Evanston Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Bring the kids to Downtown Evanston for a delightful trick-or-treat stroll on Saturday, October 25th. Families can wander at their own pace, stopping at participating businesses marked with special posters to collect candy and Halloween treats. The event kicks off...

Join the NSPT Evanston team for a festive Halloween open house! This family-friendly event is a great opportunity for current and past clients, along with their families and staff, to celebrate the holiday together. Come in costume if you wish,...

Bring the whole family to Linden Square for a delightful trick-or-treating adventure! Participating businesses will be handing out treats and giveaways. Don your favorite Halloween costume, whether you're a goblin, ghost, wizard, or superhero. The event features live entertainment and...

Join the Central Street Trick Or Treat event for a delightful family celebration. Children can visit participating businesses to collect treats, enjoy creative Halloween-themed crafts, and soak in the festive community spirit. It's a perfect way to celebrate the holiday...

This fall, Wicked Wilmette moves lakeside to Gillson Park and the Lakeview Center for an evening of family-friendly frights. Kids can enjoy inflatable bounce houses, face painting, and a spooky hayride adventure. Explore 'Spooky Stations' for treats and pick out...

Join the barnyard crew for a Halloween celebration in this delightful musical adaptation of Doreen Cronin's "Click, Clack, Moo" series. When Farmer Brown tries to stop the fun, Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen use clever trickery to ensure a festive...

Get ready for Aville-o-Ween in Andersonville! This festive celebration offers trick-or-treating through the business district, where local shops hand out candy and prizes. Don't miss Fright on Farragut for spooky games, a DJ, and a popular pooch costume contest. Additional...

Join the Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooood event for a delightful trick-or-treat experience for children. Participating businesses in the Lincoln Square Ravenswood district will hand out treats. Additionally, families can enjoy a free pumpkin decorating activity hosted by Concordia Place outside...

Experience the magic of Pumpkins in the Woods at Hubbard Woods Park! This family-friendly event features pumpkin decorating, exciting carnival games, and fun bounce houses. Register for the costume contest with categories for most original, scariest, and funniest, with winners...

Get ready for a spooktacular morning of Halloween fun in the Northcenter neighborhood! Families are invited to don their most creative costumes and join in a festive trick-or-treat event. It's a perfect opportunity for kids to gather goodies and enjoy...

Get into the Halloween spirit at Gladstone Park's Boo Bash! This family-friendly event invites everyone to come dressed in their best costumes. Enjoy an evening filled with engaging games, creative crafts, and sweet candy, making it a perfect way to...

Norwood Park transforms into a festive fall haven for a weekend of fun. Enjoy live music spanning rock, country, and blues, alongside a diverse array of food vendors from Chicagoland. Browse local merchandise, and explore the dedicated Family Zone with...

Get ready for Hamilton's Annual Boo Bash, a spooktacular fall festival packed with family fun! Kids and adults are encouraged to wear costumes for a vibrant parade and a Thriller Flash Mob dance lesson. Discover interactive reptile and insect encounters,...

Celebrate the autumn season at the Fall Fest, a beloved Northwest Side tradition. This family-friendly event features a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, and delightful pony rides. Enjoy seasonal treats from the Harvest Café & Grill and immerse yourself in...

Join the Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat for a delightful afternoon of Halloween fun. Over 25 businesses in the Northalsted neighborhood, stretching from Halsted & Belmont to Irving Park & Broadway, will be handing out treats. This free event...

Join the Halloween Skelebration for a fright-free evening of fun for ghouls, goblins, and skeletons aged 2-12. This indoor/outdoor bash features a live DJ, face painting, creepy-cool crafts, ghoulish games, and spooky entertainment. Parents must accompany children, and costumes are...

Teens can get into the Halloween spirit at this special 'glow' event. They can show off their costumes in a contest, dance to music, and enjoy a night of festive fun. It's a great opportunity for them to celebrate the...

Celebrate the start of autumn at the 38th Annual Lincoln Square Apple Fest. This beloved community tradition features a vibrant street festival with over 80 vendors offering fall essentials, alongside a delicious selection of apple-inspired dishes and ciders. Enjoy live...

