 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4. Family event includes birding and nature walks, nutritional presentations and farmer’s market.
Barber and Oberwortmann Horticultural Center227 N. Gougar Road, Joliet(815) 741-7278 jolietpark.org
Fall Paw Fest 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5. Fest includes dog walk, demonstrations, vendors and doggie contests. All dogs must be on a leash and current for vaccinations. The festival is free but the dog walk is $30. Call for more information.
Big Run Wolf Ranch14857 Farrell Road, Lockport(815) 588-0044bigrunwolfranch.org
Family Day/Open House 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 18. See"Kuma” the bear and enjoy wildlife lectures and guided tours. $2.
Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet(815) 724-3760bicentennialpark.org
Pumpkin Fest 5-10 p.m. Oct. 3, noon-10 p.m. Oct. 4 and noon-5 p.m. Oct. 5. Decorate your own pumpkin, enjoy a haunted house, hay rack rides, petting zoo, pony rides and entertainment. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Oct. 4. Free.
Bird Haven Greenhouse225 N. Gougar Road, Joliet(815) 741-7278 ext. 106jolietpark.org
Fall Frenzy 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 12. Featuring a costume contest, trick or treat trail, straw maze, crafts and performance by Illusionist John Measner. Free admission, $2 fee for illusionist show.
Bolingbrook Park District200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook(630) 739-1700bolingbrookparks.org
Halloween Happenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Featuring carnival games, inflatables, indoor playground, magic show and storytelling. Come in costume. $4.
The Children's Farm atThe Center12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park(708) 361-3650thecenterpalos.org
Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Columbus Day, 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday in October. Featuring free hayrides to the pumpkin patch.
The Children's Museum of Oak Lawn9600 E. Shore Drive, Oak Lawn(708) 423-6709cmoaklawn.org
Fall Fun Festival 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 4. Held on the grounds of the museum’s future location at 5100 Museum Drive. Tour the new museum and enjoy music, face painting and food. The current location is also open on this day and admission is free. Halloween Stories and Crafts Oct. 22-25, 29 and 31. Check Web site for updates and museum hours and admission. Events are recommended for kids 2-10.
Frankfort Country MarketOak and Kansas streets, Frankfortfrankfortcountrymarket.org
Market runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 12. This open air market along the bike path in downtown Frankfort features kids’ activities in the Munchkin Market from 10 a.m.-noon. Munchkin Market is for supervised children from 3 to 8 years old and is free.
Governors State University Center for Performing Arts1 University Parkway, University Park(708) 235-2222centertickets.net
Mammoth Follies 11 a.m. Oct. 18. Features songs, jokes and dances performed by dinosaur puppets. Check Web site for ticket information.
Homewood Flossmoor Park District3301 Flossmoor Road, Flossmoor(708) 957-0300hfparks.com
Halloween Happenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Bring your carved pumpkin to be judged, help color a Halloween mural and join in the costume parade and contest. Held at the James Hart Gymnasium in Homewood. Free.
Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center 2453 Vollmer Road, Olympia Fields(708) 481-2330ironsoaks.com
Sparking Celebration 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5. Explore the positives of fire from cooking to firing pottery. Learn how to start a safe fire. $6, $3 kids. Woodland Pumpkin Hunt 2-4 p.m. Oct. 12 and 9-11 a.m. Oct. 13. Kids 9 and under can search for hidden pumpkins in the woods and then decorate them. Must be accompanied by parent. Registration required. $16, $11 resident.
Joliet Area Historical Museum204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet(815) 723-5201jolietmuseum.org
Happy Birthday JAHM 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 11. Celebrate the museum’s birthday with cake and refreshments. Un-Natural History at the Haunted Museum 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 17. Walk the ghost trail through the museum’s galleries and hear stories. Tours depart every 15 minutes. Kids 8 and older. Registration required.
Joliet Junior Woman's ClubJoliet Multi-Purpose Center3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet(815) 730-0910jjwc.com
Halloween Expo and Family Fun Fair 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 19. Families can enjoy Halloween activities, moon jumps, face painting and carnival games. Event opens at 10 a.m. for children with special needs.
