Highland Park Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the Schaumburg Halloween Carnival! This event promises a thrilling carnival experience with exciting rides and classic games. Immerse yourself in a festive Halloween atmosphere filled with spooky decorations and community spirit. It's...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Oak Lawn Trunk or Treat! This free, community event transforms the Connolly Recreation Center parking lot into a Halloween wonderland. Families can stroll through creatively decorated car trunks, each offering a unique...

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...

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,...

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...

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....

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,...

Goebbert's Fall Festival offers a full day of autumn fun for the entire family. Navigate a challenging corn stalk maze, cheer on racing pigs, and meet a variety of farm and exotic animals. Don't miss the iconic Pumpkin-Eating Dinosaur or...

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...

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...

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,...

Main Event Hoffman Estates transforms into a spooky arcade for a frightfully fun Halloween night. Enjoy bowling, creative crafts like pumpkin and pin decorating, and engaging contests. It's a monster mash of fun for friends and family, complete with giveaways...

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...

Embrace the autumn spirit at Lombard's annual Fall Fest! This free community event offers a delightful afternoon for families, featuring games, dancing, face painting, and a special candy hunt. Children can pick out their own pumpkin from the patch. Attendees...

Get ready for Spooktacular 2025 in Downtown Lombard! This exciting Halloween festival features a day packed with family fun, including trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and a scavenger hunt. Enjoy inflatable attractions, a craft fair, and live entertainment. It's the perfect...

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...

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,...

Santa's Village transforms into a fall wonderland for their annual Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival. Wander through multiple pumpkin patches, enjoy a harvest-themed menu, and experience added attractions like a corn pit and mini straw maze. The park's amusement rides...

Get into the Halloween spirit at the Monster Bash! This event offers a delightful mix of spooky games and ghoulish treats, perfect for a festive afternoon. Attendees are encouraged to wear their costumes for a chance to be part of...

Venture into Central Park West for a spooktacular Halloween Trick or Treat Trail! This family-friendly event features a 1/2 mile walk through the woods, where costumed characters await with treats. After the trail, enjoy a Haunted Wagon ride, bounce houses,...

Join the community for OAKtoberfest, a celebration of Illinois oaks and fall fun! This family-friendly event features live music, engaging activities like platform tennis and 'a-corn hole,' and creative nature-themed crafts. Discover local environmental organizations and businesses, enjoy delicious cider...

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...

Join the Elgin Police Department for their annual Halloween Extravaganza! This free, family-friendly event offers a haunted house, a special trick-or-treat experience at the police station, music, and snacks. Kids 12 and under can showcase their costumes in a dedicated...

Experience the magic of Cosley Zoo after dark at the Spooktacular event. Wander through charming seasonal decorations, enjoy family-friendly activities, and get creative by decorating your own pumpkin. It's a delightful way to celebrate the season with loved ones.

Step into a world of enchantment at the DuPage County Historical Museum's annual Halloween party. This magical evening invites guests of all ages to don their best costumes for a night filled with wonder. Discover hidden treasures on a flashlight...

Join the Wheaton Park District for a hauntingly good time at Halloween Happening! This family-friendly event features carnival games, a bounce house, a life-size Candyland Trail, and a popular Touch-a-Truck experience. Costumes are encouraged for an evening packed with fun,...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Crystal Lake Truck or Treat! Children are invited to wear their favorite Halloween costumes and bring their treat bags to collect goodies from decorated vehicles. This free, drop-in event is perfect for...

Westmont's Wicked West Fest transforms the town into a month-long Halloween and Fall celebration. Highlights include a community costume contest, a haunted forest tour with wagon rides, trick-or-treating on Cass Avenue, and a unique pumpkin smashing competition. Families can enjoy...

Discover a harvest of fun at Stade's Farm & Market's Shades of Autumn Fall Festival. This beloved event offers nine weekends of family-friendly entertainment, featuring a massive 33-acre pumpkin patch, a challenging 2-acre corn maze, and a delightful petting zoo....

Experience a vibrant Fall Festival at Cantigny Park, featuring a full weekend of seasonal delights. Enjoy live music from diverse bands, explore over 100 craft vendors, and indulge in delicious food and craft beers at the Biergarten. Families will love...

Families are invited to don their costumes for a delightful trick-or-treat adventure at Cantigny Park. This walking tour winds through the park, offering numerous candy stations, including teal pumpkins for allergy-conscious trick-or-treaters. Entertainment and attractions await along the path, promising...