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at Spooktacular! This beloved Halloween event transforms Lincoln Park into a trick-or-treat wonderland. Families can gather their costumes and candy buckets to collect treats from over 40 local businesses along Lincoln Avenue on...

Get ready for a spooktacular day at the annual Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party! This vibrant community event brings neighbors, local schools, and businesses together for a festive celebration. Enjoy live music, a dedicated drink tent for adult refreshments, and...

The 28th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade transforms Chicago's vibrant Northalsted neighborhood into a Halloween spectacle. Ranked among the top parades in the US, it features a dazzling costume contest with hundreds of participants competing for over $4,000 in cash...

Lace up your running shoes and don your best costume for the annual Halloween 3K Fun Run and Walk! This festive event winds through the scenic Techny Prairie Park and Fields, offering a perfect way to embrace the spooky season....

Join the BOO-seum Bash for a frightfully fun afternoon at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. This family-friendly event offers a unique Halloween experience with opportunities to encounter live animals, including snakes and bugs, and explore intriguing collections. Costumes are encouraged,...

Step into a world of Halloween enchantment at the Lincoln Park Conservatory's Boo-tanical Bash! This family-friendly event offers a unique after-hours experience, featuring spooky stories, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to learn about the Conservatory's most intriguing plants. Don...

Experience the magic of Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This enchanting event features thousands of artist-carved pumpkins, including giant gourds and themed displays. Enjoy live carving demonstrations, meet costumed characters, and savor festive food and drinks...

Lincoln Park Zoo transforms into a vibrant fall wonderland with its annual Fall Fest. This free, family-friendly celebration offers a delightful array of activities, from selecting the perfect pumpkin and enjoying s'mores by the fire to experiencing live entertainment and...

Get ready for a spooktacular time with Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players! This Halloween show, 'Trick or Treat!', is perfect for the whole family. Known for his 'kiddie rock' and feel-good songs, Justin Roberts delivers a...

Get ready to glow and get a little silly at this family-friendly dance party! Kids and families are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes while dancing to favorite tunes. This event is ideal for younger children looking for some festive...

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza is a vibrant community event combining Halloween fun for families and their canine companions. Attendees can enjoy live music, participate in an all-ages costume parade and contest, and engage in various games and activities. For the dogs,...

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up transforms downtown Chicago into a vibrant fall festival, boasting over 10,000 pumpkins and the city's largest corn maze. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including axe throwing, carnival games, and unique photo opportunities. Full bars serve...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the annual Ravinia District Halloween Candy Stroll! This beloved event invites families to visit participating businesses for delightful trick-or-treating. It's the perfect way to enjoy a festive Halloween afternoon filled with treats and...

Families can enjoy an indoor Halloween celebration at 900 North Michigan Shops. The event features a sing-along concert, costume parade, and trick-or-treating throughout the seven levels of retailers. Kids can also participate in cookie decorating and a musical petting zoo,...

Join the Park District of Highland Park for a free, family-friendly Trunk or Treat event at Hidden Creek AquaPark. Children aged 2 and up are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes and go car-to-car collecting treats from creatively...

Arts in the Dark is a magical evening parade celebrating Halloween as the 'artist's holiday.' This 11th annual event transforms historic State Street with unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances, showcasing Chicago's vibrant arts scene and fostering community connection.

Celebrate the spooky season at Navy Pier's Slightly Spooky Saturday! This family-friendly event offers trick-or-treating at over 70 locations, costume contests for dogs and people, and a unique Reverse Haunted House. Enjoy live entertainment, spooky science experiments, pumpkin carving, and...

Get into the Halloween spirit at the Des Plaines Trunk or Treat! Kids aged 3 and up are invited to wear their costumes and visit decorated car trunks to collect festive treats. Registration is required for all participants, with free...

Join the City of West Chicago and the West Chicago Public Library District for a spook-tacular afternoon of fang-tastic fun. This annual event brings the community together in downtown West Chicago for a festive celebration, featuring the city's popular downtown...

This Halloween party at Cheney Mansion offers a fun and engaging experience tailored for families with sensory sensitivities. Children aged 4-12 can enjoy the festivities in a comfortable environment, complete with costume fun and photo opportunities with the Great Pumpkin....

