Darien Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Berwyn 11 mi

Family Halloween trick-or-treating celebration at Proksa Park

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

Spooktacular Halloween Festival

Bolingbrook Free

Free community Halloween festival with costume parades, trick-or-treating, and character meet-and-greets.

Illustration of glowing carved jack o'lanterns, candles, and small figures with tools on a wooden table under string lights (Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum)

Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum

Oct 9 – Oct 11

Lisle 6 mi

Over 8,000 one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins and live glassblowing demonstrations.

Lombard Fall Fest

Lombard 10 mi Free

Free autumn celebration featuring a pumpkin patch, candy hunt, and games.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Johansen Farms Children's Zoo, Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival)

Johansen Farms Children's Zoo, Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival

Sep 15 – Oct 31

Bolingbrook 7 mi $$

Petting zoo, unlimited rides, pumpkin patch, and fresh apple cider donuts.

Halloween Happening

Naperville 10 mi Free

Free Halloween fest with activities and goodies for kids ten and under.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Night at the Museum: Magic & Mischief)

Night at the Museum: Magic & Mischief

Fri, Oct 2

Wheaton 11 mi $$

Costume party featuring a flashlight scavenger hunt and model train demonstration.

Oaktoberfest

Sep 25 – Sep 26

Oak Park 13 mi Free

Free festival featuring live music, local food, and craft beer.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Autumn Family Fun Fest)

Autumn Family Fun Fest

Sat, Sep 19

Plainfield 14 mi $

Visitors can launch pumpkins and explore a prairie maze at Eaton Preserve.

Cantigny Fall Festival

Sep 26 – Sep 27

Wheaton 12 mi

Autumn celebration with garden tours, live music, and 60+ local vendors.

Wicked West Fest

Westmont

Downtown Westmont costume contest featuring seven age and group categories.

Pumpkin Palooza

Naperville 9 mi

STEAM-powered Halloween play, pumpkin hammering, and science shows for families.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Naperville Pumpkin Race)

Naperville Pumpkin Race

Naperville 9 mi

Side-by-side single-elimination pumpkin races, costume contests, and awards.

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 12 mi $

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

Harvest Fest 2026

Sat, Sep 26

Bensenville 13 mi Free

Free admission festival featuring live music, farm activities, and artisan vendors.

Tinley Park Boo Bash

Tinley Park 15 mi

Family trick-or-treating through business booths with live DJ entertainment.

Monster Madness

Lisle 6 mi $$

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

Halloween Happening

Fri, Oct 9

Wheaton 9 mi

All-ages celebration featuring carnival games, touch-a-truck, and a life-size Candyland game.

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 9 mi $

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

Family Fall Fest

Elmhurst 10 mi Free

Safety Town trick-or-treating, inflatable corn maze, and carnival games.

Spooktacular

Sun, Oct 18

Lombard 10 mi

Downtown celebration with trick-or-treating, bounce houses, and costume contests.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch with many orange pumpkins, a scarecrow, a red wheelbarrow, hay and a wooden farm stand (Glen Ellyn Park District Boo Bash)

Glen Ellyn Park District Boo Bash

Glen Ellyn 11 mi $

Trick-or-treat trail and pumpkin patch for kids ages 2–10.

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 13 mi Free

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

Family Fall Fest 2026

Mon, Oct 12

Lockport 13 mi $

Fall festival featuring hayrides, a petting zoo, inflatables, and Scarecrow Lane.

Harvest Fest

Medinah 17 mi Free

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

Parkie's Pumpkin Patch

Bolingbrook 6 mi

Hunt for floating pumpkins in the pool and decorate them afterward.

Monster Bash

Thu, Oct 22

Lombard 9 mi

Spooky games, ghoulish treats, and costumes to celebrate Halloween.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Orland Park 11 mi

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

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 12 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Family Night Trick-or-Treating)

Family Night Trick-or-Treating

Fri, Oct 23

Wheaton 12 mi

Costume walking tour featuring candy stations, entertainment, and teal pumpkins.

