Lincoln Square Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

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

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 $$$

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

Illustration of a ghost, a witch and a pumpkin figure on a dusk street with glowing houses, autumn leaves and pumpkins (Downtown Evanston Trick or Treat Stroll)

Downtown Evanston Trick or Treat Stroll

Evanston 5 mi Free

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

BOO-seum Bash

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

West Chicago Halloween Festivities

West Chicago 7 mi

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

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

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

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

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

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

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

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 7 mi

Features neighborhood trick-or-treating, fall selfies, crafts, and a DJ dance party.

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

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

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

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

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

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Wheaton 23 mi $

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

Hamilton Boo Bash

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

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 7 mi Free

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

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Oak Park 8 mi Free

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

Harvest Fest

Medinah 19 mi Free

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

Monster Madness

Lisle 24 mi $$

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

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Chicago 7 mi $

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

Hull-o-ween Open House

Chicago 7 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 20 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll)

10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll

Wheaton 23 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 18 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.

Norwood Park Fall Fest

Chicago 6 mi Free

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

Halloween Hoot and Howl

River Forest 9 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

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

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

Chicago 6 mi $$$

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

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 7 mi Free

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

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

Westmont 19 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

Wheaton 23 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Spice Pilates

Mat Pilates session followed by a seasonal pumpkin drink.

Boo Bash

Wheaton 23 mi $

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

Family Spooktacular

Naperville 28 mi $

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

The Great Pumpkin Party

Orland Park 26 mi

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 29 mi Free

Canine costume contest featuring treats, prizes, and owner-pet coordination.

Illustration of a giant grinning jack-o'-lantern float and costumed marchers parading along a tree-lined park path at dusk (Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating)

Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating

Chicago $

Neighborhood-wide trick-or-treating with over 20 participating businesses.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Click, Clack, BOO! A Tricky Treat)

Click, Clack, BOO! A Tricky Treat

Musical adaptation of the "Click, Clack, Moo" book series.

Illustration of costumed children and two witches on a lawn with pumpkins, a small tent and orange autumn trees (Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!)

Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Illustration of a fall festival street with big pumpkins in front, striped booths, and small figures under orange trees (Fall Fest at Athletic Field)

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Boo Bash at Gladstone

Family-friendly Halloween celebration with crafts and games.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Trick-or-Treat at 900)

Trick-or-Treat at 900

Chicago 6 mi $

Indoor trick-or-treating across seven levels of shops

Illustration of clay goats, a duck and costumed figures among pumpkins and hay beside a small wooden shelter in daylight (Linden Square Pumpkin Walk)

Linden Square Pumpkin Walk

Wilmette 7 mi Free

Trick-or-treating at local businesses with a petting zoo

Illustration of costumed children carrying pumpkin buckets along a winding path past glowing cottages at dusk (Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat)

Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat

Visitors can trick-or-treat across more than twenty-five neighborhood locations in Northalsted.

Glow Stick Dance Party at Bauler