Highland Park Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Evanston 11 mi Free

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

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago 20 mi $$

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

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 9 mi Free

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

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Chicago 16 mi $

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

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 17 mi $

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

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Chicago 20 mi

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

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 8 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 16 mi Free

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

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

Chicago 20 mi Free

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

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.

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 17 mi $

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

Illustration of a ghost and a small witch carrying a pumpkin bucket on a sidewalk past glowing porches on an autumn street (Boo in the Barn at SOUL Harbour Ranch)

Boo in the Barn at SOUL Harbour Ranch

Barrington 18 mi $$

Freaky fundraiser featuring trick-or-treating and visits with therapy animals.

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

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Sat, Oct 17

Chicago 20 mi Free

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

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 17 mi

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

Illustration of two costumed figures in a festive autumn street at dusk with pumpkins, string lights and a glowing bonfire (Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party)

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Sun, Oct 18

Chicago 17 mi

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

Harvest Fest 2026

Sat, Sep 26

Bensenville 19 mi Free

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

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Chicago 20 mi

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

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 17 mi $

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

Hamilton Boo Bash

Chicago 18 mi

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

Harvest Fest

Medinah 19 mi Free

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

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 21 mi Free

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

Halloween 3K Fun Run

Fri, Oct 23

Northbrook

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Fri, Oct 30

Buffalo Grove 8 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 9 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Wicked Wilmette

Wilmette 9 mi $$

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

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 14 mi $$$

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

Halloween Hoopla

Park Ridge 12 mi

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

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party)

Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party

Melrose Park 19 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 25 mi $$

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

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 13 mi Free

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 24 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 19 mi $

You carve the pumpkin and park staff handles the cleanup.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 20 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

Chicago 15 mi Free

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

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 16 mi $$$

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

Pumpkin Volcanoes

Fri, Oct 2

Waukegan 16 mi $

Decorate pumpkins and watch them erupt like volcanoes.

Oak Lawn Trunk or Treat

Wed, Oct 28

Medinah 19 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Spice Pilates

Fri, Oct 9

Chicago 16 mi $$

Mat Pilates session followed by a seasonal pumpkin drink.

Northbrook Autumnfest

Northbrook Free

Free community fall festival with classic activities

Pumpkin Smash & Bash

Sat, Nov 7

Park Ridge 12 mi Free

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

Illustration of a candlelit ofrenda altar with marigolds and skull decorations as clay figures stand in a plaza at dusk (Sugar Skull Decorating Workshop)

Sugar Skull Decorating Workshop

Waukegan 12 mi $

Decorate your own calavera de azúcar to take home.

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 27 mi $

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

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

Wheaton 27 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Trick or Treat Trail