Get ready for a weekend of Halloween magic at Spooktacular! Businesses throughout Lincoln Park transform into trick-or-treat stops, offering a delightful way for families to celebrate. Join the fun on Lincoln Avenue and Clark Street to collect candy and explore...

Oaktoberfest returns to Downtown Oak Park, celebrating the autumn season with a vibrant community festival. Attendees can enjoy a dynamic live music lineup, a diverse selection of craft beers and wines, and delicious food from local eateries. A special Kids'...

Join the 28th Annual Spooktacular in Downtown DeKalb for a festive Halloween celebration. Families and friends are invited to don their costumes and embark on a trick-or-treating adventure, visiting over 30 local businesses for delightful treats. Following the candy collection,...

Oak Park invites families to a classic Halloween trick-or-treating experience on October 31st. From 4 PM to 8 PM, children can collect treats from participating households. The event encourages safety with tips on costumes and candy inspection, and promotes inclusivity...

The 15th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival returns October 3-5, 2025, transforming Downtown Highwood into a fall wonderland. This family-friendly event features a massive carnival, live music across three stages, pumpkin carving stations, and a variety of food and artisan...

Join the Haunt on Hirsch Street for a free family block party filled with Halloween fun. Enjoy inflatables, music from a DJ, and engaging games. Capture memories with spooky displays and don your favorite costume. Complimentary hot dogs are available...

Get ready for a creative and spooky good time at the Family Pumpkin Carving Party! They provide the pumpkins and carving tools, making it easy for everyone to participate. After you've finished your jack-o'-lantern masterpiece, they'll even handle the cleanup....

Step into the Oak Park Conservatory for a 'Boo-tanical' Halloween experience. This annual event transforms the Conservatory into a festive, spooky wonderland. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes while exploring the unique plant life, including those that grow in the...

Calling all witches, ghosts, and superheroes! Join the Berwyn Park District for a Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat event at Proksa Park. This celebration promises ghoulish delights and spooky surprises for the whole family. It's the perfect way to enjoy Halloween festivities in...

Get ready for a spooktacular Trunk or Treat event at Pioneer Park! This Halloween celebration features over 40 decorated trunks filled with treats, exciting inflatables, a giant slide, and a fun photo booth. A DJ will keep the energy high...

Embark on a delightful Trick-or-Treat Trail where friendly characters await to hand out candy. This event offers a safe, no-scare zone perfect for children 12 and under, ensuring a fun-filled experience with games and entertainment. Parents must accompany children throughout...

Celebrate the autumn season at the Bensenville Harvest Fest! This family-friendly event at Fischer Farm offers a delightful day of free admission, live music, and engaging activities. Enjoy classic carnival games, wagon rides, and hands-on crafts. Savor delicious fall-themed treats...

Unleash the fun at the Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest! Dogs and their humans are invited to strut their stuff in creative costumes for a chance to win prizes. Even if you don't have a dog, all are welcome to join...

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Brookfield Zoo Chicago with a day of German-style fun! This family-friendly event features live polka music, traditional dancing, and engaging games. Indulge in a special seasonal menu with classic Oktoberfest fare like bratwurst and pretzels, alongside unique...

Brookfield Zoo Chicago transforms into a Halloween wonderland for 'BOO! at the Zoo,' a family-friendly celebration from October 4-31, 2025. Visitors can enjoy festive decorations, themed food and drinks, and trick-or-treating. Weekends bring extra fun with costume parades, a magician,...

Experience Chicagoland's cherished fall tradition at Happy Times Pumpkin Fest, held at Didier Farms. This family-friendly event offers a delightful array of attractions, including a challenging corn maze, exciting amusement rides, and a petting zoo. Visitors can also enjoy unique...

Celebrate the autumn season at the Family Fall Fest, a vibrant community gathering. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating at Safety Town, bounce through an inflatable corn maze and obstacle course, and play carnival games. Delicious food truck options will be available,...

Join the Sanderson Sisters for a magical afternoon at Normandy Park! This event features a delightful meet-and-greet with the iconic characters, along with fun activities like face painting, a bounce house, crafts, and tasty treats. It's a perfect spooky celebration...