Best Halloween Activities for Kids in Chicago (2023)
Halloween season in the Chicago area is so much fun! There are so many spooky events and options for Halloween fun. Whether you want to check out a pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin, visit a haunted house for a little scare, attend a fall festival, or watch some Halloween-themed movies, there is the perfect way to experience Chicago Halloween for the entire family.
Here are some of the best Halloween festivities for kids of all ages in Chicago this spooky season!
Scarecrow Trail
October 1-31 | Website | Morton Arboretum Visitor Center, 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532
Peruse the beautiful changing colors of Morton Arboretum and spot 50 different scarecrows made by local scout troops! This event takes place for the entire month of October.
Don’t forget to check out the Children’s Garden. It’s most of the most fun things for kids in the Chicago area!
Peppa’s Spooktacular Halloween Storytime Event
October 1-31 | Website | 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Head to Peppa Pig’s World of Play in Woodfield Mall for some spooky stories, hide and seek, and more!
Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo
October 1-31 | Website | Cosley Zoo
Wheaton’s adorable zoo, Cosley Zoo, is hosting its 39th pumpkin festival for the whole month of October. There will be pumpkins, fall treats, and carnival rides for small kids!
Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns
October 11 – 15 & 18 – 22 | Website | 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
The Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden is the best Halloween event we’ve been to so far. It’s an annual event that sells out every year, so buy your tickets early!
They have a variety of pumpkin pop-up installations of hand-carved pumpkins that are beyond impressive. We especially liked the Marvel section, a haunted house section, and my personal favorite, an Illinois movie section. They also have pumpkin carving demonstrations if you want to learn how to do it at home!
The Night of 1,000. Jack-o-Lanterns is truly an experiential fall spectacle that will be a good time for everyone.
Pumpkin Party at Gallagher Way
October 21 1:00pm-5:00pm | Website | 3635 N. Clark St., Chicago
Dress your young children in their Halloween costumes and head to Gallagher Way for their annual Halloween Party. There will be live music and a dance party from the Old Town School of Folk Music, Trick-or-Treating, balloon artists, and magicians. Kids will have the opportunity to make slime and little ghosts, and they can get their own pumpkins to take home! This is one of the cutest Halloween activities for kids in the Chicago area.
Spooky Zoo
October 21 10:00am-1:00pm |Website | 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
The Spooky Zoo Spectacular at the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the best kid-friendly events in Chicago. Your kids can sport their favorite costumes, partake in safe trick-or-treating, play ghoulish games, navigate a corn maze and have a blast at one of the most fun events of the year.
Arts in the Dark Parade
October 21 6:00pm-8:00pm | Website | State St. moving south from Lake to Van Buren, Chicago
This annual evening parade celebrates Halloween as an “artist’s holiday”. The parade route runs down State Street and features creative performances from the Joffrey Ballet, the Looking Glass Theater Company, and After School Matters and unique floats. While the Arts in the Dark parade is great for the whole family, older kids in particular will likely appreciate this event!
Frozen Frights
October 27 7:30pm-9:30pm | Website | 1851 Landwehr Rd, Glenview, IL 60026
Join the Glenview Community Ice Center for an evening public session with a Halloween theme, open to all. Dress up in your costume and enjoy ice skating to spooky music under the disco ball. Other activities include:
- Giveaways
- Halloween crafts
- Ice Bumper Car rides
Slightly Spooky Saturday at Navy Pier
October 28 12:00pm-8:00pm | Website| 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
On Saturday, October 28th, Navy Pier is hosting its annual “Slightly Spooky Saturday”, which will include a costume contest, face painting, Halloween treats, carnival games, a sugar skull painting workshop, and mad science experiments. This is one of the most fun Halloween events for kids in the Windy City!
Upside Down Parade at Washington Park
October 28 12:00pm-2:00pm | Website |5531 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago
Come see the 3rd annual Upside Down Parade in historic Washington Park! This parade, sponsored by World’s Finest Chocolate Company, is a blast for all ages.There will be dance performances, circus acrobats, musical groups, sports mascots, and more! This is a free, fun-filled event.
Bubbleween
October 28 4:00pm-6:00pm | Bubbles Academy
Head to Bubbles Academy for their annual spooktacular and cutest costume party! Trick or treat, paint mini-haunted houses, have a costume parade, play in the pumpkin patch nature playground, and enjoy a monster mash dance party!
