Halloween only lasts one day, but doesn’t it seem like it should be more? I know I prefer to celebrate much longer than that. Looking for Halloween events in the Chicago area? Gotcha covered.
Get those costumes ready and enjoy these events all through the month of October. Know of any other fun events coming up? I’d love to hear about them!
Please note that I make every effort to provide accurate information, but it’s always a good idea to call or visit the event web site before making plans.
Single Day or Weekend Halloween Events
Halloween Event, Bass Pro Shop in Bolingbrook, Gurnee, and Peoria
- Saturday, October 20- Sunday, October 21, and Friday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 31. Times vary. See website for details.
- Free
- Photos and crafts. Costume parade and trick or treating on Saturday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 31.
Boo at the Zoo, Brookfield Zoo
- Saturday & Sunday, October 13-14, 21-22 & 28-29
- Included in zoo admission, but additional charges for some activities
- Corn maze, creepy cobweb carousel, haunted hayride, costume parade, and more
- Our experience: Boo! at the Zoo
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, Sycamore
- Wednesday, October 24 through Sunday, October 28
- Free
- Entertainment, vendors, carnival, pumpkin decorating contest, and more
Boo Bash, Orland Square Mall
- Thursday, October 25 from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm
- Free
- Music, refreshments, games, costume contest, and more.
Boo Bash, Gurnee Mills
- Thursday, October 25 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm
- Free
- Photo opp and trick-or-treating. Wear a costume!
Brick-or-Treat, Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg
- October 20-21 and 27-28.
- Included in admission to Legoland Discovery Center.
- Monster Takeover of Miniland, spooky scavenger hunt, and more
Trunk or Treat, Frankfort
- Saturday, October 27 from 10:00 am-Noon
- Free
- Costume parade and a Safety Trunk or Treat organized by the Frankfort Police Department.
Mall-O-Ween, Woodfield Mall
- Saturday, October 27 from Noon-2:00 pm
- Free
- Games, photo opps, games, and trick-or-treating.
Halloween Celebration, Santa’s Village AZoosment Park in West Dundee
- Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28
- Included in admission to Santa’s Village AZoosment Park
- Costume contest, trick or treating, and more.
Halloween Fun Fair, Westmont Community Center
- Wednesday, October 31 at 4:30 pm-7:30 pm.
- Free admission
- Pizza, games and prizes, trick-or-treating, parade, bounce house.
Halloween Happenings, Homewood-Flossmoor Sports Complex
- Wednesday, October 31 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
- Free admission
- Interactive DJ, games, prizes, and costume parade.
- 5:30 pm-6:00 pm – Quiet time; admission during this time is limited to children with disabilities, on the Autism spectrum, or with sensory-processing disorders and their families.
Long-Running Halloween Events
Fright Fest, Six Flags Great America
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until October 31, and daily from October 25 through 31; hours vary
- Included in Six Flags Great America admission
- Family activities during the day; scary after 6:00 pm
- Haunted houses, scare zones, coasters in the dark, and shows
Fall Festival, Wild West Town in Union
- Saturdays and Sundays from September 22 through October 28 from 1:00 pm-6:00 pm.
- Included in Wild West Town admission
- Spooky tunnel ride, pumpkins, pumpkin painting contest, and more.
Trick or Trees, Morton Arboretum
- Weekends throughout October from 11:00 am-4:00 pm
- Included in general admission
- Games, crafts, treats (a tree you can plant and take home); costumes encouraged.
Pumpkin Fest, Cosley Zoo in Wheaton
- Daily through October 31
- Included in Cosley Zoo admission
- Straw pyramid, seasonal decorations; children’s rides available for an additional fee.
Halloween in the Parks, various Chicago parks
- 40+ events during the month of October at various Chicago parks; see website for a full list of events.
Pumpkin Weekends, Blackberry Farm in Aurora
- Weekends through October 29
- Included in admission to Blackberry Farm
- Corn crib, pumpkin train, and more
