Des Plaines Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Evanston 10 mi Free

Free trick-or-treating at local businesses with a fall photo backdrop.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Tricks & Treats in the Valley)

Tricks & Treats in the Valley

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Schaumburg 9 mi $

Half-mile trick-or-treat trail past historic farm buildings and woods.

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest)

Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest

Buffalo Grove 10 mi Free

Features a doggy egg hunt alongside a creative pet costume competition.

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Chicago 11 mi $

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

Lombard Fall Fest

Lombard 12 mi Free

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

Oaktoberfest

Sep 25 – Sep 26

Oak Park 11 mi Free

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

Illustration of tiny clay musicians playing on a hay stage among pumpkins, bunting and striped booths in autumn (Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Didier Farms)

Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Didier Farms

Sep 16 – Oct 31

Lincolnshire 11 mi $$

Chicagoland's fall tradition at Didier Farms

Illustration of costumed children carrying pumpkin buckets along a winding path past glowing cottages at dusk (Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat)

Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago 11 mi Free

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

Illustration of two costumed trick or treaters with candy buckets on a dusk street of glowing houses and carved pumpkins (Central Street Trick Or Treat)

Central Street Trick Or Treat

Evanston 9 mi

Features neighborhood trick-or-treating, fall selfies, crafts, and a DJ dance party.

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Sat, Oct 17

Chicago 14 mi Free

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

Harvest Fest 2026

Sat, Sep 26

Bensenville 8 mi Free

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

Illustration of a fall festival in a town square with a red roofed gazebo, striped booths, pumpkins and orange trees (Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party)

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Sun, Oct 18

Chicago 10 mi

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

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

Sat, Oct 31

Chicago 12 mi

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

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo)

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 16 mi $

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

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Autumn Harvest Fest at Spring Valley Nature Center)

Autumn Harvest Fest at Spring Valley Nature Center

Sun, Oct 4

Schaumburg 9 mi $

Experience 19th-century farm life demonstrations and seasonal harvest activities.

Harvest Fest

Medinah 10 mi Free

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

Family Fall Fest

Elmhurst 11 mi Free

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

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (Fall Fest at Oak Park)

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 12 mi Free

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

Spooktacular

Sun, Oct 18

Lombard 12 mi

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

Hamilton Boo Bash

Chicago 12 mi

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

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 13 mi $

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

Monster Madness

Sat, Oct 17

Lisle 20 mi $$

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

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 23 mi $

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

Halloween 3K Fun Run

Fri, Oct 23

Northbrook 7 mi

Costumed 3K run and walk featuring themed activities and costume contests.

Trick or Treat Trail

Fri, Oct 30

Buffalo Grove 9 mi Free

No-scare candy trail with friendly characters, games, and live entertainment.

Illustration of a Halloween costume contest on a small stage with a pumpkin, robot, witch, ghosts, trophy and audience (Halloween Hustle 5K & Kids Dash)

Halloween Hustle 5K & Kids Dash

Palatine 10 mi $$$

Costume-themed 5K run/walk and Kids Dash benefitting the Boys & Girls Club.

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 10 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Wicked Wilmette

Wilmette 11 mi $$

Family Halloween fun with inflatables, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, and a costume contest

Monster Bash

Thu, Oct 22

Lombard 14 mi

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

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll)

10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll

Wheaton 16 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Halloween Hoopla

Park Ridge

Family scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin carving, campfire s'mores, and hayrides.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party)

Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party

Melrose Park 9 mi Free

Free family block party with Halloween displays and train rides

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 14 mi $$

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 16 mi

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

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Norwood Park Fall Fest)

Norwood Park Fall Fest

Chicago 5 mi Free

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 18 mi Free

Canine costume contest featuring treats, prizes, and owner-pet coordination.

Illustration of small purple clay characters carving glowing jack-o'-lanterns on a wooden table with candles and seeds (Family Pumpkin Carving Party)

Family Pumpkin Carving Party

Fri, Oct 23

Melrose Park 9 mi $

You carve the pumpkin and park staff handles the cleanup.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 11 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

Chicago 9 mi Free

Features trunk-or-treating, a chili cook-off, and carnival games.

Oak Lawn Trunk or Treat

Wed, Oct 28

Medinah 10 mi Free

Free trick-or-treating among creatively decorated themed car trunks.

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 11 mi $$$

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

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

Sun, Oct 25

Forest Park 12 mi Free

Casual community bike tour tracking down scarecrows across Forest Park.

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 17 mi Free

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

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 17 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Spice Pilates

Fri, Oct 9

Chicago 9 mi $$

Mat Pilates session followed by a seasonal pumpkin drink.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 16 mi $

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

Pumpkin Smash & Bash

Sat, Nov 7

Park Ridge Free

Roll, smash, and launch pumpkins into compost piles at Centennial Sled Hill.

Northbrook Autumnfest

Northbrook 7 mi Free

Free community fall festival with classic activities

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 14 mi Free

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

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm)

Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Waukegan 26 mi $

Educational corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, and pre-picked pumpkin patch.

The Great Pumpkin Party