Ages 0-6
Advanced Registration is Required. Purchase Tickets-$30
Pumpkin Palooza
October 28 8:30am-2:00pm | Website | DuPage Children’s Museum
Pumpkin Palooza is full of fun, not frightening festivities for the whole family. Come in costume and celebrate the season with DCM. This event engages visitors in creative experiences that explore S.T.E.A.M. concepts through play.
Special Activities:
- Build your own FrankenBuddy out of recycled toys
- Create wearable art
- Brew your own gooey slime
- Mix and mash pumpkin guts
- And More!
Not So Scary, Scary Halloween
October 28 1:00pm-3:00pm | Website | Bronzeville Children’s Museum
Head to the Bronzeville Children’s Museum and:
- Create a Boo Halloween Mobile
- Have a Halloween Costume Parade
- Watch a Halloween Film
- Hear spooky stories
- Take home a ghoulish goody bag
Booseum Bash
October 28 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Website | Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Head to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to go Trick-or-Treating, do Halloween crafts, and have close encounters with creepy crawlers!
Tickets include entry to the museum.
Lincoln Park Spooktacular
October 28 & 29 1:00pm-4:00pm | Website | Lincoln Avenue between Wrightwood and Webster, Chicago, IL 60614
The local businesses on two different streets in Lincoln Park will become safe, fun trick-or-treating havens for kids in costume. Explore the beautiful neighborhood, dress your kid in their best costume, and have some ghoulish fun stopping at local businesses and asking for candy! Saturday will have trick-or-treating on Lincoln Avenue, and Sunday will have trick-or-treating on Clark Street.
American Girl Trick-or-Treat
October 28, 29, 30, and 31st during store hours while supplies last | 835 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Head to this iconic store on the Magnificent Mile and go trick-or-treating! This event will take place daily starting on October 28th and last until Halloween night. This would be a great option if rains because everything is indoors.
Trick-or-treating is free, but they are also hosting “Dolloween Dance Parties” for an added cost on October 28th. Your child can bring their doll and favorite costume and learn a bunch of dance moves to Halloween music. Kids will receive a goodie bag of stickers after these fun Halloween parties. Head to the American Girl cafe for lunch or head to another local restaurant and make a day of it!
Lincoln Scared RavenswoOoOoOd
October 29 11:00am-1:00pm | Website | Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Lawrence, Chicago, IL 60625
Head to Lincoln Square and Ravenswood for trick-or-treating on the day before Halloween. This is a cute, safe neighborhood and the local vendors are excited to distribute candy to the adorable trick-or-treaters! I recommend grabbing a meal at Cafe Selmarie or Jerry’s Sandwiches beforehand, and don’t forget to stop by The Bookcellar–one of our favorite bookstores in Chicago!
Superhero Celebration
October 29 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Website | Kohl Children’s Museum
Celebrate Halloween dressed as your favorite Superhero!
“Activities include:
- Superhero Training Academy where young superheroes can participate in a special training and obstacle course
- Superhero Story Time where children can listen to stories from real life superheroes like local firefighters, police officers and medical professionals
- Super Smiles photo opportunities with a number of special guest superheroes like Spiderman, Black Panther, and Wonder Woman.
Kid’s Halloween Party
October 29 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Website | Time Out Market
Head to TimeOut Market for some fantastic Halloween activities.
There will be
- trick-or-treating
- balloon twisting
- face painting
- DJ Hannah Heavin spinning music the kids will love
- photo opportunities with Mickey and Minnie
Fright Affair at 900 Shops
October 29 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Website | 900 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
This FREE event is super fun for the whole family. Trick-or-treat throughout the mall, enjoy a kids concert, Halloween art, a cutest costume parade, and more.
A Family Halloween at Wagner Farm
October 29 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Website | Wagner Farm
Wear your favorite costume and join the farm for a kid-friendly bash that includes a haunted barn, wagon rides, games, and more spooky fun.
Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance.
Trick-or-Treat Southport
October 30 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Website | Southport Corridor
Trick or Treat on Southport features family-friendly activities, craft beer, a pumpkin patch, inflatables, music and trick-or-treating (while supplies last) at local businesses.
Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
October 31 @ 6:00 pm | Website | Northalsted
Northalsted, Chicago’s beloved gayborhood, goes all out for Halloween. With creative costumes, dancing, spirited dance, and more, this is the right place to be on Halloween!
Other Options
If you’re looking for apple orchards, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, or the best places to see fall colors, we’ve got you covered!
