Elmhurst Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Elmhurst Free

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

Illustration of a glowing ferris wheel and carousel at dusk with pumpkins, jack-o'-lanterns and small costumed figures (Schaumburg Halloween Carnival)

Schaumburg Halloween Carnival

Oct 16 – Oct 31

Schaumburg 12 mi $$

Classic carnival with a Halloween twist

Illustration of striped booths with pumpkins and costumed figures on a town street with orange autumn trees (Fall Color Festival at The Morton Arboretum)

Fall Color Festival at The Morton Arboretum

Lisle 8 mi

Autumn treats, colorful tree collections, and trails across 1,700 acres.

Boo! at the Zoo

Oct 3 – Oct 25

Brookfield 7 mi

Features trick-or-treating, costume parades, inflatables, and themed treats.

Illustration of a child in a witch costume holding a pumpkin bucket on a leafy sidewalk lined with glowing houses at dusk (Spooktacular Trick or Treat)

Spooktacular Trick or Treat

Sun, Oct 25

Berwyn 8 mi

Family Halloween trick-or-treating celebration at Proksa Park

Lombard Fall Fest

Lombard Free

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

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 9 mi

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

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 11 mi $

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

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 14 mi Free

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

Oaktoberfest

Sep 25 – Sep 26

Oak Park 7 mi Free

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

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 9 mi $$

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

Cantigny Fall Festival

Sep 26 – Sep 27

Wheaton 12 mi

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

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (BooPalooza and BarkPalooza)

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Chicago 14 mi Free

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

Harvest Fest 2026

Sat, Sep 26

Bensenville Free

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

Wicked West Fest

Westmont 7 mi

Downtown Westmont costume contest featuring seven age and group categories.

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 9 mi $

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

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 11 mi

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

Pumpkin Palooza

Naperville 13 mi

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

Spooktacular

Sun, Oct 18

Lombard

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 6 mi $

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

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

Medinah 8 mi Free

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

Halloween Happening

Fri, Oct 9

Wheaton 9 mi

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

Monster Madness

Lisle 11 mi $$

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

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (Autumn Harvest Fest at Spring Valley Nature Center)

Autumn Harvest Fest at Spring Valley Nature Center

Sun, Oct 4

Schaumburg 11 mi $

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

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 14 mi $

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

Family Fall Fest 2026

Mon, Oct 12

Lockport 23 mi $

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

Monster Bash

Thu, Oct 22

Lombard

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

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 9 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Trunk or Treat

Fri, Oct 23

Darien 10 mi Free

Costumed trick-or-treating featuring a best-decorated trunk contest.

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 13 mi

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

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 19 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Orland Park 20 mi

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

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 Free

Free family block party with Halloween displays and train rides

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 $$

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 $$

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

Halloween Hoopla

Fri, Oct 16

Park Ridge 9 mi

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 10 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 10 mi Free

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

Warrenville Fall Fest

Fri, Oct 30

Warrenville 13 mi $

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 19 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 $

You carve the pumpkin and park staff handles the cleanup.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 6 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Illustration of two costumed trick or treaters with candy buckets on a dusk street of glowing houses and carved pumpkins (Halloween for Ghouls & Goblins)

Halloween for Ghouls & Goblins

Thu, Oct 29

Darien 10 mi $

Halloween party with crafts, games, pizza, and trick-or-treating for preschoolers.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Oct 5 – Oct 18

Lockport 23 mi

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

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 7 mi Free

Casual community bike tour tracking down scarecrows across Forest Park.

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 8 mi 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 10 mi Free

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

Oak Lawn Trunk or Treat

Wed, Oct 28

Medinah 10 mi Free

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

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

Chicago 12 mi Free

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

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

Chicago 13 mi Free

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

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 13 mi $$$

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

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 14 mi $$$

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

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 9 mi $

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

Pumpkin Painting