Illustration of a Halloween craft scene with clay kids, a friendly ghost, bats and glowing pumpkins under party bunting (Coyote Crossing Mini Golf - Not So Scary Golf)

Coyote Crossing Mini Golf - Not So Scary Golf

Mon, Oct 12

West Chicago 16 mi

Scare-free family mini golf featuring costumes, tricks, and treats.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch full of orange pumpkins with two small farmers, red wheelbarrows and a farm stand (Oak Brook Park District Halloween Trick or Treat Trail)

Oak Brook Park District Halloween Trick or Treat Trail

Oak Brook 6 mi $$

Half-mile trick-or-treat woodland walk featuring haunted wagon rides and bounce houses.

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

Sat, Oct 31

Lombard 8 mi $$

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

Illustration of tiny clay musicians playing on a hay stage among pumpkins, bunting and striped booths in autumn (Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party)

Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party

Fri, Oct 16

Melrose Park 12 mi Free

Free family block party with Halloween displays and train rides

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 13 mi

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

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Tinley Junction: Ghostly Golf)

Tinley Junction: Ghostly Golf

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Tinley Park 14 mi $

Play mini-golf on a decorated course in costume for a treat.

Harvest Fest

Sat, Oct 10

Lemont 7 mi

Features live music, a beer tent, trunk-or-treat, and hayrides.

Bolingbrook Howl-O-Ween 5K

Sun, Oct 18

Bolingbrook 8 mi $$

Festive 5K run or walk with or without your dog.

Warrenville Fall Fest

Fri, Oct 30

Warrenville 12 mi $

Community fall celebration with games, inflatables, petting zoo, and live music.

Illustration of a small clay figure on a path between tall golden cornstalks, with a red flag, pumpkins and a tiny cottage (Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Fest)

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Fest

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Lockport 14 mi $$

Over 45 unlimited attractions and activities for all ages.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife)

Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife

Oak Lawn 12 mi $

Halloween games and activities along the Wolfe Wildlife walking path.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 12 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles, pumpkin seeds and small figures on a wooden table under string lights (Family Pumpkin Carving Party)

Family Pumpkin Carving Party

Fri, Oct 23

Melrose Park 12 mi $

You carve the pumpkin and park staff handles the cleanup.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Oct 5 – Oct 18

Lockport 13 mi

Create a scarecrow display or vote along Dellwood Park's path.

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 Free

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

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 11 mi Free

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

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Invasion of the Scarecrows Bicycle Ride)

Invasion of the Scarecrows Bicycle Ride

Forest Park 12 mi Free

Casual community bike tour tracking down scarecrows across Forest Park.

Illustration of a craft table with a glitter pumpkin, paint cups, a clay kid, a smiling ghost and a paper bat under bunting (Mystery Scarecrow Making Kit)

Mystery Scarecrow Making Kit

Sun, Sep 27

Joliet 15 mi $

Pick up a mystery kit to assemble a scarecrow at home.

SRJC Boo Bash

Wed, Oct 7

Joliet 18 mi

Spooky games, crafts, and stories for kids in costume.

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

Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats

Sat, Oct 31

Chicago 21 mi $$$

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

Pumpkin Painting

Summit 9 mi $

Hands-on pumpkin decorating session designed for kids and families.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 12 mi $

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

SRJC Apple Fest

Fri, Sep 25

Joliet 18 mi $$

Autumn celebration featuring cider tastings, crafts, apple treats, and seasonal games.

Konow's Corn Maze

Sat, Sep 19

Homer Glen 12 mi $$

Features two corn mazes spanning 3.4 miles and 0.4 miles.

Illustration of a twilight carnival with a glowing ferris wheel, a carousel, a game booth, pumpkins and costumed figures (Fall Family Day - Harmony in the Park)

Fall Family Day - Harmony in the Park

Sat, Sep 19

Oak Brook 7 mi Free

Free community celebration featuring a petting zoo, live music, and foam party.

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 29 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event