Chicago Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Trick-or-treating, live entertainment, and free workshops at Navy Pier.

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Riverwalk festival featuring boat hayrides on the Chicago River and pumpkin patch.

Hull-o-ween Open House

Folklore storytelling, 1920s silent films, and custom spooky poetry on-site.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin float rolling down a town street past costumed figures, with orange balloons and confetti (Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade)

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Chicago's Halloween night parade featuring a costume contest with cash prizes.

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago $$

Family Halloween fun featuring animal encounters, owl pellet dissection, and crafts.

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Features downtown Chicago's only corn maze and over 10,000 pumpkins.

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Autumn celebration with fresh Midwest apples, cider, live music, and family entertainment.

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

Free harvest festival featuring animal enrichment, rides, and pumpkin carving.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat)

Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat

Sun, Oct 25

Business district trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating for costumed kids.

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (BooPalooza and BarkPalooza)

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Sat, Oct 17

Community festival featuring all-ages and dog costume parades, music, and games.

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Neighborhood trick-or-treating at local businesses across Lincoln Park.

Illustration of costumed children and a cat walking a leafy sidewalk past glowing jack-o'-lanterns and cozy houses at dusk (Northcenter Halloween Trick-or-Treat)

Northcenter Halloween Trick-or-Treat

Trick-or-treat across the town square and neighborhood storefronts.

Illustration of two costumed figures in a festive autumn street at dusk with pumpkins, string lights and a glowing bonfire (Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party)

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Sun, Oct 18

Family-oriented street celebration with live music, photo ops, and candy.

Hamilton Boo Bash

Features a costume parade, carnival games, and a student-hosted haunted house.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles and scattered seeds on a wooden table under string lights at dusk (Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company)

Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company

Thu, Oct 29

Chicago $$$

Includes a pumpkin, carving supplies, paint, and your first drink.

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Nightmare on Grounds St. Market)

Nightmare on Grounds St. Market

Sat, Oct 17

Chicago Halloween and horror market featuring local vendors, tattoos, and oddities.

Illustration of small costumed children and a witch on a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales and orange trees (Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats)

Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats

Chicago $$$

Kids and adults cook festive savory bites and sweet treats together.

Illustration of cars with open trunks decorated with pumpkins and balloons, with a child figure beside an orange car at dusk (This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest)

This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest

Community trunk or treat gathering featuring candy and a costume contest.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (West Chicago Halloween Festivities)

West Chicago Halloween Festivities

West Chicago

Family trick-or-treating and fall activities in downtown West Chicago.

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 8 mi Free

Carnival rides, live bats and skunks, and pumpkin carving demonstrations.

Harvest Fest

Sat, Oct 3

Medinah 23 mi Free

Annual community festival featuring live music, hayrides, games, and food trucks.

Monster Madness

Sat, Oct 17

Lisle 24 mi $$

Festive autumn fun fair for children with games, inflatables, and hayrides.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Sat, Oct 3

Orland Park 22 mi

Family fall festival with pony rides, hayrides, and costume contests.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Monster Fun Halloween Wristband)

Monster Fun Halloween Wristband

Lombard 20 mi $$

Unlimited indoor attractions and free parkwide trick-or-treating in costume.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 10 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Spooktacular Fun Night)

Spooktacular Fun Night

Fri, Oct 30

Westmont 19 mi Free

Free family games, crafts, and silly fun with Wacky Drac.

Illustration of small costumed children and a witch on a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales and orange trees (Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services)

Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services

Mon, Oct 19

Gary 24 mi

Seasonal story hour hosted at the library's Children's Services department.

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 25 mi $

Thousands of pumpkins line the zoo lawn alongside daily scavenger hunts.

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 28 mi $

Not-so-scary Halloween fun with Disney tribute concerts and historic trick-or-treating.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll)

10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll

Fri, Oct 16

Wheaton 25 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Pumpkin Walk

Sat, Oct 3

Buffalo Grove 27 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 26 mi

A 1.1-mile trick-or-treat trail featuring games, candy, and a bouncy house.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Autumn Equinox Celebration)

Autumn Equinox Celebration

Tue, Sep 22

Wheaton 25 mi Free

Outdoor nature play, crafts, and family activities celebrating fall's arrival.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch)

Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch

Trick-or-treating for children in Pre-K through eighth grade.

Pumpkin Fun @ Woodson

Thu, Oct 22

Bring your own pumpkin to decorate using library-supplied materials.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 25 mi $

A low-sensory Halloween event designed for neurodiverse children and families.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson)

Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson

Mon, Oct 26

Halloween story session and craft activity held at the library branch.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch)

Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch

Tue, Oct 20

Children's scarecrow craft session at the Kennedy Branch library.

Illustration of a giant grinning jack-o'-lantern float and costumed marchers parading along a tree-lined park path at dusk (Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating)

Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating

Neighborhood-wide trick-or-treating with over 20 participating businesses.

Illustration of costumed children and two witches on a lawn with pumpkins, a small tent and orange autumn trees (Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!)

Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!

Chicago $$

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Trick-or-Treat at 900

Indoor trick-or-treating across seven levels of shops

Illustration of an older person handing out candy to costumed children on a glowing neighborhood porch at dusk (Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat)

Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat

Visitors can trick-or-treat across more than twenty-five neighborhood locations in Northalsted.

Glow Stick Dance Party at Bauler