Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Gage Park 2026

Chicago 5 mi Free

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

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 6 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 (West Chicago Halloween Festivities)

West Chicago Halloween Festivities

West Chicago 7 mi

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

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago 10 mi $$

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

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Chicago 8 mi

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

Oaktoberfest

Sep 25 – Sep 26

Oak Park 8 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 (Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest)

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

Chicago 10 mi Free

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

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (BooPalooza and BarkPalooza)

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Chicago 8 mi Free

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

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Chicago 9 mi

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

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 22 mi $

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

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 7 mi Free

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

Illustration of a clay altar with candles and marigolds, skull decorations and small dancing figures under paper banners (Slightly Spooky Saturday)

Slightly Spooky Saturday

Chicago 9 mi Free

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

Monster Madness

Lisle 20 mi $$

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

Harvest Fest

Sat, Oct 3

Medinah 22 mi Free

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

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 23 mi $

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

Family Fall Fest 2026

Mon, Oct 12

Lockport 24 mi $

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

Hull-o-ween Open House

Chicago 6 mi Free

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

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Chicago 8 mi $

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

The Great Pumpkin Party

Sat, Oct 3

Orland Park 15 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 22 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

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 17 mi $$

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 23 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 (Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife)

Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife

Oak Lawn 7 mi $

Halloween games and activities along the Wolfe Wildlife walking path.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 9 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Oct 5 – Oct 18

Lockport 24 mi

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

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

Chicago Free

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

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 5 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 6 mi $$$

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

Illustration of a fall festival street with big pumpkins in front, striped booths, and small figures under orange trees (Invasion of the Scarecrows Bicycle Ride)

Invasion of the Scarecrows Bicycle Ride

Sun, Oct 25

Forest Park 8 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 (Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats)

Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats

Chicago 12 mi $$$

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

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 14 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 22 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Painting

Summit 5 mi $

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

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 22 mi $

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

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 23 mi

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

Pumpkin Walk

Sat, Oct 3

Buffalo Grove 29 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

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.

SRJC Boo Bash

Wed, Oct 7

Joliet 30 mi

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

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 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