Joliet Park District
Joliet Memorial Stadium3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet(815) 741-PARK (7275)jolietpark.org
Pumpkin Kiddie Run 6 p.m. Oct. 7. Kids 3-12. Medallions will be distributed to age division winners. Registration required. $15.
Joliet Park DistrictMulti-Purpose Center3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet(815) 741-PARK (7275)jolietpark.org
Touch-A-Truck 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 10. Kids can climb, sit and play on a variety of trucks located in the south parking lot. Free.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights
(708) 361-1873
lakekatherine.org
Hayride and Campfire 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Enjoy a hayride, campfire, pumpkin painting, songs and treats. Registration required. $8.
Lions Community Center
1 W. Manor Drive, New Lenox
(815) 485-3584
newlenoxparks.org
Monster Mash 6-8 p.m. Oct. 10. Kids 4-7 can come in costume and enjoy candy corn bingo, monster Bozo buckets, stories and music. Kids can also make a stuffed animal. Registration required. $22. Spooky, Kooky Halloween Desserts 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Kids 7-10 can create Halloween-themed treats. Bring a 13×9 pan to transport your items. Registration required. $20.
MainStreet PlainfieldLockport Street, Plainfield(815) 436-5510mainstreetplainfield.org
Spooktacular 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 25. Enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, pumpkin painting and hayrides in downtown Plainfield.
P&J Kids Art Loft230 E. 8th St., Suite 4, Lockport(815) 501-9485pandjkidsartloft.com
Halloween Crafts and Games Oct. 31. Drop in for Halloween themed-activities. Free. Visit Web site for more information.
Pilcher Park Nature Center2501 Highland Park Drive, Joliet(815) 741-7277jolietpark.org
Tales for an Autumn Night 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 23. Families can enjoy classic tales and folk legends around the campfire. Evening ends with a hike in the woods. Wear long sleeves, pants and bug repellent. Registration required. $6.
Plainfield Park DistrictRenwick Community ParkRenwick Road just west of Route 59(815) 436-8812plainfieldparkdistrict.com
World Wide Day of Play 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 4. Held at Four Seasons Park. Featuring playground games, inflatable obstacle course, nature scavenger hunt and crafts. Free. Halloween Haunted Trail 7-9:45 p.m. Oct. 17-18. Held at Van Horn Woods. Families can enjoy a ride of chills and thrills through the woods. Registration required. $8, $5 resident.
Sand Ridge Nature Center15890 Paxton Ave., South Holland(708) 868-0606fpdcc.com
Wee Wonders—Little Pumpkin Faces 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Learn about the fall harvest and paint a face on a pumpkin. Kids 3-4. Registration required. $1. Nature Tales—Going Batty 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Learn about bats through a craft and story. Kids 5-10. Registration required.
Tinley Park Park District
Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center 8125 W. 171st St., Tinley Park(708) 342-4200tinleyparkdistrict.org
Pumpkin Creations 4-5:15 p.m. Oct. 23. Kids 5-12 can decorate pumpkins. Materials and pumpkins provided but bring a carving knife. Registration required. $18, $12 resident. Haunted Halloween Happenings noon-3 p.m. Oct. 25. Enjoy games, candy and a haunted house. Kids 12 and under. Free.
Thorn Creek Nature Center247 Monee Road, Park Forest(708) 747-6320villageofparkforest.com
Healthy Families Hike 10:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 19. Families can enjoy a hike through the woods. Little Goblins Family Hike 3-5 p.m. Oct. 25. Kids 3-6 can come in costume. Featuring stories, a hike and parade. $5.
Worth Park District11500 S. Beloit Ave., Worth(708) 448-7080worthparkdistrict.org
Family Fall Fest 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 25. Featuring hayrides, games, crafts, face painting, costume parade and Magic Matt’s Spooky Fun Show and Balloon Artistry. Check Web site for details. $8, $5 advance registration. No charge for parents.
